Lesson plan:

Objectives: At the end of this lesson students will be able to: -describe the military and geopolitical accomplishments of Alexander the Great -critically analyze Alexander’s character and actions -develop a conclusion about whether or not Alexander the Great was “great”

Materials: -Books and/or internet resources about Alexander the Great -Analysis worksheet about Alexander’s accomplishments

Warm-up Exercise: Begin the lesson by having students name as many things as possible that they know about Alexander the Great from movies, books, or other sources.

Main Activity: Split the students up into groups of 3 or 4, and provide each group with the materials needed. Ask them to spend 15-20 minutes researching Alexander’s accomplishments to create factual lists detailing his military and geopolitical achievements. Allow time for students to share their lists and discuss any inaccuracies or different interpretations with the whole class.

Next, hand out the analysis worksheet. Ask students to analyze Alexander’s accomplishments in terms of morality and justice. Have students fill out the worksheet in groups or individually.

Once they are finished, discuss the various interpretations with the class. Discuss the various contributions Alexander made to the world and his complex character.

Conclusion: Ask each student to come to a conclusion based on their analysis. Conclude by discussing what students have learned about Alexander and their interpretations of whether or not his actions were great.