Over the next two months, your child will be learning about the ancient Roman civilization, a civilization whose contributions can be seen in many areas of our lives today. Your child will be introduced to the geography and to the gods and goddesses of Rome. She will also learn about the legend of the founding of Rome, the evolution of the Roman government, the Punic Wars, and what daily life was like in the city of Rome. Here are some suggestions for activities that you may do at home to reinforce what your child is learning about the ancient Roman civilization. Remember, this is a pretty long unit- don't try doing these all at once the first week! ;)
- Using a map
2. Draw and write
Have your child draw and write what she is learning about the ancient Roman civilization, such as Roman gods and goddesses, or what a scene from the city of ROme might have looked like. Ask questions to help your child use the vocabulary he is learning at school. Ask him to describe what he has learned about ancient Roman family life.
3. Roman and Greek Myths
Your child will be learning about ancient Roman mythology and how many of their myths were shaped by Greek mythology. Discuss with your child the myths, and the ROman gods and goddesses she is learning about. Remind your child that mythology is the collection of myths, or stories, associated with the beliefs of a particular group of people that explain why people act a certain way, how things came to be, or how things happen in nature. Your child could even make up a myth of their own!
4. Sayings and Phrases: Rome wasn't built in a day and When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Your child will be learning these sayings. Talk with your child about hte meaning of each phrase. In relation to "Rome wasn't built in a day," share with your child an experience or a project that took you a long time to finish, requiring a lot of patience and persistence. In relation to, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," share moments in your life when you followed the traditional customs of a culture different from yours. Find opportunities to use and reinforce these sayings again and again.
5. Words to Use
There are a lot of new vocabulary terms that we will be learning about and using. Try to use these words as they come up in everyday speech with your child.
- ruins- Although no one lives in the buildings today and some of the statues have fallen down, the ruins in Rome help us understand this ancient civilization.
- attributes- Mrs. Denman has many good attributes like patience and kindness.
- elaborate- The Morgan's house by the lake was elaborate because each part of it was carefully placed to make it look like and enormous mansion.
- conflict- Collin got in trouble at school today as a result of the conflict between him and Joe about who could play with the puppets first.
- defied- Although his parents told him not to go swimming, Keith defied them and went anyway.
It is very important that you read with your child every day. Set aside time to read to your child, and also to listen to your child read to you. You can maximize this time by finding books that relate to our study of Rome, at your local library or book store. I have an extensive list of recommended titles for this age and reading levels. I am happy to share if you are interested!
If you, or someone you know, has visited Rome, or has particular expertise on the subject, we would love to have you share! I am also in need of 5-6 volunteers for our October 24th field trip, as we tour some Roman legacies then come back here to leave our own legacy on the school!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gausman
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