Traveling through Millennia to Explore Greek Civilization

Walking in Shanghai to Encounter Classical Beauty

When you think about ancient Greek civilization, what crosses your mind? Is it the gracefully sculpted marble statues, the majestic Parthenon, or perhaps pottery adorned with heroic tales? During this semester, Seventh-grade students learned about ancient Greece in their history classes. They transformed into curators, historians, and artists to create a "Greek Art Gallery" that transcends time and space, vividly bringing the distant ancient Greek civilization to us.

This project was an exploration in self-directed learning, aiming to guide students beyond memorizing the knowledge in the books. Through project-based learning, students engaged in self-exploration and practiced deeply understanding why ancient Greece became the cradle of Western civilization.

Layered task design, multi-angle exploration of civilization

To ensure every student was both challenged and supported, our teachers designed learning tasks at different levels. H, S+, and S level students explored Ancient Greek civilization from their own unique perspectives, completing projects that were tailored to their learning journey.

H Level: Hunting Greek Architecture in Shanghai

H level students explored how ancient Greek architecture continues to influence modern design by photographing buildings around Shanghai. Their work highlights how features such as columns, symmetry, and grand facades inspired by Greek temples appear in local landmarks today. By capturing these parallels, students demonstrated that Greek architectural principles remain a timeless part of global cityscapes. This modern connection helped them see history not as distant, but as something still shaping our surroundings.

S+ Level: Decoding the Greek City-State

Students in the S+ class focus on the center of ancient Greek life - the "polis." In this project, students conducted research to understand the culture of ancient Greek city-states and selected one - such as Athens, Sparta, Thasos, Delphi, Olympia, Syracuse, Mellitus, Thebes or Corinth - for in-depth study. They investigated its political system, social structure, and cultural characteristics, and ultimately presented their findings by creating detailed city-state maps or models. This endeavor went beyond merely reconstructing the layout of a polis - it offered a comprehensive interpretation of this unique form of civilization. It also forced students to better comprehend the life and systems of the ancient Greeks.

S Level: Crafting Greek Art & Arms

The works created by the S-level students are equally impressive. They have crafted Greek-style pottery or painted vase patterns depicting not only important historical events such as the Persian Wars and the conquests of Alexander the Great, but also scenes from daily life and the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Using materials such as cardboard, clay, or 3D printing, the students have also reproduced armor, spears, catapults, and other weapons of the Greek hoplites. Through these tangible artifacts, we can glimpse the daily lives of the ancient Greeks, sense their pride in defending their city-states, and feel their devotion to the gods.

After the Greek art exhibition was set up, the teachers organized a "Gallery Walk" activity during class time. This allowed students to explore the exhibition while following given clues to locate specific artworks and artifacts.

Equipped with scavenger hunt sheets, the students moved through the exhibition sections, fully engaged in observation and discovery. They carefully examined the intricate patterns on Greek pottery, identified historical and mythological figures depicted in the artworks, analyzed the layout of city-state maps and models, and studied the structural features of temples and theaters - all while recording their observations and reflections on their task sheets.

Throughout the exhibition, the students marveled at the ornate details of Corinthian columns, tested the mechanics of a catapult model, and experienced sadness and happiness by trying on the comedy and tragedy theatrical masks. They also sought out literary artifacts, piecing together connections across different aspects of Greek culture.

This immersive scavenger hunt not only sparked their curiosity but also transformed them from passive viewers into active investigators. By learning from a wide range of outstanding peer works, they gained a multifaceted and deeper understanding of Greek civilization.

As a highlight of the exhibition, the H-level students proudly presented their photographs of Greek-style architecture discovered in Shanghai—extending classroom learning into the city we live in. Strolling through Shanghai’s streets, you may unexpectedly encounter a building with Greek features and feel the sudden delight. Across millennia and continents, Ancient Greece and Shanghai speak the same architectural language, inscribing classical beauty into the modern urban landscape.

We warmly invite all teachers and students to visit the “Greek Art Gallery” on the third floor of Hsi Building C Section. You are welcome to enjoy the creative works by the seventh graders, who have built a vibrant bridge between ancient and modern, East and West. We also invite you to share your own encounters with the classical Greek spirit right here in Shanghai.

(Written by Chen Liu, Jacob Newman
Pictures by Ginger Xu, G7 History Teachers

Reviewed by Yunuo Li, Sterling Endersby, Shiyu Wu, Grace Gilmore)