Ancient Science Guide
About medicine, it is interesting to ask the students to think if they have had any of the diseases that children commonly died of in the ancient world, so they can see why infant mortality was so high then. Anyone who has had appendicitis, for example, would be dead if they lived in ancient Rome. Or a Caesarian birth... (You have to be careful not to embarrass anyone though). The ones who think they would still be alive can raise their hands at the end to be counted.
Why did people want to punch Socrates?
Where did Egyptians bury your liver?
How old are the Rocky Mountains?
What does a half-timbered house look like?
How do you spin wool?
(a project)
This is also a good chance to work on logic puzzles, and introduce
ideas such as the syllogism.
Students may want to see if they can come up with their own geometrical
proofs of some standard mathematical ideas (you will find more examples
in any text of Euclid), like the angles of an equilateral triangle all
being the same, or the Pythagorean
Theorem.
We also have suggestions for some physics work like building
a Roman arch, or making
a Chinese compass.
Main science page
List of teachers' guides
