Analyze and compare imagery and symbolism in ancient Greek and contemporary U.S. coins.

Skills and Focus: Discussion, Cultural Comparisons, Hands-On

Subject Area: English Language Arts

Thematic Connection: Signs and Symbols, Myths and Legends, Connecting Past and Present

Grade Level: Elementary School

Time Needed: 50-90 minutes

Objectives

• Identify the kinds of images that were characteristic of the obverse (front) and reverse (back) sides of ancient Greek coins.

• Interpret, based on the information in and discussion of the story Coins in the Greek World, what these images represented in ancient Greek culture.

• Compare these images and what they represented to the images on contemporary U.S. coins.

Instructional Materials Needed

Story: Coins in the Greek World

chart

Quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies for students to examine

Activity

Step 1: After watching the story Coins in the Greek World with the students, hand out the following blank chart. The first part of the chart will help to review the characteristics of ancient Greek coins.

Step 2: Distribute the chart to the students. With their input, and referring back to the story if necessary, complete the "Ancient Greek" row of the chart. Exact responses will vary, and discussion is encouraged; however, the responses should resemble these:

• coins: Greek

• front image: deity (e.g., Athena)

• represents: patron goddess of the city

• back image: animal, statue, or building (e.g., owl)

• represents: attribute or symbol of a god, place of worship, or government

Step 3: Present students with contemporary U.S. coins. Ask students to look at both sides of the coins and then complete the U.S. portion of the chart on their own. Again, exact responses will vary.

Step 4: Generate discussion about similarities between the ancient and modern coins.

Critical Thinking Ask students to

• explain why ancient Greek and contemporary U.S. coins are so similar in their design.

• identify how U.S. coins symbolize the nation.

Goals:

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 2: Understand explicit and implicit meaning in literature representing individual, community, national, world, and historical perspectives.

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 5: Use the language arts for inquiry and research to acquire, organize, analyze, evaluate, and communicate information.

Ancient Greek Coins

Front Image:

Represents:

Back Image:

Represents:

Contemporary U.S. Coins

Front Image:

Represents:

Back Image:

Represents:

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