Lesson Plan - Secrets of an Ancient Arena

Watch a Slideshow: Colosseum Close-Up
Discuss: How was the Colosseum similar to a modern sports arena? 

Preview Words to Know 
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• amphitheater 
• renovated 

Set a Purpose for Reading 
As students read, have them think about why historians and others are so interested in the Colosseum. 

1. Based on the article, describe the empire that the Romans controlled long ago.
The empire was land that that Romans controlled in what is now Europe, Asia, and Africa. The empire was powerful.
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2. Name four things you might have seen if you went into the tunnels under the Colosseum in 80 A.D.
You might have seen gladiators preparing to fight, doctors treating gladiators’ wounds, sets and costumes being stored, and animals that fought in some events.
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3.  According to the caption, why would the floor of the Colosseum sometimes be flooded?
The floor of the Colosseum would sometimes be flooded so that ships could be brought in. Then people could watch “battles at sea.”
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FEATURED SKILL: Write a News Article
Use “Headline From History” to have students write a news article about a gladiator match.
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