Lesson plan based on Mosaic Floor

Visualize the scope of the Roman empire by illustrating the geographic origins of various imported animals.

Skills and Focus: Geography, Hands-on

Subject Area: Social Science

Thematic Connection: Geography, Animals

Grade Level: Elementary School

Time Needed: 40-60 minutes

Objectives

• Understand the scope of the Roman empire by learning how exotic animals were imported into Rome from the farthest regions of the empire.

Instructional Materials Needed

Story: What Animal Is This?

worldmap

Images of assorted animals–photocopies, pages cut out of National Geographic or other magazines, pictures drawn by the students themselves, or printouts from the internet site: Lincoln Park Zoo

Activity

Many Roman mosaics show images of animals that were imported from the far reaches of the empire for parades, private parks, and public games.

Have students plot images (either drawn, photocopied, or cut from magazines) of the following imported animals on a map in order to see the extent of the vast Roman empire.

lions: Africa

ostriches: Africa

elephants: Africa

giraffes: Africa

bears: Scotland

bears: Persia (Iran)

camels: western Asia

Goals

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 17: Demonstrate a knowledge of world geography, as well as an understanding of the effects of geography on society with an emphasis on the United States.

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