James River Third Graders Immersed In Ancient Greek, Roman History

Third graders at James River Elementary School recently studied the ancient history of Greece and Rome. Matt Webster, Director of Historic Architectural Resources for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation discussed important architectural features of ancient Greece and Rome and how they have influenced important structures in the United States.  He worked with students in Rene Webster’s class to create salt-clay models of the three types of columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

On another day, students held a lively Greek festival during which they dressed in traditional Greek togas and headbands.  They began the morning creating baklava with the guidance of school nurse Kathy Haramis, a native of Greece.  Kathy Haramis then shared the story of Little Red Riding Hood in the native tongue while children listened and tried to determine what story she was telling. Haramis then shared some family artifacts from Greece before leading the students in some Greek dancing.

In the afternoon, students practiced writing the Greek alphabet, painting pottery, and sampled Grecian foods. Students tasted some unfamiliar foods such as spanakopita, olives, grapes, figs, feta cheese, pita bread, hummus and their baklava. While sampling these delights, students viewed photographs taken by Webster during her recent trips Greece. The day ended with a lively mini-Olympics. The students participated in games demonstrating their skills in relay races, javelin throws, discus toss, and the long jump.  The activities helped students connect the textbook renditions of ancient Greece and experience what it may have been like to actually live there.

Photo Webster:  Cooper Edwards, left, and Matt Webster, Director of Historic Architectural Resources at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  
Photo Greek:  From left: Forrest Balko, Hayden Keesee, Landon Ackley-Bailey.