World History: Journey Across Time, The Early Ages, Alabama Edition

"Roman Civilization"

Introduction
The family was an important part of Roman life. As you've learned in this chapter, the family was headed by the paterfamilias, or "father of the family." What was it really like growing up Roman? Visit the BBC site The Romans to discover what being a Roman kid was all about.

Destination Title:  The Romans

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Directions

Start at the BBC Web site The Romans and select "Families and Children" from the scroll.

• Read through the first page to learn about what it was like to be a Roman child and student, taking notes as you go.
• Once you've read the content on this page, click on "Quiz" to test your knowledge.
• Next, click on the "Activities" icon on the left side of the screen.
• Select "Create a Dice." Read the direction for the game "Trigon" and print the handout, following the instructions to create your own game piece.

1			What family member decided whether or not to keep a new baby? How did this person express their choice?
2			Who typically attended school?
3			Did slaves interact with Roman children? Give an example of how a slave might interact with a wealthy Roman boy.
4			Describe the writing instruments of Roman students.
5			Imagine you are a child in a Roman family. You really want to go to school. Write a letter to your parents explaining why you think it's important for you to attend school.