Monday, November 06
The Twelve Tables: How Fair Were the Laws in the Roman Empire?
In this Twelve Tables lesson, students will read and understand the Twelve Tables of the Roman Empire. First, students will read through modified versions of the Twelve Tables, the basic legal set of rules following the deal between patricians and plebeians in Rome. Then, students will answer questions that force them to go back into the text and retrieve the information. Finally, students will complete "The Opinion Column" where they respond to three opinion prompts comparing the Twelve Tables legal system to the United States today.
Homework: "Twelve Tables" assignment (Breaking Down the Twelve Tables #s 1-10, & Opinion Column) due Wednesday, 11/8
Tuesday, November 07
ESCAPE ROOM: Crack the Etruscan Alphabet to Beat the Clock
In this escape room style breakout activity, students will be introduced to the mysterious Etruscan alphabet that was heavily influenced by the Greeks (and went on to influence Latin!) as they crack several hidden messages relating to the ancient Romans.
STUDENTS …
are assigned to investigative teams (partners or groups of three) as they analyze fictional ancient texts written in the Etruscan language. Students work together to translate four clues regarding ancient Roman history, then bring all of their knowledge together to solve the final clue.
use the ancient Etruscan cipher to translate four secret clues, conduct research, or use background knowledge on the ancient Romans, and solve the final clue by piecing together the information they have learned.
Homework: REMINDER - "Twelve Tables" assignment (Breaking Down the Twelve Tables #s 1-10, & Opinion Column) is due tomorrow, 11/8 . Any unfinished work with regard to today's Escape Room is NOT homework.
Wednesday, November 08
The Twelve Tables of Roman Law: Using the Classroom as a Courtroom
⭐ Each class will conduct their own mock trial.
Case Summary: A slave sat down in a public square to be shaved by a traveling barber. Nearby, two men were playing with a ball. One man missed a throw, and the ball hit the barber’s hand, causing him to cut the slave’s throat and seriously injure him. Who was responsible for paying the medical treatment that arose from the accident - the barber? The slave? The man who threw the ball? The Man who missed it?
⭐ Student Goals for this activity are:
To decide as a group what things we expect or would consider ideal from laws about personal behavior that govern a society.
To understand the idea behind, the standards of, and the value of the “Laws of the Twelve Tables,” laws that were carved into twelve bronze sheets and displayed in the main square of Rome (The Forum).
To try and apply the Roman style of justice to a real court case taken from an ancient Roman law book and studied by those who wished to become lawyers at that time.
⭐ Before the trial begins, students should answer the following questions:
What do these words have in common: jury, verdict, justice, judge? Write how they are connected or anything they have in common.
What things should be considered when making laws for personal behavior in a country?
With regard to the Twelve Tables, which laws do you think are the most interesting or the fairest? Why?
⭐ After the trial introduction and brainstorming activity, students will complete the following work:
Lawyers and Defendants: The four attorneys and their clients will meet to discuss a strategy for the trial. They lawyers may make notecards to write down points they want to make to the jury or questions to ask the defendants. In the courtroom, they can examine their own defendant and cross-examine the others, so writing questions they wish to ask is important. However, the most important thing is to prepare a legal argument as to why their defendant is not responsible for the accident.
Jurors and Courtroom Spectators: Discuss the case and their early opinions with regard to the person responsible for the incident.
Homework: No Homework
Thursday, November 09
The Twelve Tables of Roman Law: Using the Classroom as a Courtroom, Continued ...
⭐ Each class will conduct their own mock trial.
Case Summary: A slave sat down in a public square to be shaved by a traveling barber. Nearby, two men were playing with a ball. One man missed a throw, and the ball hit the barber’s hand, causing him to cut the slave’s throat and seriously injure him. Who was responsible for paying the medical treatment that arose from the accident - the barber? The slave? The man who threw the ball? The Man who missed it?
⭐ Student Goals for this activity are:
To decide as a group what things we expect or would consider ideal from laws about personal behavior that govern a society.
To understand the idea behind, the standards of, and the value of the “Laws of the Twelve Tables,” laws that were carved into twelve bronze sheets and displayed in the main square of Rome (The Forum).
To try and apply the Roman style of justice to a real court case taken from an ancient Roman law book and studied by those who wished to become lawyers at that time.
⭐ Lawyers and Defendants: The four attorneys and their clients will meet to discuss a strategy for the trial. They lawyers may make notecards to write down points they want to make to the jury or questions to ask the defendants. In the courtroom, they can examine their own defendant and cross-examine the others, so writing questions they wish to ask is important. However, the most important thing is to prepare a legal argument as to why their defendant is not responsible for the accident.
⭐ Jurors and Courtroom Spectators: Discuss the case and their early opinions with regard to the person responsible for the incident AND complete the assignment, 💻 Are All Governments Equal 💻 (on Google Classroom).
Homework: Students assigned to the roles of lawyers will need to prepare their opening statements for next week’s trial. Additionally, these students will need to prepare questions to ask the defendants during the trial. Lawyers will question their own defendant, as well as their co-defendants.
Friday, November 10
The Twelve Tables of Roman Law: Using the Classroom as a Courtroom, Continued ...
⭐ TODAY WILL WE CONDUCT OUR MOCK TRIAL!
Case Summary: A slave sat down in a public square to be shaved by a traveling barber. Nearby, two men were playing with a ball. One man missed a throw, and the ball hit the barber’s hand, causing him to cut the slave’s throat and seriously injure him. Who was responsible for paying the medical treatment that arose from the accident - the barber? The slave? The man who threw the ball? The Man who missed it?
⭐ Student Goals for this activity are:
To decide as a group what things we expect or would consider ideal from laws about personal behavior that govern a society.
To understand the idea behind, the standards of, and the value of the “Laws of the Twelve Tables,” laws that were carved into twelve bronze sheets and displayed in the main square of Rome (The Forum).
To try and apply the Roman style of justice to a real court case taken from an ancient Roman law book and studied by those who wished to become lawyers at that time.
Homework: Tonight, before a verdict is decided upon, the following homework must be completed (depending on your part/role in the activity):
Jurors & Courtroom Spectators: Each juror and spectator should make a study of their feelings and decide on a verdict that they think the whole group should agree on. They will write a paragraph with that view. After a topic sentence that states their verdict, they will write three sentences supporting their opinion. They will also report the view of a family member about how they should vote and write a concluding sentence for the paragraph. (six sentences total)
Defendants: Each defendant is to make a short speech to the jury and judge tomorrow making a final plea for their side.
The speeches of the defendants and lawyers will be turned in to the judge (teacher).
Lawyers: Each lawyer is to rethink his/her defense and make a final speech tomorrow before the vote.
The speeches of the defendants and lawyers will be turned in to the judge (teacher).