The Shooting Star
The Shooting Star is a collection of e-newsletters that were originally created as part of the Ascanius Membership Program. Each one includes lesson plans and activity ideas centering around a common theme. At present we have over 30 lesson plans related to Classics and Latin!
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Roman Roads
All Roads Lead to Rome! A Roman road trip board game, Candy Roman road models, the Roman Appius Claudius Caecus, the word “via,” and more!
Gladiators
Gladiatorial advertisements and emblems, Spartacus, holding your own tournament, Playmobil gladiators, and more!
Back to School shopping
Back-to-School Shopping, Ancient Roman Style! Back-to-school in Ancient Rome, origami in Latin, the words “pen” and “paper,” the Roman Quintilian, and more!
Ceres and Proserpina
The story of Proserpina in English and in a simple Latin comic, the word “etiology,” the poet Ovid, and more!
Days of the Week and Weather
Happy New Year! The days of the week and weather in Latin, calculating calendar dates, our English word “calendar,” Julius Caesar, and more!
Roman Baths
Roman Baths: A mock visit to the baths, reading workshop, the Roman writer Seneca, English words related to Roman baths, and more!
Parts of the Body
Partēs Corporis! A conversational Latin monster-guessing game, anatomical votive offerings, the doctor Galen, medical terms with fascinating origins, and more!
Ides of March
Et tu, Brute? Two Ides-themed Latin language activities, reenacting a Roman funeral, the writer Suetonius, the term “Ides,” and more!
Clothing
The clothes make the man! A Roman fashion show, bulla posters, Quintilian, the words “palliative” and “protection,” and more!
Coins
Show me the money! An introduction to Roman coins, the emperor Diocletian, Roman coin replicas, the word “pecuniary,” an interview with a coin collector, and more!
Colors
“I think the names of colors are at the edge, between where language fails and where it’s at its most powerful.” – British writer A. S. Byatt
Latin colors and rock painting, statues in color, Pliny the Elder, the word “iridescence,” and more!
Romulus and Remus
Ab urbe conditā… The story of Romulus and Remus in English and in Latin, the author Livy, an online storyboard resource, the word “palatial,” and more!
Mythological Couples
Love conquers all… Here we have stories of mythological couples, valentine cards and shoeboxes, Valentinus, mythology charm bracelets, the word “cherish,” and more!
Roman Foods
Gobble till you wobble… Here are spoken Latin activities with food vocabulary, a Roman restaurant creation challenge, Roman recipes, the writer Apicius, the word “companion,” and more!
Elections
Friends, Pompeians, and Countrymen, lend me your votes… Create Pompeian election graffiti, an election simulation, chalk spray, Quintus Tullius Cicero, the words “candidate” and “candid,” and more!
Mythological Monsters
They did the mash…they did the monster mash! Here’s our introduction to many monsters of Greek mythology, a spoken-Latin game, a crossword puzzle that explores certain monsters’ influence on our modern world, the poet Ovid, a posable Cerberus statue, the word “monstrosity,” and more! Plus, a bonus lesson featuring Pokemon!
Chariot Racing
And they’re off! We explore the exciting world of chariot racing: a chariot race simulation, a chariot racing spoken-Latin board game, a reconstruction of the Circus Maximus, a famous Roman athlete, and more!
Roman Britain
We are exploring Roman Britain: the famous Vindolanda tablets and an infinitives composition activity, a webquest about forts in Roman Britain, the warrior queen Boudicca, sand castle molds, and more!
Roman Religion
Dī Immortālēs! Here we take a look at Roman religion: a Roman religion board game, a lesson in augury, a bonus lesson on the gods and goddesses, the words “inaugural” and “auspicious,” and more!
Constellations
Ecce, Cassiopeia! Here we are looking up at the sky for some Classically inspired constellations. We’re exploring five basic constellations, drawing constellations, Claudius Ptolemy, the words “stellar” and “astronaut,” and more!
Math and Numbers
Ūnus, duō, trēs Rōmānī… We are focusing on math and numerals in Latin and the ancient world: adding Latin numbers, Roman numerals BINGO, Hypatia the Mathematician, Roman Numerals dice, and more!
Archaeology
Digging in the dirt… We uncover ways to test out archaeology in the classroom: a textual lacunae, archaeological observations, items in a Roman town, the Roman poet Ovid, the word “excavate,” and more!
Roman Houses
Reptō ē tablīnō! Currō in cūlinam! We explore houses in Latin and the Roman world with a Roman house board game, a game of twister, the emperor Nero, Easter eggs, and more!
Conversational Latin
Salvete, omnes! We have a lot to talk about! Our theme is Conversational Latin! There’s a tea party with neuter nouns, Roman foods, the online resource Wheel Decide, the words “eloquent” and “loquacious,” and more!
Saturnalia
Io, Saturnalia! It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the festival of Saturnalia! There’s a reenactment of Saturnalia, writing cards in Latin, carols in Latin, uses for gingerbread man cookies, and more!
Maps and Travel
Are we there yet? Here we take a journey around the ancient Mediterranean: a human map of the Roman provinces, the wanderings of the heroes, fascinating online maps, ancient Roman travel mugs, the word “circumnavigate,” and more!
The Trojan War
“I fear the Greeks, even bearing gifts…” Here we explore the Trojan War: a Trojan War Character Day, snake sentences, an Odyssey game, straw hat battle helmets, the word “muse,” and more!
Animals
Lions, and tigers, and bears…oh my! A spoken Latin lesson with stuffed animals, acting out fables, a crossword puzzle generator, alphabet beads, and more!
Architecture
Rome wasn’t built in a day… Here we take a look at classical architecture. We have an “Influence of Classical Architecture” show-and-tell, reconstructing a ruined temple, the Ludi Florales festival, classical architecture blocks, the word “pontifex,” and more!
Writing
In this post we take a look at Roman writing: acrostic poems with Latin adjectives, wax tablets and Roman cursive, the Bitstrips comic creator, storytelling dice, accentuation, and more!