Lesson Plan - Secrets of an Ancient Arena

Watch a Slideshow: Colosseum Close-Up
Discuss: How was the Colosseum similar to a modern sports arena?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know. 

• amphitheater
• renovated

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about why historians and others are so interested in the Colosseum.

1. Based on the article, what was the Roman Empire?
The Roman Empire was a huge area of land controlled by Rome. It was made up of much of what is now Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. 
^{R.1 Text Evidence}

2. Name four things you might have seen if you went into the hypogea of the Colosseum in 80 a.d.
You might have seen gladiators preparing for battle; doctors treating gladiators; sets, costumes, and weapons; and animals like lions.
^{R.8 Integrating Ideas}

3. What is status? What does the article suggest about the status of women in ancient Rome?
Status is one person’s importance when compared with the importance of others. In the Colosseum, people of higher status sat close to ground level. Women sat high in the arena, showing that they had lower status than men.
^{R.4 Vocabulary}

FEATURED SKILL: Write a News Article
Use “Headline From History” to have students write a news article about a gladiator match. 
^{W.2 Informative Writing}