Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: The Fall of Rome Name: Ryan Wade

Content Area: Social Studies Grade Level: 7th Grade
CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

7.1 Students analyze the causes and effects of the vast expansion and ultimate disintegration of the Roman Empire.

7.1.1. Study the early strengths and lasting contributions of Rome (e.g., significance of Roman citizenship; rights under Roman
law; Roman art, architecture, engineering, and philosophy; preservation and transmission of Christianity) and its ultimate
internal weaknesses (e.g., rise of autonomous military powers within the empire, undermining of citizenship by the growth of
corruption and slavery, lack of education, and distribution of news).

7.1.2. Discuss the geographic borders of the empire at its height and the factors that threatened its territorial cohesion.

7.1.3. Describe the establishment by Constantine of the new capital in Constantinople and the development of the Byzantine
Empire, with an emphasis on the consequences of the development of two distinct European civilizations, Eastern Orthodox and
Roman Catholic, and their two distinct views on church-state relations.
Big Ideas/Unit Goals:

Students will look and examine the multiple aspects of the Roman Civilization. They will take a look at what it was like being a Roman Citizen, what
the military expected of the soldiers that served them, and who the leaders of the Empire were. During this unit, students will read, write, and
critically think about the material that is presented to them. In the examining of Roman Citizens, students will be able to discuss and understand the
geography of the empire. They will learn about what citizens were expected to experience while visiting many of the cities, and Rome itself. While
looking at Rome itself, they will look at who the Romans fellow neighbors were and how Romans treated them. This will look into the Roman
economy and even slavery. Students will also be able to see and learn about the many religions that a Roman Citizen could partake in. From Roman
gods and goddesses, to eventually Christianity. The military was another big aspect to the survival of the Roman empire and students will not only
see how important the military was, but also have a chance to examine the leaders of Rome itself. At the end of the unit, students will be able to
present a presentation on the Legacy of Rome.

Unit Summary:
Students will look at the civilization of the Roman Empire and be able to trace multiple reasons for the civilizations rise and fall in
history. Students will be able to trace relevance on why this culture is still important to study and what possible corrections our
own civilization may do to not fall into the same mistakes as the Romans. During the students study of Rome, they will use
multiple resources and study strategies to help them understand the Roman Civilization and how and why it fell. Students will
read, write, and listen to multiple sources on the content material, which the state standards provide.
Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level: Formative: Summative:

KWL- Roman Civilization

Anticipatory/ Reflection Guide
Graphic Organizer: Roman Religion Assignment Unit Test
Graphic Organizer: Fall of Rome Roman Legacy Project
Quiz: Life as a Roman Citizen
Letter: Why Rome Fell and What Could be done to
prevent it from happening

Lesson 1 (Teacher Lecture)

Student Learning Objective:
Students will be able
to list three things
that they find
interesting about
Roman Civilization
and its expansion in
the world.
Acceptable Evidence Lesson Activities:
(Assessments):
Students will start the lesson by creating a KWL sheet. Teacher will instruct how
Students will provide this is to be done.
their evidence by
turning in a KWL Teacher will have the students write what they know about The Romans and
sheet at the end of then ask the students to share with a partner before presenting a few examples
class. Students will to the class.
write what they think
they Know about the Teacher will then ask the students to write down what they want to know about
content mater. Then the Romans. Students will then share with a partner, before a few students are
they will write what chosen to present their writings.
they Want to know
about the content. The teacher will then lecture while the students take notes in their graphic
Finally, at the end of organizer for lecture notes in the unit.
the lesson, students
will write in the sheet, Finally, students will write down, in the final section of the KWL sheet, what
what they Learned. they learned about the Romans from this lecture.
Lesson 2 (Webercise/ iPad Lesson)
Student Learning Objective: Acceptable Evidence: Lesson Activities:

Students will be able
to present a one page
essay on a specific god
or goddess of Rome.
They will have the
ability to choose one
god and write a story
about them.
Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)
Student Learning Objective:
Students will write a Students will be given a list of multiple historical gods and goddesses that they
one page essay about can discover throughout the web. They will be reminded, by the teacher, to only
the material they look for credible sources and websites.
discovered, on the
content material they The teacher will provide some links to digital archives and possible sites for
chose to research. students to look, but most of the content will be discovered by the students on
their own.
Students will gather facts and information and answer multiple questions on the
god/ goddess that they chose.
Acceptable Evidence: Lesson Activities:

Students will be able
to fill in and answer
multiple questions
that the Graphic
Organizer provides.
The content will come
from text book
reading.
Students will turn in a Students will be directed to read, the second Section in the first unit, from the
filled in graphic textbook. During the silent reading, the teacher will provide the students with a
organizer that the graphic organizer on multiple questions that need to be answered
teacher created to
support the silent At the end of class, students will present their graphic organizer to the teacher
reading the students and turn it in. Any students who did not complete by the end of class, can take it
worked on in class. home for homework and turn it in the following day. As well, students will work
on a one page letter to a friend on how and why Rome fell.

Unit Resources:

Textbook: Discovering Our Past: Medieval and Early Modern Times

http://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/0078688760/index.html
Chrome Book: Self Research.

Activeinspire/PowerPoint: Lecture Notes.

Graphic Organizers: multiple graphic organizers will be used throughout the unit.

YouTube Videos

Useful Websites:

Ancient Rome: The History Learning Site Ancient Rome Roman Republics Civil Wars and End Rome and Christianity

Illustrated history of the Roman Empire Ancient History Sourcebook: Slavery in the Roman Republic Roman Slaves Primary: The Romans