On March 22, 2016, the students of Explore 2000 Middle School presented a showcase of their projects on the subject of ancient civilizations. There were displays of ancient architecture from Rome, Greece and Egypt; descriptions of the aspects of early life in Greece, Rome, China and Egypt and a fashion show given by gods, goddesses, rulers and a hero of Egypt, Rome and Greece.
The students of Mr. Dunphy and Ms Bermas gave a tour through ancient lands by dividing the classroom into four areas, each with exhibits of art, mathematics, sciences, architectures and the daily life of ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and China. Students explained each area and then the audience moved on to the next ancient territory. Alexander Vogiatzis, second year student, participated in the ancient Egypt portion, presenting sports and games of the time. He was comfortable with the similarities to our modern past times. His favorite board games were Senet and Mehen. Among the sports were versions of hockey and soccer. Alexander enjoyed the way that the project expanded on what he learned from the field experience at the Metropolitan Museum.
The Unfashionably Late Fashion Show was given by the students of Ms Garrett and Ms Norcia. The Master of Ceremonies was Zeus and the judges were Dionysus of Rome, Ma'at of Egypt and Apollo of Greece. Personalities from mythology, attired in 21st century clothes, spoke of their positions in the pantheons and accepted a rating - not always happily - from the judges. Sydney Perelson, second year student, who brought the Greek goddess of the hunt, Artemis, to life, said that the students involved developed the show themselves with some help from their facilitators. She chose to portray Artemis, the goddess of chastity, the hunt, the moon and the natural environment, daughter of Zeus and Leto an twin sister of Apollo. She liked playing the strong woman symbol. Sydney knew a lot about ancient Greece, especially the mythology and enjoyed the project.
Ms Gizulewska and Ms Benito's students built models of famous architecture from the ancient world. Teams built, researched and prepared presentations in written, oral and video media. Rome was represented by the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the Temple of Jupiter Maximus Optimus and Saint Peter's Basilica. From Greece was the Valley of Temples, the Parthenon and the Trojan Horse.
Makena Ortiz, third year student, was part of the team that built a replica of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus. They are the twins of the sign of Gemini. The temple was constructed in the Roman Forum in their honor in gratitude for the victory of the Battle of Lake Regillus. Makena said that the school visit to the Metropolitan Museum helped her understand the sculptures in the temple. Egypt's greatness was seen in the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Sphinx and the Pyramid of Djoser - the first pyramid of ancient Egypt.
All of the students participated in in the many projects, making the ancient world come alive
