Ancient+Rome+Play+Project

__4th Quarter Social Studies Project__: You and a team of //no more than// three additional students will create a one act play which depicts a scene from ancient Rome. Each member of your team MUST have an acting role in the play.


 * Step One:** Team Selection—Students will be allowed to select their own teams. All teams must have at least one boy and one girl unless you secure special permission from me. I reserve the right to change groups if I do not approve. __CAUTION: MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET ALONG WITH ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP AND THAT YOU SELECT PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT GET YOU IN TROUBLE!__


 * Step Two:** Theme Selection—One student from each team will have to pull a name or theme from a hat. If you pull a name, that person will be the lead character of your play. If you pull a theme, that will be the topic of your play and you will be responsible for selecting all of the characters. If your group has another idea, you must submit a proposal! The characters in your play can be either historical or fictional, but **you must depict a real historical event**.

Patricians v. Plebeians (p.233) Romulus and Remus (Handout) Christianity (p. 259) The Decline of the Republic (p. 234) Roman Social Classes (p. 254) Constantine Augustus Roman Family Life (p. 256) The Empire Crumbles (p. 272) Roman Republic/Government Gladiatorial Games Julius Caesar


 * Step Three:** Research—It is the responsibility of the team to decide on an appropriate **setting**, **storyline** , and **characters** . You will have to research your main character/theme in order to complete this task. I recommend that you use your textbook, the internet, or other library resources to complete this task. Do not hesitate to ask for help.


 * Step Four:** Writing—You will be given //some// class time to write your one act play. Do not expect to complete the entire assignment in social studies class. You should use study hall and tutorial time (9th Period) as needed to work on this project. If you wish to work with your group during tutorial or study hall you must first ask permission of the teacher in charge.


 * Requirements**: Your play must be school appropriate. If your play is not school appropriate you will get a **zero**! If you are not sure what this means, it is your responsibility to discuss this with me. Each group member should have their own copy of the script. One copy of the script (complete with cast list) must be turned in to me electronically (uploaded to the wiki, emailed, or brought in on a flash drive). You will get your grades back—you will not get my copy of your script back. There must be a minimum of 100 lines in your play and they should be relatively evenly distributed (see my 'model' layout). If you have any questions please ask. Remember, this will be a large part of your fourth quarter grade.

**Model Layout:**

__ Title: The Death of Socrates __

__Character List:__ Main Character: Socrates, played by: Joe Smith Plato, played by: Mike Torres Judge Democritus, played by: Sam Castro Isabelle, played by: Tyrica Adams

__Setting:__ Ancient Greece (inside the courtroom during the trial of Socrates)

__ Script: __

**Judge Democritus**: We are here today at the trial of Socrates who is accused of denying the gods, corrupting the young, and trying to overthrow the government. What do you say of these charges?

**Socrates**: Am I guilty? I am guilty of what? I believe in goodness, questioning, and learning the truth. If that is what you mean by guilt, than I am guilty for sure.

**Plato**: //(leaning and whispering to Isabelle)// I have learned so much from Socrates and it is important that I write down everything that he says for I shall share it with my future students and the world.

**Isabelle**: Be careful Plato! If you share those types of thoughts with the wrong person it will be you that will drink the poisonous hemlock!

**Judge Democritus**: Have you answered my question Socrates? Perhaps you do not understand your charges!

**Socrates**: Wealth does not bring goodness. But goodness brings wealth and every blessing, both to the citizen and to the polis! I will not change my beliefs even to save my own life!

**Isabelle**: How courageous is this man? He will die for his beliefs without any fear at all!

**Plato**: He is very courageous. He will go down in history as one of the greatest intellectuals of all time as well. I truly idolize this man.