aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	History
What age group	Year or Grade 6
What topic	Ancient Rome
Quantity	1
Any other preferences

Welcome to Ancient Rome: Quest for the Perfect Pizza!

Hook Activity: The Great Pizza Challenge

Introduction

Imagine you’re a Roman citizen living in the heart of Ancient Rome—what would make your day better? How about a delicious meal? Today, we’ll embark on a culinary journey back in time! To kick off our lesson, we’re going to participate in the Great Pizza Challenge!

Challenge Overview

Each table will represent a different aspect of life in Ancient Rome. Your team will have to use your knowledge from previous lessons as well as your creative skills to “craft” the perfect pizza that Roman citizens would love. Here’s how it works:

1. Choose Your Ingredients:

   • Each group will receive a list of common foods and flavors used in Ancient Rome. Think of items like herbs, olives, cheeses, and fresh vegetables that Romans enjoyed.
   • Remember, pizza as we know it today didn’t exist, but you can create a flatbread with toppings inspired by Roman cuisine!

2. Design Your Pizza:

   • Using art supplies, create a visual representation of your pizza. Draw your flatbread, then add toppings as you discuss why you chose each one.
   • Each ingredient should tie back to a historical fact or aspect of Roman life. For example, did you choose olive oil? Discuss how important olives were in daily Roman diets.

3. Present Your Creation:

   • After 15 minutes, each group will present their pizza to the class, explaining the significance of their ingredients and what this tells us about Ancient Roman culture.

Why a Pizza?

Not only is it a fun and engaging activity, but creating a pizza also allows you to connect different facets of Ancient Roman civilization—food, culture, trade, and daily life. Plus, who doesn’t love pizza?

Learning Goals

Through this activity, we aim to:

• Explore daily life in Ancient Rome and how people lived and ate.
• Understand the importance of trade and agriculture in ancient economies.
• Foster teamwork and creative thinking.

Transition to Lesson

Now that we’ve whetted our appetites, let’s dive deeper into the world of Ancient Rome. We’ll uncover the fascinating history, remarkable achievements, and cultural influences that have shaped not just Rome, but also the entire world!

Are you ready to become an Ancient Roman historian? Let’s get started!