Free World History Curriculum- Part 4: Ancient Rome
Free World History Curriculum- Part 4: Ancient Rome
In this section, we will learn all about Ancient Rome-
Was Rome really built by Romulus and Remus, a set of twins raised by wolves?
And who was Julius Caesar, and why is there a salad named after him?
Did anything survive the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?
What questions do YOU have?
We’ll answer some of the questions above, and hopefully some of yours too ! 🙂
For an introduction to the Free Ancient History Curriculum series and how you can adapt it to be a perfect fit for YOUR family, (including teaching ALL your children together!) start below with the first post in this series-
“Free Chronological World History Plan” .
There are 3 previous sections you may like to start with if you are studying in chronological order-
+Ancient Civilizations/Old Testament History
+Ancient Egypt History
+Ancient Greece History
**If you just want to see the FREE Ancient Rome Curriculum, please just keep scrolling on down and you’ll find it below! **
A Few Q&A’s About Using The FREE Ancient History Curriculum
**Question #1- What Do I Need For This Study?**
All you need is access to the internet and this free online curriculum!
Really! This curriculum was first created when I was homeschooling my children in a new country. We arrived in Lima, Peru with 7 duffle bags (so my resources were REALLY limited), learning a second language, and trying to find our footing in what seemed at that point to be a whole different world. Previously my motto had been the more books the better! I still am a book lover at heart, but there are always going to be changes in the seasons of our lives, and often it pushes us to be quite inventive. 🙂
So… if you are homeschooling in a foreign country, somewhere at home, but without a library close by, or maybe homeschooling on a very tight budget…this free online history curriculum can STAND ALONE. I promise with a little creativity you really can homeschool WELL with next to nothing!
BUT, if you aren’t in any of those seasons, add in ALLLLL the books! 😀 They aren’t a necessity, but they will add lots of fun!
I created a Book/Resource list specifically for the Ancient Rome study. You’ll find my favorite books, hands-on activity guides, related movie suggestions, and more!
That said, you will see that I have used 2 main history books as the spine for the entire Free Ancient World History Curriculum series- “A Child’s History of the World” by Virgil Hillyer (you’ll see it in the lessons as -> CHOW), and “The Story of the World” series by Susan Wise Bauer (abbreviated in the lessons-> SOTW).
HOWEVER, these (and all the other books I listed) are just a suggestion.
You can use one of them, all of them, another text you already have, or none of them at all! Each daily lesson has lots of online reading links, hands-on project suggestions, and other options to fully explore the given topic.
*Note: If all the page numbers and chapters look like overkill, I have recently updated the reading schedule to include titles as well as page numbers since there are several different editions of these books and the page numbers can be off quite a bit with each one.
*Ancient Rome History Printable PDF Version
54 pages includes the complete Ancient Rome History Curriculum with all the live links, organizers, field trip ideas, note pages, and more! No ads or images to scroll through! Great for your students to work through without all the distractions, and a good quick reference and planning help for you as well.
*21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome
Did you know that the Ancient Romans had flushing toilets? Even more fascinating is why they needed so many good luck superstitions to use them!
What else were the Romans known for? Did you guess unibrows, pink hair, and bandaids? No?
Find out lots more about the Ancient Romans that I bet you won’t read in any other history book!
There is also a printable version of this as well-
21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome PDF Version
*Ancient Rome Printable History Cards
Use these Printable History Cards for some fun hands-on learning- explore the People, Places, and Events of Ancient Rome with a list of my favorite games and learning ideas! There are 85 Cards (plus blank cards to add your own ideas). You will also find instructions for how to use the cards and fun games to play for learning and review!
*Ancient Rome Book List
One way to teach more than one subject area at once is to incorporate some great books that include art, science, math, etc…that tie in with your history studies. You’ll find suggestions for all of these plus related movie suggestions, games, craft kits, and more!
+Ancient History Curriculum Series PDF Version- BUNDLE
+Ancient History Curriculum Series Printable History Cards- BUNDLE
+COMPLETE Ancient History BUNDLE
Here are a few last posts I thought might be helpful in adding to the Ancient Rome study!
These are lists of my favorite ideas for making your history study FUN for the whole family!
My favorite podcasts, songs for learning Ancient History and American History, Movies to fit whatever period of history you’re studying, my favorite DIY games to make and also some to buy… and LOTS more! These Top 10 posts will give you TONS of creative ideas to try this year, mostly with things you already have on hand!
+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS (This is the ULTIMATE History Book List!)
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 HANDS-ON History Projects
+Top 10 AMAZING Homeschooling Resources At The Library
And lastly, for the convenience of finding what you’re looking for quickly-
*Section 4: Ancient Rome
+FREE History of Ancient Rome Curriculum Lesson Plans
+ Ancient Rome History Curriculum- Printable PDF
+ Ancient Rome Books and Resources List
+Printable Ancient Rome History Cards
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome- History Starters
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome- PDF Version
*Ancient Rome History BUNDLE
**Question #2- WHAT is a history binder/notebook?**
In this curriculum you’ll notice that I mention a history binder a lot. In fact, Week 7 is all about the history binder! 🙂 So, what do I mean?
–>How To Make A History Binder (I made a video if you’d rather watch than read 🙂 )
Here is how we made ours…
As we studied through each section of history, we each kept our own 3-ring binder- an ‘all in one place’ type of timeline. We filled the binders with fun facts, history related coloring pages, drawings, print outs, etc… each page with a date on the bottom (or at least stuck in the appropriate “period” of history). We even added brochures from the art museum and other field trips that tied into our ancient studies! In planning out our year, I also included biographies of important people, great artists, musicians, authors, scientists, etc. as applicable, and added them into the binder as well. The suggestions you will find under “People”, “Places”, “Events”, and “Vocabulary” all would make great page headings to include in these binders. As you flip through your binders to add pages, it is an automatic visual review of how these things fit together in a chronological history of our world. The Printable History Cards also make a great addition!
Do you have to use a history binder?
No. You could make a huge timeline on the wall, or you could simply keep a notebook with tabs for vocabulary, important people and places, etc… This curriculum is meant to simply give you an outline to work from. Add or take away whatever you want to make this a perfect fit for YOUR family!
I wrote a whole post on how to design Timelines that work, including lots more details on how to create a history binder!
**Question #3-
How Do I Use This Curriculum To Teach ALL My Children Together?**
The lessons I have written in this series are meant to be self directed for middle school ages . But if you are using this for multiple ages like I did, here’s how. I simply read aloud, The Story of the World (SOTW) or A Child’s History of the World (CHOW) (use whatever books you choose!) and usually another fun historical fiction book…did our related Bible study together…and tons of hands-on projects.
The rest of the reading/notebooking/watching/exploring more, they did on their own.
So what about the Littles ?
I have included a few extra books at the bottom of this page for younger children
(and also in the Book List). There are appropriate YouTube videos in the “Watch” sections for each day’s lessons for them, and they can always be included in the hands-on activities. Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece & Rome for Kids is my favorite for ideas that can be leveled up, or made a bit more simple, but enjoyed by ALL !!
My “little” also LOVED to color pages to put in her own timeline binder while I read aloud! I was often amazed at how much she absorbed just by listening !! The “big kids” liked to color too. 😀
More Ideas-
+Choose a book(s) for your core reading that is aimed for somewhere between your youngest & oldest student. This book can be your read aloud for each “class time”. Read aloud time is one of the best times of the whole day. It helps us all to come together, get cozy, and enjoy another world !
My “little” often colored pages to put in her own timeline binder while I read aloud! I was amazed at how much she absorbed just by listening !! Coloring pages are great to add to the timeline binders for the big kids as well 🙂
For this study, I chose the Story of the World , The Ancient Romans, (also though it was never my favorite, one of my children was really into “Augustus Caesar’s World ” so we read a lot of that too). I included all three of these books, in case you have them & would like to use them!
+Combine history with some other subjects!
How we did it…
Bible study fit seamlessly into this study and so we did that as part of history all together too. We chose to read/analyze some of the classic historical fiction books as well for “Language Arts” during these studies . The Ancients also gave us a truly amazing foundation for modern Science and Mathematics ! Take advantage of this natural connection and combine another subject area! I have included some fun books for both in the Ancient Rome Book List.
+Keep whatever you are studying as a part of your every day life.
I may have loosely stolen this idea from Charlotte Mason…
One of the best tricks for this is keeping a basket full of related books of various reading levels in a tray on the coffee table or a basket nearby. Swap out the books to keep their interest piqued. I was always kind of pleasantly surprised to see my children leafing through them without any prodding from me! An added bonus is that books that the Littles may not normally look at are explored…and the Bigs will often zoom through the “easy” books intended for younger/pre-readers , which all equals effortless learning ! I still read in that same pattern myself, when studying …. a few books that are for adults, a few books for young readers, and maybe one on an academic level lol ! You can also do this by displaying any crafts or related projects where they can be noticed and enjoyed each day.
+Choose some hands-on activities !
There are an endless amount of ideas to suit just about anyone! You’ll find my favorite resource books for Ancient Rome hands-on activities in the Book List as well.
Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece & Rome for Kids
is my favorite for ideas that can be leveled up or made a bit more simple, but enjoyed by all!!
**Question #4- How often should we “do” history?**
The curriculum is an outline of reading/activities for a three day schedule.
You do NOT have to complete ALL of the suggested reading, etc…I have included lots of choices for each day’s theme so that you can choose what is best for the ages of children you are teaching. If your family loves history, or more hours are required in your state, you could easily change these lessons to a 5 day schedule by doing more of the reading, spending extra time on the notebooks, adding in more of the hands-on activities. Imagine doing Art/Discovery Projects on the other two “off” days that are related to the era… creating your own Greek myths, holding your own family olympic games, or cooking your very own Greek feast ! The possibilities are endless and so much FUN !!!
These are the kind of projects that will make MEMORIES ! Kind of like the time a mummy showed up at our Thanksgiving table 😀
I think we talk about this pretty much every year (it happened when my now 32 year old son was about 4)! lol
We even did history as a co-op one year, meeting together twice a week!
You could EASILY use these lessons for a group setting and enjoy learning about Ancient Rome with some other families! My kids and their friend (who happens to now be 30 years old!!!) still talk about the time we ate Ancient Egyptian “spaghetti-o’s”, and made mummies.
Just be creative! You’re homeschooling! Make learning part of your natural day!
Make or print out the history cards. Keep them on the kitchen table and use them to play games or start conversations, and find out what your kiddos are retaining! I like to laminate the cards and write a few questions on the back. Keep a few little prizes on hand and whoever grabs a card and can answer the questions on the back at lunch wins a goodie!
**Do You Have Other QUESTIONS?**
I’d love to hear from you !
You can either comment at the bottom of this post or you can email me at
ch*****@*************es.com
–> This post contains affiliate links. There will NOT be any additional charge to you if you click to Amazon through these links, but I will make a small commission if you do! So thanks ahead for supporting my work ! 🙂
**–> CURRICULUM STARTS HERE <–**
*Ancient Rome Timeline Overview
*The Regal Period of Rome (753 to 509 BC)
+The Founding of Rome (753 BC)
+The Roman Senate Formed (~750 BC)
*The Roman Republic (509 to 27 BC)
+The Twelve Tables (453 BC)
+The Punic Wars (264-146 BC)
+Spartacus & The Slave Revolt ( 73-71 BC)
+Jerusalem Occupied By Rome ( 63 BC)
+Julius Caesar Killed ( 44 BC)
*Age of The Empire ( 27 BC to 376 AD)
+Augustus First Emperor ( 27 BC)
+Jesus’ Life, Death & Resurrection ( ~4 BC – 33 AD)
+Rome Takes Britain ( 43 AD)
+Rome Burns ( 64 AD)
*Fall of Roman Empire (376 to 476 AD)
+Rome is Sacked & Empire Falls (410-455 AD)
*Weekly Outline Of Study*
*Week 1- Rome: Kingdom To Republic
+Day 1- Beginning of Rome
+Day 2- Who Were The Romans?
+Day 3- Daily Life In Ancient Rome
*Week 2- Roman Culture
+Day 1- Architecture, Art, and Science
+Day 2- Roman Government
+Day 3- Rome Becomes An Empire
*Week 3- Who’s Who in Ancient Rome
+Day 1- Roman Emperors
+Day 2- Roman Gods and Birth of Christianity
+Day 3- Rome’s Friends and Foes
*Week 4– The Fall of The Empire
+Day 1- Rome’s Wars
+Day 2- The Fall of Rome
+Day 3- Rome’s Legacy
*Week 5- Explore It ! Week
(explanation at beginning of plans for week)
*Week 6- Read & Enjoy !
(explanation at beginning of plans for week)
*Week 7- Notebook It ! Week/ Show What You Know Week
(explanation at beginning of plans for week)
*Objectives:
+Ancient Rome History Cards (People, Places, and Events)
–Be able to sequence and tell 3 facts about each of the Ancient Rome History Cards.
-You can make your own cards by writing the People, Places, and Events listed below on index cards.
OR you can purchase a set of the cards in the Book Store.
-Add the Ancient Civilizations & Old Testament, Ancient Egypt/China, & Ancient Greece cards for an extra
challenge!
–The Ancient Civilizations History Cards are FREE if you’d like to see a sample!
-You can read more about how we used these cards a bit farther down in this introduction!
+Map It!
-Be able to describe the geography of Italy including terms we’ve studied
-Be able to locate Italy and Rome on a map. Can you also find Greece, Egypt ,and Israel ?
-Be able to label Italy’s bordering countries
-Be able to map the borders of the Ancient ROMAN Empire.
+Be able to find Britain, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, and Spain on the map
+Be able to name the modern names of these countries.
-Be able to find the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian, the Red Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.
-Be able to find Rome, Alexandria (Egypt), Carthage (Tunisia), Constantinople (Turkey), Antioch (Turkey)
-If you are doing the Bible section of this unit, you may also like to Map the life of Jesus, and Paul’s
missionary journeys.
-You can find Map It! activities in the Printable POWER Pack for this section!
+Define It! (Add your own words as you study !)
-Republic -Empire -Senate -Emperor
-Gladiator -Legion -Aqueduct -Forum
-Colosseum -Citizen -Caesar -Pax Romana
-Latin -Toga -Consul -Pantheon
-Chariot -Patrician -Plebeian -Triumvirate
-Province -Dictator -Barbarian -Census
-Tribune -Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR)
-You can find Weekly Vocab lists and activities in the Printable POWER Pack!
+Describe It!
-Be able to describe what the government was like and name some of the well known leaders.
-Be familiar with and be able to discuss the Punic Wars.
-Be able to describe what a day in the life of a child living in ancient Rome would be like.
-Describe what homes, food, and clothing were like in Ancient Rome.
-Be able to recognize art from this period & discuss what sets it apart from other ancient art we’ve learned
about
-Be able to tell who Paul was and some of the other New Testament believers who influenced the history
of Rome.
Here are just a few suggestions of the People, The Places, and The Events we will cover in this unit.
You can use them as part of your Objectives for this study, to create your history cards, add them to a notebook or Timeline, or use them to create the pages of your History Binders. You will surely come across many more people, places, and events as you study, so add them in if you’d like!
*Who’s Who? The People- (You can make your own list from the reading, or add to this one!)
+Romulus & Remus +Hannibal +Spartacus +Pompey
+Julius Caesar +Crassus +Cicero +Queen Cleopatra
+Virgil +Jesus +The 12 Disciples +Caesar Augustus
+Herod +Pontius Pilate +The Celts +Paul
+Nero +Domitian +Trajan +Diocletian
+Hadrian +Constantine +Odoacer +The Visigoths
+The Vandals +Alaric I
*Where In The World? The Places- (You can make your own list from the reading, or add to this one!)
+The Forum +The 7 Hills +Italy +Rome
+Palatine Hill +Appian Way +Circus Maximus +Carthage
+Mediterranean Sea +Mount Vesuvius +Pompeii +Gaul
+Egypt +Theatre of Pompey +Colosseum +Judea
+Bethlehem +Galilee +Golgotha +Britain
+Jerusalem +Pantheon +Constantinople +Turkey
+Germany
*What Happened? The Events- (You can make your own list from the reading, or add to this one!)
+Rome is Founded +Roman Senate
+The Roman Republic +The Twelve Tables
+The Punic Wars +Hannibal’s Invasion
+Spartacus/Slave Revolt +The First Triumvirate
+Julius Caesar Killed +The Roman Empire
+Augustus Emperor +Jerusalem Occupied By Rome
+Jesus’ Life +Rome Takes Britain
+Pentecost +Paul’s Journeys
+Rome Burns +Persecution of Christians
+Hadrian’s Wall Built +Constantine Converts
+The Edict of Milan +Rome Sacked
+The Fall of Rome
*Edit- error on page #2, Pentecost – May 24, 33 AD
*OPTIONAL CORRESPONDING BIBLE STUDY –
If you’d like to use the Bible as an additional text for this study I included some corresponding Scriptures and historical references below to get you started. I chose these few events as they matched specifically to the events we are covering in Ancient Rome. SO MANY significant people and events are packed into this time frame, there is no way to include them all. I have two other resources you might like to use to help you choose what you’d like to cover though.
+ Bible Hub Bible Timeline
This is all free online and organized by date! It’s fantastic to see everything neatly put into chronological order.
+The Victor Journey Through the Bible
I highly recommend it for the whole family!
Seriously, it could easily be the core Bible outline for all of the ancient history units alone. It ties together historical and cultural events, notable people, and geography of ancient places into small bites that are easy to make sense of. I love, love, LOVE this book !
This Chronological Illustrated Bible is another really helpful tool to pull Scripture and other world events all into one chronological story !
**For a bit of perspective-
+The city of Rome was founded in 753 BC (during the time of Hosea & Jonah)!
+Rome became a Republic in 509 BC (around the same time that the Temple was rebuilt).
+Spartacus lead a revolt of slaves in 73 BC (this is during the “silent span” between the OT and the NT)
+Julius Caesar becomes first dictator of Rome in 45 BC.
+Bible Option Weekly Outline-
*Week 1- Focus On The Old Testament Kings & Prophets
*Week 2- Focus On The Life Of Christ
*Week 3- Focus On The Early Church
*Week 4- Focus On Paul’s Missionary Journeys
Clearly this is not a complete list, but just a sweeping overview.
You will find more detail under each week’s optional Bible reading option.
1. The Regal Period of Rome (753 to 509 BC)
+The Prophets of Israel (≈ 776-445)
-Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel, Ezekiel, Zephaniah, and Haggai
+Israel in Exile in Assyria (Beginning in ~722 BC)
+Judah Taken Into Babylonia & Temple Burned (586 BC)
2. The Roman Republic (509 to 27 BC)
+King Cyrus Ruled Persia (~559- 530 BC), Allows Jews To Return to Jerusalem (538 BC)
+King Darius I Ruled Persia (522- 486 BC)
+Temple Rebuilt (516 BC)
+Ezra (458 BC)
+The Prophet Malachi (400 BC)
+King Xerxes Rule (486 BC)
+Rome Conquers Judea ( 63 BC)
3. Age of The Empire ( 27 BC to 376 AD)
+Christ’s Birth ( ~4 BC – with debate)
+Christ & The 12 Disciples (~29 AD)
+Christ’s Death (April 3, 33 AD)
+Christ’s Resurrection (April 5, 33AD)
+Pentecost (~May 24, 33 AD – with debate)
+New Testament Books Written (~45 – 95 AD)
+Paul’s Missionary Journeys ( 46-60 AD)
+Jews Expelled From Rome ( 49 AD)
+Persecution of Christians ( 64-313 AD)
+2nd Jewish Temple Destroyed ( 70 AD)
+John on Patmos, Writes Revelation ( ~95 AD)
4. Fall of Roman Empire (376 to 476 AD)
*WEEK 1 : Ancient Rome: From Kingdom to Republic
Rome Begins: Kingdom to Empire (~753 – 509 BC)
+Day 1- Founding of Rome
+Day 2- Who Were The Romans?
+Day 3- Daily Life In Ancient Rome
+Bible Option- Focus On The Old Testament Kings & Prophets
Every Empire has to begin somewhere, and Rome’s began in the country we call Italy today.
Before Rome became the powerful and renown Ancient Roman Empire, it was just like the beginning of most every other civilization. People gathered where the land was fertile and water was near. Italy, like a boot kicking out into the Mediterranean Sea, made a really nice place to settle. There were the Etruscans to the north, the Latins in the central part of Italy, and the Greeks and Sabines living in the south. As the population grew in number and prosperity, men wanted to rule more and more land, and Rome was founded… and it grew into a Kingdom… and then into a Republic… and finally into the Roman Empire!
This week we will read the stories of what the early days of Rome were like!
*REMEMBER!
There are LOTS of suggestions for each Daily Lesson below. Go through and choose which ones you’d like to explore.
It is not necessary (or intended) that you complete all of the options each day!
*Suggested Companion Reading:
–Roman Diary- The Journal of Iliona
–Rome: An Interactive History Adventure
–The Story of Rome
–The Story of The Romans
(You can find these wonderful old children’s books completely free online! These would be fun for reading aloud over lunch or at bedtime!)
*Week 1- OPTIONAL Bible Companion Reading: Focus On The OT Kings & Prophets
*NOTE:
The reading for Week 1 may not align exactly with the founding of Rome, but it will move along each week as an added layer of CONNECTION between what was happening historically in the Scriptures at the same time as we are studying in Ancient Rome.
Also… clearly there is no way to cover all of the events in the list below in one week, so I’ve just chosen to highlight a few of the Kings and Prophets.
If you have done the Bible Option in the Free Ancient Greece Curriculum section, we covered some of the prophets in that as well.
What Was Happening Among God’s People During … The Regal Period of Rome (753 to 509 BC)
+The Prophets of Israel (≈ 776-445)
-Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel, Ezekiel, Zephaniah, and Haggai
+Israel in Exile in Assyria (Beginning in ~722 BC)
+Judah Taken Into Babylonia & Temple Burned (586 BC)
The Roman Republic (509 to 27 BC)
+King Cyrus Ruled Persia (~559- 530 BC), Allows Jews To Return to Jerusalem (538 BC)
+King Darius I Ruled Persia (522- 486 BC)
+Temple Rebuilt (516 BC)
+Ezra (458 BC)
+The Prophet Malachi (400 BC)
+King Xerxes Rule (486 BC)
+Rome Conquers Judea ( 63 BC)
+The Roman Empire and Caesar Augustus Made Emperor ( 27 BC – 14 AD)
+Read It!
*“The Victor Journey Through the Bible“ –
+Day 1- p. 162 – 171 +Day 2- p. 172 -179; 180-181 +Day 3- p. 182 – 190
*Bible Reading-
+Day 1- 2 Kings 17; Isaiah 1 ; 2 Chronicles 34-35; Jeremiah 1
+Day 2- 2 Kings 24-25; Daniel 1 ; Ezra 1
+Day 3- Nehemiah 1
*Online Resources-
–The Story of The Prophets
–What Is A Prophet?
–Isaiah’s Story
–Who Was King Cyrus?
–The Story of Nehemiah
–King Darius & Daniel
–Roar!
–King Xerxes and Esther
–Calvary Chapel Coloring & Activity Pages
–Who Were The Prophets?
–Prophets! (In detail!)
–The Minor Prophets In 15 Minutes (Video- Amos isn’t included)
* Founding of Rome
+Read It!
+Core Reading-
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – Chapters 27, 34-35
*Ch. 27- The Rise of Rome
*Ch. 34- The Rise of Julius Caesar
*Ch. 35- Caesar the Hero
– “A Child’s History of the World”
(Chapter 16-19 these are great to use if you are incorporating the Bible history)
+Ch. 16-A Bad Beginnings (p. 101-105)
+Optional Reading-
-“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“- p. 4-9
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- Parts I
(Note: This is a homeschool classic, and on many bookshelves already. It is totally optional. Though the material doesn’t always overlap the daily lessons exactly, I started it during Week 1 so there would be time to finish it by the end of the unit. You could also work on this book as a read aloud, or during Week 6!)
+Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 1, Day 1)
(These are funny and amazing facts that were written to start EACH DAILY lesson!)
–Who Were The Etruscans?
-Listen to “Romulus, Remus, and The Founding of Rome”
(This is good for younger students, but FUN for everyone! Nice connection between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome)
–The Story of Romulus & Remus
–Of Romulus And Remus: The Founding Of Rome
–Ancient Rome: Why Do We Care About It? (Good for older Students)
–The Kingdom of Rome
–The Kingdom of Rome (More detailed reading)
–The Early Days Of Rome: From Small Town To A Republic (Good for older students)
–Early History of Ancient Rome
–What Are The Twelve Tables
–The Story of Horatius, And The Last King Of Rome
–Horatio At The Bridge
–The City of Rome
–The Roman Republic
–The Republic of Rome (more detailed)
–Ancient Rome- From Kingdom to Republic
–Rome As a Republic
–Ancient Rome- From Republic to Empire
–Stories From Ancient Rome: The Beginnings Of A State
– You may also enjoy listening to “The Story of the Romans” audio recording as you work through this unit. It’s a so-so quality recording (LibriVox), but the book is quite interesting. Might make for some good car school . 🙂
+Watch This!
–Ancient Rome Song
(This would be fun to watch each week. As you study through this unit the song will make more and more sense, and by then your students will have it memorized!)
–What Did Etruscan Sound Like ? (Ohhh Tuscany !!! about 8 minutes)
– The Story of Romulus & Remus
– Ancient Rome 101 (National Geographic… 5 minutes)
– Introduction to Ancient Rome (For younger students- about 4 minutes)
– History Summarized: The Roman Republic
(Best for older students- about 13 minutes)
– Viva Roma #5 (about 3 minutes)
–Meet the Romans (BBC Documentary…58 minutes)
(Note! This is a whole BBC series about Rome and its people, by Mary Beard. She is very interesting to listen to, but these videos are probably more suitable for older (or younger but true Rome enthusiasts) children.
You may like to start this video at the 5:00 minute mark as there are a few questionable (adult) comments to begin. AND as always, please check out all suggested materials to be sure they meet your standards. :))
+Explore It More!
-Take a quick Virtual Tour of Rome
–Interactive Map of Ancient Rome
(Click on each square to read about what monument, building, etc… stood there)
–Color this Map of Italy Online
–The City of Rome & the Roman Empire
(Map and lots of really interesting information!)
–Etruscan Lady (Print or color online)
+History Binder-
*Note: If you are making a history timeline binder for this unit, you can either add to it each week (as noted in the Daily Lessons), or you can work on making a Timeline during Week 7 (see notes for Week 7). If you missed it, here’s a video on How-To Make A History Timeline Binder
–>You may also use the pre-made History Binder Printables and just add to those pages!
+Make Cover Pages for this unit- “Ancient Rome”
+Make a page for the Vocabulary section. Make another page and label it “Week 1- Vocabulary”
+Add today’s vocabulary words to “Week 1- Vocabulary” page
+Make pages for “People”, “Places”, and “Events” sections for your history binder OR create a Timeline page for Week 1 as pictured below.
+Add the following to the Places section- (You will be reading more information on these in subsequent weeks also!)
-Italy -Rome -Palatine Hill -The 7 Hills of Rome -Tiber River
+Add the following names to the People section-
-Romulus -Remus
+Coloring-
–Romulus & Remus Coloring Page
–Map of Italy Coloring Page
–Map of Roman Empire Activity/Coloring Page
–Maps For Ancient Rome
*The People of Ancient Rome
+Read It!
+Core Reading-
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – none
– “A Child’s History of the World”
(Chapter 16-19 these are great to use if you are incorporating the Bible history)
+Ch.17- Kings With Corkscrew Curls (p. 106-107)
+Ch. 18- A City of Wonders & Wickedness (p. 111-114)
+Ch. 19- A Surprise Party (p. 115-121)
+Optional Reading-
–“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“– p. 14-19; 24-27
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- (Part I- read at own pace)
+Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 1, Day 2)
–Compare the Ancient Greeks & the Ancient Romans
–Language of the Ancient Romans
–Roman Numerals
–Ancient Roman Inscriptions
–What Did the Ancient Romans Look Like?
–What Did the Ancient Romans Wear?
–Fashion in Ancient Rome
-Who Lived In Ancient Rome ?
+The Rich and the Poor Roman
+Rural Roman Farmers
+Roman Slaves
+Plebeians and Patricians
–> Daily Life for Plebeians
–> Daily Life for Patricians
+ Gladiators
–> Who Was Spartacus ?
–>Spartacus and The Slave Revolt (will cover again in Week 4- Rome’s Wars)
–>A Poem On Spartacus
+Roman Soldiers
–>Daily Life of a Roman Soldier
+Roman Pets?
+ Watch This!
–What If You Lived In Ancient Rome? (about 7 minutes)
– Growing Up Roman (5 minutes)
– Some Things That Are Best Said in Latin
– What Did the Romans Eat ?
– How to Make Pompeiian Bread
– Roman Fashion (about 3 minutes)
–Patricians and Plebeians Rap (about 3 minutes)
–A Day in the Life of a Roman Soldier (about 5 minutes)
–Four Sisters in Ancient Rome (about 9 minutes)
–Just Like a Roman (For younger students- made by kids! Really creative! )
–Spartacus! (about 6 minutes)
–Mount Vesuvius and Ancient Pompeii
+Explore It More!
– Do You Know The Ancient Romans? (Walk the Plank Game)
– How Well Did You Listen? (Interactive Worksheet)
– Sing Along With The Rocking Romans (Think history karaoke )
– Interactive Timeline of Ancient Rome
– Ancient Rome Online Crossword Puzzle
–Explore The People Of Ancient Rome
– Learn Some Words in Latin (Interactive)
– Roman Numerals Game
– 5 Fun Games to Test Your Roman Numeral Skills (Online Games)
– Roman Numeral Bingo Game
– Latin Matching Game
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “People” section:
+Spartacus
–Add the following to your “Events” section:
+Spartacus and the Slave Revolt
-Add the following to your “Places” section:
+Mount Vesuvius
+Coloring-
–Roman Market Coloring Page
–Roman Villa Coloring Page
–Citizens of Rome Coloring Page
–Roman Lady Coloring Page
–At the Fountain Coloring Page
–Roman Boy Coloring Page
–Roman Soldier Coloring/Information Page
–Roman Gladiator Coloring Page (or color online!)
–Gladiators Coloring Pages
–Gladiator Coloring Page (for the Littles)
–Roman Legionary Coloring Page
–Roman Woman Coloring Page
–Roman Man Coloring Page
–Draw Your Own Roman Soldier Grid Copy
–Roman Soldier Coloring/Paper Doll
–Roman Numerals Coloring Page
*Daily Life In Ancient Rome
+Read It!
*Core Reading-
– “A Child’s History of the World”–
+Chapter 36: Thine is the Kingdom…
+Chapter 37: Blood and Thunder
*Optional Reading-
–“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“– p. 32-43
–“Augustus Caesar’s World“– (finish Part II)
*Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 2, Day 1 and Day 2)
– Daily Life in Ancient Rome
–The Ancient Roman City
–Life in the City
–The Country Life
–What Were Roman Towns Like?
–What Kinds of Houses Did Romans Live In?
–Homes in Rome
*Places Around Town-
– Roman Entertainment
– The Roman Forum
– The Baths or Ancient Roman Baths
– The Colosseum
– Circus Maximus & Roman Chariots
– Theatre In Rome
– Dining In Rome
– The Campus
(I never knew this ! Makes LOTS of sense now haha)
–Daily Life In Ancient Rome
–What Was Life Like in Ancient Rome?
–What Was Life Like For A Kid In Ancient Rome?
–Did Roman Children Go To School?
–What Did The Ancient Romans Eat?
–Foods The Ancient Romans Loved To Eat
–Romans and Education
–Jobs in Ancient Rome
–Roman Craftsman
+Watch This!
– Daily Life in Rome (3 minutes)
– Ancient Rome Daily Life (about 6 minutes)
–Roman Country Life (About 4 minutes)
–Ancient Rome City Life (About 4 minutes)
–Roman City by David Macaulay
(55 minutes- this video is both a real life tour of Rome, and animated history… it’s a fun introduction to all things Ancient Rome!)
–What Was Living in Rome REALLY Like? (about 8 minutes)
– Life in Ancient Rome (25 minutes)
– Introduction to Living in Ancient Rome (Looking for a Place to Live in Ancient Rome- 4 minutes)
– Roman Entertainment (about 2 minutes)
– The Roman Colosseum (about 6 minutes)
– Circus Maximus (Drive Thru History Clip- about 4 minutes)
–The Roman Forum (Drive Thru History- about 4 minutes)
– Tour of The Colosseum and the Roman Forum
(This is a homeschool family’s tour of these sites! About 22 minutes)
– How to Play Several Roman Games (about 3 minutes)
+Explore It More!
– Explore each part of a Roman House
– Real Roman Recipes
–What Did Ancient Rome Look Like? (Virtual Video Tour)
– How To Play Rota
(The Romans loved board games- try this one!)
–Explore Ancient Rome in 3D on Google Earth
(This is super cool! Just search “Ancient Rome 3D” and get started! Can you find the sites you learned about today?)
– Explore Beneath the Colosseum
– Ancient Rome Interactive
– Explore the Baths at Caracalla
– Rota Online Game
– Play Interactive Game of Tic-Tac-Toe
or for an extra challenge, play Tic-Tac-Toe Squares
– Virtual Tour of Roman Bath
(Click the play button on the bottom left corner to go on the tour)
–Ancient Rome Word Wheel Puzzle
–Make Your Own Rota Game
–Holidays and Festivals of Ancient Rome
–Rome Wordsearch
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “Places” section:
+The Colosseum +Circus Maximus +Theatre of Pompey
+Coloring-
–Roman Dinner Coloring Page
(thumbnail appears small, but prints full-size )
–Roman Garden Coloring Page
–Roman Theatre Coloring Page
–Ancient Rome Forum Coloring Page
–Ancient Roman Baths Coloring Page (Color online, or print!)
– How to Draw the Colosseum for Kids
*WEEK 2 : Roman Culture
+Day 1: Architecture, Art, and Science
+Day 2: Roman Government
+Day 3: Rome Becomes An Empire
+Bible Option- Focus On The Life Of Christ
–Detectives In Togas
–Danger In Ancient Rome
*Week 2- Bible Companion Reading: Focus on The Life Of Christ
*Note:
We will not specifically be studying the Roman Empire until Week 3, but these events all overlap!
*What was happening with God’s People During… The Age of The Roman Empire ( 27 BC to 33 AD)
[Caesar Augustus/Tiberius Caesar/Herod Antipas/Pilate]
+Christ’s Birth (~4 BC… with some debate)
+Christ & The 12 Disciples (~29 AD)
+Christ’s Death (April 3, 33 AD)
+Christ’s Resurrection (April 5, 33AD)
*Read It!
–“The Victor Journey Through the Bible“-
Obviously this is too much information to fit into one week using this book. I’ve offered a couple of suggestions below.
You can do a (#1) condensed reading to cover the above topics, OR you can do a quick review and (#2) just the Bible reading this week!
*Condensed reading-
+Day 1- p. 214, 218-219, 238-239, 251 +Day 2- 260-261, 266-267, 277, 286-287, 308 +Day 3- 320-321, 324-325, 330-331; 338-343
+Bible Reading-
–Luke 1:5-25; 38-80
–Matthew 3:1-12
–Luke 3:1-18
–Mark 6
–Mark 15-16
–Luke 2
–Matthew 3: 23-17; 4:1-11
–Matthew 27
-Who Was Herod Antipas?
+Mark 8:15
+Luke 13:31-32
+Luke 23:8-12
+Acts 4:27
*Explore It More!
–Meet Caesar Augustus
–Caesar’s Census (Drive Thru History- about 3 minutes)
–What Happened at Caesarea? (about 8 minutes)
–The Roman Empire in the First Century (Drive Thru History- about 3 minutes)
–Roman Emperors Of the New Testament
–Caesarea
+Herod Antipas- Drive Thru History (about 2 minutes)
–The Birth of Jesus (Drive Thru History- about 3 minutes)
–Jesus Is Born
–John the Baptist
–John the Baptist Activity Book
–The Life of Jesus
(About 1 hour- full length movie by CRU. As always, please preview! Several scenes might be disturbing for younger children)
– Herod the Great (Listen to the story of King Herod – including all the tie ins to Rome!!)
–Jesus and the Children Activity Sheets
–Who Was Pontius Pilate?
–The Sanhedrin and Pilate
–The Garden of Gethsemane (Drive Thru History- about 5 minutes)
–The Trial Of Jesus
–The Crucifixion of Jesus (Drive Thru History- about 7 minutes)
OR The Crucifixion of Jesus (Full length episode- 28 minutes)
–Where Was Jesus Crucified ? (Drive Thru History- about 3 minutes)
–Resurrection!
–The Resurrection of Jesus! (Drive Thru History- about 28 minutes)
–The Life of Jesus through Revelation (Coloring & Activity Pages)
–The Culture at the Time of Jesus’ Birth (Drive Thru History- about 4 minutes)
–Birth of Jesus Activity Book
–The Arch of Titus and Jesus! (Drive Thru History- about 8 minutes)
*Architecture, Art, and Science
+Read It!
*Core Reading:
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – Chapter 28: The Roman Empire (p. 210-216)
– “A Child’s History of the World”– none
*Optional Reading:
–“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“– p. 22-23; 30-31; 44-45
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- Part III
*Online Reading:
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 2, Day 3)
The amazing Architecture, Art, and Science of Ancient Rome was all connected!
Thousands of years later many of their buildings, roads, and sculptures are still standing!
–10 Engineering Tricks From The Romans
*Architecture:
–The Master Builders of Ancient Rome
–Roman Buildings (Why the Romans built things to last!!)
–Roads of Rome
–What Is The Appian Way or Via Appia?
–Ancient Architecture of Rome
–Transportation In Ancient Rome
–Rome’s Engineering and Construction
–The Pantheon
–The Colosseum
–The Arch of Titus
(**NOTE! This might be a really good time to have a discussion with your family about historical monuments…
Ancient Roman ruins, art, and monuments are such a treasure and are still teaching us about the lives and achievements of the past peoples. MANY of these statues however commemorate people and events that are quite… well, AWFUL! The Arch of Titus for example is full of engravings of menorah, the Ark of the Covenant, and other precious items sacked from the Temple in Jerusalem by Titus and his army in 70 AD. Should these monuments remain? Why or Why not? These kinds of conversations are of UTMOST importance to have with your children! Understand history and learn something from it! )
*Art:
–Roman Art & Architecture
–Ancient Roman Art
–Etruscan Art
–Art of the Ancient Romans
–Roman Mosaic Floors
–What is Fresco?
–The Art of The Ancient Romans (More detailed)
*Science:
– Ancient Rome and Science
–The Aqueducts of Ancient Rome
– 10 Innovations of Ancient Rome
–The Roman Calendar
–Roman Concrete! WOW!
–Medicine In Ancient Rome
–Roman Chemistry and Art!
+Watch This!
– Take a Virtual Field Trip to Rome! (about 3 minutes)
–Roman Art (about 4 minutes)
–The Arch of Titus (Drive Thru History- about 11 minutes)
–The Secret of the Arch (A science/history lesson- about 6 minutes)
–The Pantheon (Roman Architecture- for the Littles- about 8 minutes)
–The Pantheon (Drive Thru History- about 9 minutes)
–Take a Tour of The Pantheon (about 8 minutes)
–The Pantheon- Virtual Tour (For your littles)
–History of the Roman Colosseum (about 4 minutes)
–How Did The Romans Build The Colosseum?! (about 11 minutes)
–Naval Battles… in the Colosseum ?
– How Did The Romans Build Roads? (about 3 minutes)
–The Appian Way
–The Apostle Paul On The Appian Way (Drive Thru History- about 5 minutes)
– The Roman Aqueducts (A quick intro- about 2 minutes)
–Roman Aqueducts: How Did They Do That?
–Roman Engineering
(Want to bring some upper level science thoughts into this unit ? This is best for older kids, but covers some GREAT connections in history, sciences, geography, art, and even philosophy !! About 12 minutes)
–Roman Art History (about 9 minutes)
–Greek & Roman Art (about 7 minutes- FUN! )
–Mastery of Roman Mosaics
–Art! Roman Mosaics (about 3 minutes- great for younger students!)
–Villa Romana del Casale (about 3 minutes- AMAZING archeological treasure !)
–Roman Fresco Painting
+Explore It More!
–Virtual 3D Tour of Rome
(This is really fun! Be sure to wait for the audio to play for each place you click on! )
–Virtual Tour of Pompeii’s Painters
–Construct an Aqueduct
–Explore Rome’s Ancient Mosaics
–Create Your Own Roman Mosaic online!
–Take a Virtual Tour of Rome (includes LOTS of the places we’ve read about!)
–Make a Fresco!
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “Places” section: (If you haven’t added these already!)
+The Pantheon +The Colosseum +The Appian Way (Via Appia)
+Coloring-
–Draw Your Own Roman Temple (Architecture) Grid Copy
–Appian Way Coloring Page
–Mosaic Tile Coloring Page
–Roman Mosaic Coloring Page
–Roman Arch Coloring Page/ Color Online
–Aqueduct Coloring Page
–Roman Colosseum Coloring Page
–Pantheon Coloring Page
–Aqueduct Coloring Page
*Roman Government
+Read It!
+Core Reading-
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – Chapter 35- Caesar the Hero
– “A Child’s History of the World”
+Ch. 34- The Noblest Roman of Them All (p. 204-211)
+Ch. 35- An Emperor Who Was Made a God (p. 212-218)
+Optional Reading-
-“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“ – p. 10-13
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- Part III
+Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 1, Day 3)
– Overview of Roman Government
–The Roman Republic
–The Senate
–What Was The Forum?
–The 12 Tables
–The Roman Republic: How Did It Work? (Good for older students)
–Government Under the Roman Republic
–What Was SPQR?
+Before Rome was an Empire full of a long line of Emperors…there was Caesar…
–Julius Caesar
–Who Was Julius Caesar ?
–Julius Caesar For Kids (Read or Watch)
–Caesar and Cleopatra
–Who Was Cicero ?
–Cicero Speaks
–Who Was Pompey?
–Who Was Crassus?
–What Was The First Triumvirate?
–The First Triumvirate (more detailed)
–The Republic Falls? Already?
–Ancient Rome Republic To Empire
– What Was Pax Romana ?
– Life in Ancient Rome During Pax Romana
+Watch This!
–How Was Rome Ruled? (about 4 minutes)
–What Was SPQR? (about 4 minutes)
–Roman Society and Political Structure (about 6 minutes)
–Drive Thru History (about 2 minutes)
–Ancient Rome Song (about 4 minutes)
– Julius Caesar Song (about 3 minutes)
– Julius Caesar for Kids
–The Roman Republic: Government, Conquests, and The Rise Of Caesar
–What Was The First Triumvirate- History In 60 Seconds
–Pompey The Great (11 minutes)
– Cleopatra Song (about 4 minutes)
– Julius Caesar & Marcus Brutus – A Kid Explains History (about 4 mins)
– History vs. Cleopatra (about 4 minutes)
–What Was Pax Romana? (about 3 minutes)
+Note-
This is a great time to talk about different kinds of governments, and if you are living in the US, what kind of government we have here!
**What’s the Difference Between a Republic and a Democracy?
**What Is A Constitutional Republic
**The Roman Republic and the US Government
+Explore It More!
– Can You Save the Roman Republic (Choose Your Own Path type game)
– Interactive Timeline of Roman Emperors
– Choose Your Own Adventure- Roman Emperor Game
(You can find a free organizer to use with this game on TPT)
– Roman Republic Game Online
– Ancient Roman Government Learn/Match Game
– Print and Play the Ancient Roman Game Rota
– Color a SPQR Flag online
–Discover Ancient Rome Game (themed Mahjong game)
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “Places” section:
+Gaul +Egypt +The Forum
–Add the following to your “People” section:
+Julius Caesar +Crassus +Cicero +Pompey +Cleopatra
–Add the following to your “Events” section:
+The First Triumvirate
+Coloring-
–Roman Consul Coloring Page
–Roman Senator Coloring Page
–Roman Officers Coloring Page
–Julius Caesar Coloring Page
–Coloring Page- Julius Caesar
–Cleopatra Coloring Page
–Cicero Coloring Page
–Pax Romana Printable
–Draw Your Own Roman Coin Grid Copy
*Rome Becomes An Empire
+Read It!
+Core Reading-
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – none
– “A Child’s History of the World” – none
+Optional Reading-
-“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“ – none
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- Part III
+Online Reading-
–What Is An Empire?
–Caesar Crosses The Rubicon
–Fall of The Roman Republic And The Death of Caesar (podcast)
–The Fall of The Roman Republic And The Rise of Augustus (podcast)
–The Final Days of The Republic (Good for older students)
–Ancient Rome: From Republic To Empire
–Rome Becomes An Empire
(The end of this text goes into the Emperors of Rome. We will cover that in Week 3 if you want to finish reading then!)
–From Civil War To An Empire (Good for older students)
–Rome Becomes An Empire
–Rome Expands: Provinces
–A History of The Roman Empire
–British Rome?
–England And The Roman Empire
–The Romans In Britain
+Watch This!
–Ancient Rome Republic to Empire (about 4 minutes)
–Shakespeare Explains The Ides of March (about 3 minutes)
–Roman Empire Song (about 3 minutes)
–Everything You Wanted To Ask About The Roman Empire
(Really cute! About 15 minutes- from The British Museum)
–The Roman Empire: 5 Things You Should Know (about 5 minutes)
–The Expansion of Rome (about 4 minutes)
–How Did Rome Become So Powerful? (about 7 minutes)
–How Did Rome Become An Empire? (Please PREVIEW! About 24 minutes)
–10 Reasons The Romans Invade Britain (about 3 minutes)
–The Expansion of Rome (about 4 minutes)
–How Rome Expanded (about 12 minutes)
–The Roman Empire (about 22 minutes- a good animated summary)
–National Geographic: The Rise of The Roman Empire (about 48 minutes)
(Filmed to be more like a mystery/treasure hunt. Please PREVIEW!)
+Explore It More!
-Explore this Interactive Timeline of The Roman Empire
–Roman Trivia Game
–Roman Empire Walk The Plank Game
–The Rise & Fall of Roman Empire Quiz Yourself!
–3D Field Trip Through The Roman Empire
–Ancient Roman Empire- Quiz Yourself
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “Places” section:
+Theatre of Pompey (where Caesar was assasinated) +Britain
*If you are doing the Bible Option, also add-
+Jerusalem +Bethlehem +Galilee +Golgotha
+Coloring-
–Blank Maps of Roman Empire
–Map of the Roman Empire (showing provinces)
*WEEK 3 : Who’s Who In The Roman Empire
+Day 1- The Empire’s Emperors
+Day 2- Roman Gods & The Birth of Christianity
+Day 3- Rome’s Friends & Foes
+Bible Option- Focus On The Early Church
*Suggested Companion Reading:
–The Eagle of Rome
–Peril and Peace
*Famous Men of Rome (This entire book is free online here!)
This is a collection of the short stories of 28 of the most famous men of Ancient Rome, including the most prominent Emperors!
*Week 3- Bible Companion Reading: Focus On The Early Church
*Notes:
#1- Truth or Mythology
This week’s focus invites a meaningful conversation with your children about the One True God, the foundation of our faith, and what happens when that truth is rejected. The Roman emperors, who worshipped false gods—or claimed to be gods themselves—acted without moral restraint, leading to cruelty, corruption, and oppression. In contrast, early Christians followed the One True God and served Jesus as their rightful King. Their faith produced a lasting legacy of love, hope, and light that continues to shine today.
#2- To Teach Or Not To Teach…
There are many opinions about the study of Greek/Roman Mythology for children. Do you teach ancient mythologies at all? Do you wait until high school? Do you only address them when they are referenced in other materials?
Use your own judgment on this question. And of course feel free to skip whatever you don’t think is appropriate for your family!
– Greek Mythology and The Gospel (A thoughtful article from Answers In Genesis)
*What was happening during… The Age of The Roman Empire ( 49 to 95 AD)
+Pentecost (~May 24, 33 AD – with debate)
+New Testament Books Written (~45 – 95 AD)
+Paul’s Missionary Journeys ( 46-60 AD)
+Jews Expelled From Rome ( 49 AD)
+Persecution of Christians ( 64-313 AD)
+2nd Jewish Temple Destroyed ( 70 AD)
+John on Patmos, Writes Revelation (~95 AD)
*Caesar Augustus mentioned in Luke 2:1, when Jesus was born. Herod was King of Judea at this time.
*Tiberius was the Emperor of Rome during the time John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness and during the life and death of Jesus.
*Claudius is the emperor who expelled all Jews from Rome. He ruled during Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journeys.
*Nero is the emperor that Paul appealed to in Acts 25:11. The historian Eusebius wrote that Nero was the one who gave the orders for Paul to be beheaded & Peter to be crucified.
*Titus was not yet Emperor, but led the army to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple in 70AD.
*Domitian, Titus’ brother and Emperor after Titus, persecuted Christians in the same brutal manner as Nero. He is the Emperor that banished the Apostle John to the Island of Patmos.
*Trajan- while life for Christians under Emperor Trajan improved compared to life with Emperors such as Domitian and Nero, Christianity was still punishable by death.
*Constantine made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. There is much debate about Constantine’s methods and motives, but the cultural change was striking. Do you think this made the Church stronger or weaker? Why?
*Read It!
-“The Victor Journey Through the Bible“: Focus on the Early Church-
Once again, the amount of material is way too broad to cover, so here is a nutshell of condensed reading in this book that will cover the above topics with a focus on the Early Church!
+Day 1- p. 344-349; 350-353
+Day 2– p. 358-363
+Day 3- p. 401
-Bible Reading:
+Day 1- Acts 2 ; Acts 4:23-37
+Day 2- Acts 11-12
+Day 3- Revelation 1-3
+Explore It More!
–Jesus Appears to His Disciples (audio story- about 7 minutes)
–History of Pentecost (Drive Thru History- about 2 minutes)
–The Story of Pentecost
–Listen to The Story of Pentecost (about 3 minutes)
–The Day of Pentecost (Printable Activity Pages)
–The First Church
–Where Was The First Church?
–What Is the Church? (about 2 minutes)
–Christianity In Ancient Rome
–The Rise of Christianity in the Roman World
(Not the most complete explanation, but brief and suitable for an intro)
*Note-
John was the solitary disciple (of the original 12) who did not die a martyr, though Emperor Domitian tried by boiling him in oil, and then exiling him to a prison camp on the island of Patmos when he miraculously survived that! When John wrote the Gospel of John, many of his dearest friends had already been persecuted and killed. Peter had already been dead for at least 30 years!
After reading/watching some of the stories of the early Christian martyrs, you may like to have a conversation with your children about how God took something so horrible and used it for GOOD!
–What Is a Martyr?
–The First Christian Martyr (Drive Thru History- about 4 minutes)
– The Story of Stephen (audio story- about 6 minutes)
–Perpetua’s Story
–Who Was Justin Martyr ? (Drive Thru History- about 4 minutes)
–Why Were The Christians Persecuted?
–The Stoning Of Stephen (about 5 minutes)
–The Terrible Legacy of Nero (Drive Thru History- about 5 minutes)
–Nero Persecutes The Christians
–The Romans Destroy The Temple In Jerusalem
–What Happened To Jesus’ Disciples (DTH- about 4 minutes)
–Journey To John’s Island (DTH- about 6 minutes)
–The Story of Perpetua (Full animated movie- 35 minutes)
**Please preview first!! This is the true (and graphic) story of the Christian martyr, Perpetua by Voice of the Martyrs.
–Perpetua’s Story
(Taken from her own words, you may prefer to read this story together and answer some of the questions at the bottom!)
*Rome’s Emperors
+Read It!
+Core Reading-
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – Chapter 36: The First Roman Prince
– “A Child’s History of the World” – Chapter 38: A Good Emperor and a Bad Son (p. 233-237)
+Optional Reading-
-“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“ – p. 54-57
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- Part IV (Read this at your own pace this week!)
+Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 3, Day 1)
–What Is An Emperor?
–Emperors of the Roman Empire
–5 Greats of Roman Rule
–Intro To The Good & The Bad Emperors Of Rome
– Ancient Rome- Improvements as an Empire
– Roman Emperors in a Nutshell
– The Emperors Of The Roman Empire
– Augustus
– Tiberius
– Caligula
– Claudius
– Nero
– Titus and Domitian
– Trajan
– Constantine
–What Was It Like To Be A Roman Emperor?
–Famous Men of Rome
+Watch This!
–Augustus Caesar’s Reign (about 10 minutes)
– Who Were the Roman Emperors ? (Emperors in a nutshell! BBC- about 2 minutes)
– The Roman Emperors Song
– 5 “Good Guy” Emperors (about 5 minutes)
– Horrible Histories “The Evil Emperors Song” (not for your littles 😀 )
– Video Timeline of the Emperors of Ancient Rome
(This video begins with Julius Caesar and goes all the way into the Middle Ages. You could use the parts you’d like as a good visual and review tool. You could pause the timeline for conversation!)
– Rome If You Want To -Caesar Augustus
–Emperor Caligula …The Crazy (about 3 minutes)
+Explore-
– Play the “Who Are You?” Game
–Roman Knowin’
– Interactive Augustan Family Tree
– Campaign For Your Favorite Emperor!
(You could use these suggestions, or simply make flyers, a speech, or an election poster!)
– Emperors of Rome Word Search
– How Much Do YOU Know?
– All About The Romans- Online Quiz
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “People” section: (I just chose a few Emperors, add more if you’d like!)
+Caesar Augustus +Nero +Domitian +Trajan +Diocletian +Hadrian +Constantine
-Add the following to your “Places” section:
+Constantinople +Turkey
+Coloring-
–Constantine Coloring Page
–Julius Caesar Coloring Page
–Augustus Caesar Statue Coloring Page
–Color Julius Caesar Coin Print/Online
–Nero coloring page
*Roman Gods and Christianity
+Read It!
+Core Reading-
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – Chapters 37 and 39
+Ch. 37: The Beginning of Christianity
+Ch. 39: Rome and the Christians
+Optional Reading-
-“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“ – p. 20-21
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- Part IV (Read this at your own pace this week!)
+Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 3, Day 2)
*The Roman’s Gods
– Roman Gods & Mythology
– Ancient Roman Life and Gods
– The Roman Gods
– Roman Mythology (Several short stories to read)
– Comparing The Greek & Roman Gods (This is a very simple and clear chart)
– Compare the Greek and Roman Gods (This chart allows you to click each one for a much more detailed description)
– Who Was The Council of the 12 ?
– Audiobook/Songs about Rome’s Gods and Goddesses
– How the Planets Got Their Name
–Roman Religion and Christianity
*Jesus, and the Birth of the Church
(You will find a lot more resources for this in the *Week 3- Bible Option* at the heading of this week’s lessons)
– The Early Church & the Spread of Christianity
– The Rise of Christianity In Ancient Rome
– Christianity in Rome
(Not entirely accurate, but a good intro for younger students… be sure to review this)
– Christianity In Ancient Rome (This is written from a secular viewpoint, but still a decent introduction)
**Note: Scroll down to Chapters 15-16 (p. 128)
–The Early Church As Told By Kids
–Church History for Kids: Why Were Early Christians Hurt and Mistreated?
–Emperor Constantine and Christianity in Rome
–Constantine The Great (more detailed reading)
–The Edict of Milan
+Watch This!
–Roman Mythology For Kids (About 9 minutes)
–Roman Mythology (about 8 minutes)
–So Many Gods! (about 2 minutes. Warning: This is a Horrible Histories video)
–Virgil’s Aeneid
–The Storykeepers- Episode 1 (about 22 minutes)
(This is an animated series of Christian stories set in Ancient Rome ! So excited to find these ! There are lots of episodes –> find them HERE)
– “Herodian Empire” (Drive Thru History Excerpt- 2 minutes)
– Who Was Jesus ? (about 1 hour)
– Nero and the Persecution of Christians (Drive Thru History- about 5 minutes)
– Rome- Paul in Prison (Drive Thru History- about 5 minutes)
– Paul In Rome
(Good video of modern Rome, ancient places- about 9 minutes)
– What Is The Church? (about 2 minutes)
+Explore It More!
– Greek/Roman Gods Matching Game
– Read Roman Myths and Legends For Kids
– Explore LOTS of Roman Mythological Figures & Their Stories
– The Greeks Vs. The Romans
– Roman Gods Matching Game
– Roman Myths Quiz on YouTube
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “People” section:
+The 12 Disciples +Virgil +Constantine
-Add the following to your “Places” section: (If you haven’t already added these)
+The Pantheon +Jerusalem
-Add the following to your “Events” section:
+The Edict of Milan
+Coloring-
– Neptune Coloring Page
– Mercury Coloring Page
– The Early Church Coloring Pages
*Friends & Foes of Rome
Today’s reading is an introduction to some of Ancient Rome’s best allies… and also some of their fiercest enemies!
This makes a good foundation for next week’s lessons which begin with the Wars Of Rome!
+Read It!
+Core Reading- none
+Optional Reading-
-“Augustus Caesar’s World“- Part IV (Finish this section)
+Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 3, Day 3)
*We’ll learn much more about the following peoples in our study of the Middle Ages!)
– Barbarians!
– Emperor Valens and The Barbarians
– Who Were The Franks?
– Who Were The Vandals?
– Carthage and The Punicus
– Who Was Hannibal?
– The Saxons
– Who Were the Visigoths?
– Attila and the Huns
– King Alaric I
– Who Were The Gauls?
– Who Was Hadrian ?
– Famous Women of Rome
– Galen of Pergamon
– Who Were the Celts?
– Queen Boudicca
– The Story of Queen Boudicca
–Who Was Odoacer?
– Famous Men of Rome (Full Audiobook !)
+Watch This!
–The Visigoths & Vandals Song!
– Carthage (clip from Drive Thru History- about 3 minutes)
– All About Carthage (about 9 minutes)
– 5 Facts About Emperor Hadrian (about 3 minutes)
– Cicero, The Roman Republic, and Beyond
(There is one rather blunt description of his death- but no images shown)
–The Goths (about 3 minutes)
–Hannibal (Drive Thru History- about 6 minutes)
–The Hannibal Song 😀
–Hannibal’s Elephants (about 2 minutes!)
–Who Were The Celts? 5 Fast Facts
–The History of Gaul (about 4 minutes)
–What Was Hadrian’s Wall (about 2 minutes)
+Explore It More!
–Ancient Rome Word Search Online
–Crossword Puzzle- Ancient Rome
–Quiz Yourself !
–Explore Hadrian’s Wall
–Explore Real Photos of Hadrian’s Wall
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “People” section: (I’ve added a few, but add in all you’d like!)
+The Vandals +The Visigoths +The Saxons +The Celts +Odoacer
+King Alaric I +Hannibal Barca +Emperor Hadrian
-Add the following to your “Places” section: (If you haven’t already added these)
+Hadrian’s Wall +Gaul +Germany +Britain
+Africa +Carthage
+Coloring-
–Emperor Hadrian Coloring Page
–Hannibal Coloring Page
–War Elephant Coloring Page
–Queen Boudicca Printable/Coloring Page
(The page says you will need acrobat (no longer in use) to print, but I printed it just fine without that)
–Constantine The Great Coloring Page
*WEEK 4 : The Fall of Rome & It’s Legacy
+Day 1- Rome’s Wars
+Day 2- The Fall of Rome
+Day 3- Rome’s Lasting Legacy
+Bible Option- Focus On Paul’s Missionary Journeys
*Suggested Companion Reading:
–Tiger Tiger
–Attack At the Arena
*Week 4- Bible Companion Reading: Focus On Paul’s Missionary Journeys
+Paul’s Missionary Journeys ( 46-60 AD)
+Jews Expelled From Rome ( 49 AD)
+Persecution of Christians ( 64-313 AD)
+2nd Jewish Temple Destroyed ( 70 AD)
+John on Patmos, Writes Revelation (~95 AD)
*Read It!
-“The Victor Journey Through the Bible“- *Focus on Paul’s journeys-
Again, the amount of material is too much to cover in a week, so here is a suggestion for condensed reading, with a focus on Paul’s journeys. This is a great way to review the geography of the rapidly expanding Roman Empire too!
+Day 1- p. 354-356; 364-369 +Day 2- p. 370-383 +Day 3- p. 386-400
-Bible Reading-
+Day 1- Acts 13-14 +Day 2- Acts 15 – 16 +Day 3- Acts 19:23 – 23:25
*Explore More!
–Paul’s Voyage To Rome (Printable Activity Pages)
–Paul’s Ministry In Rome
– Paul of Tarsus
(To keep reading about Paul, click the tab at the bottom right of the page)
– Paul in Rome
–The Apostle Paul On The Appian Way (Drive Thru History- about 5 minutes)
–Paul’s Roman Roads (DTH- about 4 minutes)
–Paul’s Ship To Rome (Drive Thru History- about 4 minutes)
–Shipwrecked! (Drive Thru History- about 5 minutes)
–The Apostle Paul (The Bible Project- about 6 minutes)
–Paul’s Missionary Journeys (The Bible Project- about 5 minutes)
–Bound For Rome! (The Bible Project- about 5 minutes)
–FUN GAMES Highlighting Paul’s Journeys (For the whole family!)
–Paul’s Arrest and Trial (about 5 minutes)
– Paul’s Missionary Journeys Maps Coloring Pages
– Saul of Tarsus Coloring Page
*Rome’s History of Wars
+Read It!
*Core Reading-
– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – Chapters 40-41
+Ch. 40- Rome Begins to Weaken
+Ch. 41- The Attacking Barbarians
– “A Child’s History of the World” – Chapter 40 (p. 243- 249)
+Chapter 40: Barbarian Invaders
+Optional Reading-
-“Understanding People In the Past: The Ancient Romans“ – p. 46-53
*Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 4, Day 1)
– Ancient Rome’s History of Battles
–Roman Wars & Battles
–Roman Weapons
–Roman Military
– The Provinces of Rome
(Roman rule had spread very far… too far. This will help explain the fall we read about in Day 2 this week)
– “The Barbarians”
– The 3 Punic Wars
*The First Punic War
*The Second Punic War
+Hannibal and the Punic Wars
+Hannibal Crosses The Alps
*The Third Punic War
–The 4 Macedonian Wars
–The Gallic War
– The Roman Invasion of Britain
– Rome in Britain
–The Sieges Of Rome
–The Huns Come
–The Sack of Rome
– Listen to the Story of Boudicca’s Revolt
(Scroll down just a bit to find the series!)
– The Roman Siege on Jerusalem/Destruction of the Temple
+Watch This!
–What Caused the Punic Wars? (about 10 minutes)
–The Macedonian Wars (about 3 minutes)
–The Romans In Britain (about 4 minutes)
–What Was Hadrian’s Wall ? (about 2 minutes)
–Herodian Empire (Drive Thru History Excerpt- 2 minutes)
–The Siege of Jerusalem (14 minutes)
**This series has 4 parts if you’d like to watch more. The map visuals are very good in these videos. Helps to put things in
perspective.
– Siege of Jerusalem (shorter version in a nutshell- about 2 minutes)
– What Did Jerusalem & the Second Temple Look Like (70 AD)? (about 5 minutes)
– Rome and Jerusalem at War (18 minutes)
**NOTE !! This video, while not graphic, includes some clear descriptions of Nero’s persecutions. You may want to preview.
+Explore It More!
– Ancient Rome Wars & Battles Quiz Yourself!
– Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire Word Search
– Ancient Rome Battles & Wars Interactive Timeline
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “Events” section: (If you haven’t already added these)
+The Punic Wars +The Macedonian Wars +The Gallic War +The Sack of Rome
+Coloring-
–Roman Legionary Soldier Coloring Page
–Ancient Roman War Captives Coloring Page
–The Battle With the Huns Coloring Page
–Blank Map of Roman Empire
(Can you map the major battles of the Roman Empire?)
*The Roman Empire Falls
+Read It!
*Core Reading-
–– “Story of the World- Vol 1” – Chapter 42: The End of Rome
*Optional Reading- none
*Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 4, Day 2)
– The Roman Empire Splits in Two
– Emperor Valens and the Barbarians
– Rome Falls
– The Fall of Rome
– Fall of Rome 476 AD
– 8 Reasons Rome Fell (What do you think of #7 ?)
– Good Map of Odoacer’s Kingdom
–The Fall of the Western Roman Empire
–The Fall of Rome (This is a textbook chapter online)
+Watch This!
– Rome Falls (about 3 minutes)
– Who Was Odoacer? (about 2 minutes)
– Fall Of The Roman Empire- Crash Course Middle School (about 12 minutes)
– The Roman Empire Falls (Best for older students- about 51 minutes)
+Explore It More!
– Map of Barbarian Tribes
– Ancient Rome and the Barbarians- Online Quiz
– End of the Roman Empire Interactive
(Scroll down past the first ad to see the game)
– Print and Play Ancient Roman History Game
– Decipher the Code Ancient Rome
-Listen to this “Let’s Learn About Rome” podcast
(Not about the fall of Rome entirely, but makes a good review!)
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “Events” section: (If you haven’t already added these)
+The Fall of Rome
+Coloring-
–Rome Doodle Masterpiece Coloring Page
–Map of Barbarian Kingdoms Coloring Page
(I was able to print this map by (CTRL+P) and then choosing pg. 3 only!)
*Rome’s Legacy
+Read It!
*Core Reading- none
*Optional Reading- none
*Online Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 4, Day 3)
– Legacy of Rome
– Rome Leaves A Legacy
– 10 Inventions to Thank the Romans For
– The Roman Calendar
– Triumph! Words!
– The Western World After The Fall of Rome
* Rome’s Legacy in Britain
+Part 1
+Part
– 13 Things The Romans Did For Us
*What Happened In Pompeii? (Just adding it in because… OPPS!)
–Life In Roman Pompeii (Homeschool History Podcast)
–The Lost City of Pompeii
–Pompeii
+Watch This!
–Thank You To The Romans Song ( about 3 minutes)
– Stinky History- The Toilet
(seriously educational…and if you have any 8-10 year old boys, this video is for them… OK who am I kidding… watch this video. The guys making it giggled their way through the whole thing! )
– The Legacy of Ancient Rome Song (about 3 minutes)
– Hey Romans Song
– Top 5 Roman Inventions (about 5 minutes)
– The Legacy of Ancient Rome (about 10 minutes)
–The Pompeii Song
– The Lost City of Pompeii (about 3 minutes)
– Masters in Time – Escape From Pompeii (Animated- about 24 minutes)
– Escape From Pompeii (Read Aloud- about 13 minutes)
+Explore It More!
– Pompeii Gallery
– Explore Some of the Amazing Find Of Pompeii
(Be sure to use the 360* view to turn each object and see all sides!)
– 360* Panoramas of The Ruins Of Pompeii
– Quiz Yourself on Pompeii
– Roman Empire Word Wheel Puzzle
– Roman Calendar Activity (free on TpT)
+History Binder-
-Add the following to your “Events” section: (If you haven’t already added these)
+Mount Vesuvius Erupts
-Add the following to your “Places” section: (If you haven’t already added these)
+Pompeii +Mount Vesuvius
+Coloring-
–Pompeii Coloring Page
–Ruins of Pompeii Coloring Page
–Around Rome Coloring Pages
*WEEK 5 : Ancient Rome – Explore It More! Week
Bring Ancient Rome to Life with a Hands-On History Week!
If you have crafty kids, curious, kids, or any kids for that matter, this is the week in each section of our history units that EVERYONE looks forward to!
Explore It More Week is packed with exciting, hands-on learning activities that will wrap up everything they’ve learning about in a CONCRETE way!
Choose from the project ideas listed below, grab a hands-on history resource from the Ancient Rome Booklist, or brainstorm your own Roman-themed creations! Plan a few mini activities throughout the week—or go big and turn it into a culminating project showcase in Week 7!!
What happens in Week 7? SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW!
One of our favorite projects was hosting an Ancient Rome Living History Museum!
Set up a space where students can display Roman-inspired art, inventions, maps, and models. Serve traditional Roman foods, build cardboard aqueducts, or perform short Roman skits or speeches. Invite friends and family to tour your “museum,” with your child as the guide—explaining the fascinating stories behind gladiators, emperors, Roman engineering, and daily life in the empire.
Let your kids make history come alive—Roman style!
**Don’t forget to read your Fascinating Facts this week!!
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome(Week 5, Days 1-3)
**HANDS-ON PROJECTS!!**
*Art, Architecture, & Culture Ideas
– Make a Roman Mosaic
OR Make THIS Sweet Roman Mosaic !!
–Paint a Fresco
– Make a Model Roman Villa
– Re-create an Aqueduct
– Build a Roman Road
– Make this Roman Paper Arch (template included), or this COOL Arch
– Ancient Rome Coloring Pages
– Make Roman Coins
*Daily Life
– Ancient Roman Costume
– Fashion a 15 Minute No Sew Toga !
– Make a Bulla
– Cook An Ancient Roman Feast
– Make Roman Honey Cookies
– Make a Roman Board Game (a version of Tic-Tac-Toe)
– Make and Play Merels
(an Ancient Roman Board Game similar to Nine Men’s Morris)
*Science
– Measure like a Roman! Make a Roman Ruler!
–Science Experiment- Erupting Volcano
– Roman Baths Printable Science Activity Booklet
*Soldiers & Battles
– Make Your Own Roman Imperial Helmet (printable templates)
– Make a Roman Shield
– Try making a Roman Catapult !
*Week 6: Rome Read It ! Week
*Book Suggestions:
(You can find others on the Ancient Rome Booklist as well)
– “Mystery of the Roman Ransom” and “Detectives in Togas”
– “Fountain of Life”
– “The Bronze Bow“
What Is Read It! Week?
A Homeschool Reading Week to Rekindle the Joy of Learning—Ancient Rome Edition!
Read It! Week is a dedicated time to slow down and focus completely on reading—not for another assignment, but for pure enjoyment!
During our own homeschool journey, I noticed that reading was starting to feel like just another task to check off. The spark was fading. I wanted my kids to grow up as lifelong readers—not as adults who associate books with pressure and boredom.
So we hit pause—and spent an entire week reading freely.
No book reports, no comprehension quizzes. Just cozy reading time and letting curiosity lead. The change was incredible!
My kids engaged more deeply with the material, asked better questions, and remembered what they read far longer.
I joined them by reading some of the same books or simply being familiar with their choices, and that sparked meaningful conversations.
Read It! Week quickly became a favorite part of our homeschool traditions.
What Books Should You Read During Read It! Week?
Need ideas? Be sure to check out the Ancient Rome Books & Resources List—filled with some really exciting historical fiction books, choose-your-own adventure books. and LOTS of other choices for most all of your readers! And moms—don’t forget to pick up a good book for yourself too!
Whether your children are looking forward to reading more about Roman gladiators, the daily life of a Roman kid, or chariot races in the Circus Maximus, Read It! Week is the perfect opportunity to really explore some of the topics that they were most curious about!
**Don’t forget to read your Fascinating Facts this week too!!
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 6, Days 1-3)
Follow-up Ideas-
+Book Club Lunch-
You could let your children choose their own books for this week and then plan a special lunch at the end of the week to talk about them. Kind of like a mini-book club meeting.
+Movie and Popcorn-
Check the books/resource list for a movie that would wrap the week up nicely.
+Play Some Games!
Play some of the games recommended in the Books & Resources List, or check out this post for tons of ideas for history games you can buy or make yourself –>Top 10 History Games For Kids (There’s actually TONS of game ideas in this list!)
+Check out some Top 10’s-
This is a great week to listen to some related podcasts, read alouds online, or play some history related board games, etc.
+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS (This is the ULTIMATE History Book List!)
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 History HANDS-ON
+Top 10 AMAZING Homeschooling Resources At The Library
*Coming Soon!*
+Top 10 History PRINTABLES
+Top 10 History FIELD TRIPS
And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS
The goal for this week is to fully ENJOY reading!
This is a real Fields of Daisies kind of week—peaceful, engaging, and filled with intention. It’s the perfect time to slow down and immerse yourselves in the incredible stories and fascinating history that bring Ancient Rome to life!
You might choose to read one longer historical fiction novel as a family read-aloud, or let your independent readers explore several shorter books on their own. For visual learners or those who love to browse, fill a basket with inviting resource books from the library—think illustrated guides on Roman architecture, biographies of emperors, maps of the empire, or nonfiction books rich with visuals of daily Roman life.
Let the reading inspire curiosity, creativity, and great conversation as you wrap up your study of Ancient Rome in a memorable and meaningful way!
I hope you and your kids enjoy READ IT! WEEK as much as we always did!
*Week 7 – Show What You Know Week
Ancient Rome History Museum OR Ancient Rome- Notebook It !
*History Museum Option*
What Is History Museum Week?
History Museum Week might be the most fun part of your homeschool history unit!
It’s a chance for kids to proudly showcase their work—crafts, art, maps, timelines, dioramas, and more—by turning it into a mini museum. Think of it as a history-themed twist on the classic Science Fair, focused on ancient civilizations and creative learning.
Want to make it even more exciting?
Invite other homeschool families and turn it into a group event! No need for a fancy venue—just set up displays at home, in a co-op space, or at your church. It’s a fun, low-stress way to celebrate learning and let friends and family see what homeschooling is all about!
+Bonus idea: serve Roman themed refreshments and play some background music inspired by the time period you’re studying!
+How-To For History Museum Night-
-Introduce the Idea- If you haven’t already, take some time to introduce the concept of History Museum Night to your kids. Let them know it’s a fun and creative way to showcase everything they’ve learned about Ancient Rome—anything from the daily life and culture of the Ancient Rome, or Ancient Roman art and architecture! The goal is to show what they know!!
-Brainstorm Project Ideas- Set aside time to brainstorm and jot down ideas for the things you might want to include in the display(s). Think hands-on and interactive:
–>Crafts (Roman pottery replicas, olive wreaths)
–->Recipes (Roman-style snacks or simple dishes) for family and/or guests to try!
–->Demonstrations- (how Rome ruled, or how a Senator called the crowd to action)
–>Recitations- (famous quotes, short skits about a topic, or myths retold)
-Make a Plan– Help your kids plan what materials they’ll need, what they’ll work on throughout the week, and how they’ll present their projects during the event.
-Invite Friends and Family– Send out simple invitations to friends, grandparents, neighbors, or your homeschool group. Whether you host in your living room, backyard, or church fellowship hall, Museum Night is always more special with an audience!
+WHY take the time to do History Museum Week?
There are so many benefits of setting up your own history museum whether you invite people or not!
It helps make the history your children have been studying be something concrete, it encourages organization and public speaking skills, and it really builds confidence and personal pride in their work as your kids proudly share what they’ve learned! I would think this would be way more fruitful than any end of unit test !!
*History Binder/Notebook It! Week Option*
If you haven’t been working on a History Timeline Binder (or notebook) during this study, this is the optional week to make one!
Think of it as a way to SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW about Ancient Rome!
You will be creating a timeline of all the most important People, Places, and Events from your study.
You can do this with some of the coloring pages suggested in each lesson, your own drawings, timeline templates, clip art you can find online, magazine cuttings, short essays, bullet journal entries, or anything else you can think of !
You can watch this short video to get started- How To Make A History Timeline Binder
*Other Timeline Posts-
+Top 10 Creative Ways To Make A History Timeline
+Creating A History Timeline Binder
+Reading-
21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 7, Day 1)
+Make a cover page
for this section to add to your binder.
Be sure to put a line across the bottom of the page and note “The Founding of Rome” date.
+Make a history page for each of the 4 sections (see below).
This can be print outs, coloring sheets, or hand written pages. BE CREATIVE!
Just the heading and the line need to be done for each page today.
(Again, be sure to add the timeline date line at the bottom of each page)
*The Regal Period of Rome (753 to 509 BC)
+Places- Italy, Rome, The Roman Forum, The 7 Hills, Palatine Hill
+People- Romulus & Remus,
*Bible Option- Israel & Judah captive in Assyria and Babylon
+Events- Founding of Rome
*The Roman Republic (509 to 27 BC)
+Places- The Appian Way, Carthage, Mount Vesuvius, Gaul, Egypt, Circus Maximus
+People- Hannibal, Spartacus, Pompey, Julius Caesar, Cicero, Cleopatra
*Bible Option- Jerusalem Occupied by Rome (Pompey)
+Events- The Punic Wars, The Slave Revolt, Julius Caesar Killed
*Age of The Empire ( 27 BC to 376 AD)
+Places- Pompeii, The Colosseum, Britain, The Pantheon, Constantinople, Turkey
+People- Virgil, Caesar Augustus, Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Diocletian, Hadrian, Constantine
*Bible Option- (see next page)
Jesus’ Life, Death, & Resurrection; The 12 Disciples, Herod, Pilate, Pentecost, Persecution
of Christians, Paul’s Missionary Journeys, 2nd Temple Destroyed, NT Written
(Bethlehem, Galilee, Egypt, Golgotha, Jerusalem)
+Events- First Emperor, Rome Take Britain, Hadrian’s Wall, Constantine Converted to Christianity
*Fall of Roman Empire (376 to 476 AD)
+Places- Ravenna, Carthage
+People- Odoacer, Visigoths, Alaric I, Vandals
*Bible Option-
+Events- Rome Is Sacked, Fall of the Western Roman Empire
**And be sure to add in the Bible Option if you used that-
1. The Regal Period of Rome (753 to 509 BC)
+The Prophets of Israel (≈ 776-445)
+Israel divided into Israel and Judah, and the Babylonian exile of Judah (586 BC)
+ Israel & Judah captive in Assyria and Babylon (Beginning in ~722 BC)
2. The Roman Republic (509 to 27 BC)
+King Darius I (522 BC)
+King Xerxes rule (486 BC)
+Jerusalem Occupied by Rome ( 63 BC)
3. Age of The Empire ( 27 BC to 376 AD)
+Christ’s Birth ( ~4 BC – with debate)
+Christ & The 12 Disciples (~29 AD)
+Christ’s Death (April 3, 33 AD)
+Christ’s Resurrection (April 5, 33AD)
+Pentecost (~May 24, 33 AD – with debate)
+New Testament Books Written (~45 – 95 AD)
+Paul’s Missionary Journeys ( 46-60 AD)
+Jews Expelled From Rome ( 49 AD)
+Persecution of Christians ( 64-313 AD)
+2nd Jewish Temple Destroyed ( 70 AD)
+John on Patmos, Writes Revelation ( ~95 AD)
4. Fall of Roman Empire (376 to 476 AD)
-Reading-
21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 7, Day 2)
+Add information for each of the pages you made on Day 1.
You may write things you can remember…quotes…draw pictures, etc.
Add in any of the activities you tried on the proper page :
Roman dress, Recipes or description of the meal you cooked, etc.
You also could use main ideas from the reading
(cut & paste pictures, bubble notes, or bullet points…)
You can find an entire Notebooking Ancient Rome printable pack HERE
from Homeschool Share .
Ancient Rome Coloring Pages
+Reading-
– 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome (Week 7, Day 3)
+ Review the History index cards you made or bought!
–>If you want ALL the Ancient Rome Printable History Cards ready for you to print and go, you can grab the ones I made specifically for this unit!
+ Do a Candy Quiz on these today !
You’ll find a whole list of ideas for games with the Printable Cards!
You can find even more History FUN for the Ancient Rome History Curriculum, and all the others in this series, in the post-
**TOP 10 Teaching History Helps Series**
+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 History HANDS-ON
+Top 10 History PRINTABLES
+Top 10 History FIELD TRIPS
And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS
And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS
*COMING UP NEXT:
Free World History Curriculum
Part 5: The Middle Ages & the Renaissance
*Section 5: Middle Ages & the Renaissance
+ FREE History of the Middle Ages Lessons Plans
+ Middle Ages History Curriculum- Printable PDF
+ Books and Resources List
+ Printable Middle Ages History Cards
+ FREE 21 30 Fascinating Facts About the Middle Ages
+21 30 Fascinating Facts About the Middle Ages Printable PDF
+Middle Ages History BUNDLE
You can find the other parts of the FREE History Series below-
*Section 1: Ancient Civilizations & the Old Testament
+FREE History of Ancient Civilizations/Old Testament Curriculum Lesson Plans
+Ancient Civilizations & Old Testament Printable POWER Pack **NEW**
+FREE Ancient Civilizations / Old Testament Printable History Cards
+Ancient Civilizations/OT Printable PDF Version
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Civilizations
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Civilizations Printable PDF
+Ancient Civilizations/OT Great Books Reading List
+Ancient Civilizations/OT History BUNDLE
*Section 2: Ancient Egypt (includes Ancient China)
+FREE History of Ancient Egypt/China Curriculum Lesson Plans
+Ancient Egypt/China Curriculum Printable PDF Version
+Ancient Egypt/China Printable POWER Pack **NEW**
+Ancient Egypt Printable History Cards
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Egypt
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Egypt Printable PDF Version
+Ancient Egypt/China Great Books List !
+Ancient Egypt History Bundle
*Section 3: Ancient Greece
+FREE History of Ancient Greece Curriculum Lesson Plans
*Ancient Greece Printable POWER Pack Companion **NEW**
+ Ancient Greece History Curriculum- Printable PDF
+ Printable Ancient Greece History Cards
+ Ancient Greece Books and Resources List
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Greece- History Starters
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Greece- PDF Version
*Ancient Greece History BUNDLE
*Section 4: Ancient Rome
+FREE History of Ancient Rome Curriculum Lesson Plans
+ Ancient Rome History Curriculum- Printable PDF
+ Ancient Rome Books and Resources List
+Printable Ancient Rome History Cards
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome- History Starters
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome- PDF Version
*Ancient Rome History BUNDLE
*Section 5: Middle Ages & the Renaissance
+ FREE History of the Middle Ages Lessons Plans
+ Middle Ages History Curriculum- Printable PDF
+ Books and Resources List
+ Printable Middle Ages History Cards
+ FREE 21 30 Fascinating Facts About the Middle Ages
+21 30 Fascinating Facts About the Middle Ages Printable PDF
+Middle Ages History BUNDLE
+Ancient History Curriculum Series PDF Version- BUNDLE
+Ancient History Curriculum Series Printable History Cards- BUNDLE
+COMPLETE Ancient History BUNDLE
*If you are continuing on to American History after the Ancients,
I’ve got you covered too!
You can find the next part in this series here –>
Free Early American History Curriculum & Free Modern American History
–> Below are affiliate links. There will NOT be any additional charge to you if you click to Amazon through these links, but I will make a small commission if you do ! So thanks ahead for supporting my work ! 🙂
*BOOKS/RESOURCES LIST (4 Core Books)
*Be sure to look at “other sellers” for the used (MUCH cheaper) version of “The Ancient Romans” book below.
*Other Recommended Ancient World History Resources (Just for Fun!)
*This is a brief list of some “extras” for this unit. I will post a separate book list of all my favorites separately.
**REMEMBER:
Be sure to follow my Ancient History Pinterest Boards.
I will be adding to them frequently !
* Ancient Civilizations Board
* Ancient Egypt Board
* Ancient Greece Board
* Ancient Rome Board
* Middle Ages Board
You’ll find lots of free ideas and activities to add to these units.
And be sure to check out my full list of ABSOLUTE FAVORITE living books and resources for making ancient world history come ALIVE !!
Middle Ages Book List
Ancient Rome Book List
Ancient Greece Book List
Ancient Egypt Book List
Ancient Civilizations & the Old Testament Book List
**Also, check out the next part of this series
FREE Early American History Curriculum
15 Comments
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback: