• Develops literacy, vocabulary!
• Explores ancient Greece and its great accomplishments!
• An introduction to democracy, politics!
• An introduction to theater, philosophy, science!
• Hands-on activities make history relevant to the student!
• Develops critical thinking skills!
• Develops study in a self-determined manner!
• Lesson plans are complete and ready to use!  Start now!

It's really amazing to teach this curriculum to students and watch them go from sheer boredom with the whole idea of school, to a very strong interest in learning in a short period of time.  I've also seen new students become much more outgoing from having both a safe environment to learn in and subjects that are not only very interesting, but easily learned and applied."  M.H., first teacher in a model Steps school
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The fifth history course for Step 3 students, ages 9-10 who read fairly well, and older students still developing literacy.  

The ancient Greeks, founders of western culture and civilization, revealed for students ages 9-10. Here, the student will uncover the births of Democracy, Philosophy and Science, all in one small Greek City. The student will learn about the miracle of Athens.  The student is also introduced to the first great military power in the west, the Greek city-state of Sparta, father on many of today's military practices.  A high point of both culture and military practice at one time in history, side-by-side?  That is the story of ancient Greece.

The course is focused around the first Newberry Prize award-winning children's book, Van Loon's The Story of Mankind , and it contains those sections of Van Loon’s book the student will require.

The course specializes, as do all STEPS courses, in developing the students understandings and ability to think and form their own ideas and opinions. Additionally, as with all our history courses, this one is structured to increase the student's vocabulary and understanding of geography, as well as of history.

40 lessons, two tests and answer guides, 42-65 hours of study.

Subjects covered in this course include:

• The early Greeks
• The Iron Age and weapons
• Cnossus
• The Trojan War
• Greek City-States
• Athens
• Sparta
• The decline of Athens
• Alexander the Great
• Greek Democracy
• The Acropolis
• Draco and his terrible laws
• Solon and his sane laws
• Life in ancient Greece
• Greek theater
• Greek myths
• Homer
• The Iliad
• Midas
• Icarus and Daedelus
• Hercules
• The Odyssey