Objective: The student will recall why Christ died and what redemption means.
Quick review of Day 1. Answer without looking: Why did Jesus die on the cross? (Out of love, to redeem us from sin and reconcile us to God.) What does 'redemption' mean? (A 'buying back.') Then pray together, making the Sign of the Cross slowly and reverently, recalling that the empire's cruelest punishment became the sign of our salvation.
1Why do Christians make the Sign of the Cross so often?
Activity
Make the Sign of the Cross slowly, thinking about each word.
'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.'
Memory Work
Keep to 5 minutes: recall plus prayer.
Grammar20 min
Subjects, Predicates, and Tricky Subject-Verb Agreement
Objective: The student will identify the complete subject and predicate of a sentence and apply subject-verb agreement in difficult cases.
Every complete sentence has two essential parts. The SUBJECT names who or what the sentence is about (the simple subject is the key noun/pronoun; the complete subject includes its modifiers). The PREDICATE tells what the subject does or is (the simple predicate is the verb; the complete predicate includes everything else). Example: 'The disciplined Roman soldiers / marched for miles each day.' (Complete subject before the slash; complete predicate after; simple subject = soldiers; simple verb = marched.)
Subjects and verbs must AGREE in number, and Rome supplies us tricky cases:
Rule 1, words between subject and verb don't change agreement: 'The leader of the legions IS brave.' (subject = leader, singular, not legions.)
Rule 2, compound subjects joined by 'and' are usually plural: 'Caesar and Pompey WERE rivals.'
Rule 3, with 'or'/'nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject: 'Neither the consul nor the senators WERE present.' (nearer = senators.)
Rule 4, indefinite pronouns like each, every, everyone, neither are singular: 'Each of the soldiers CARRIES a shield.'
Practice (choose the correct verb):
1. The Senate, along with the consuls, (was / were) responsible for Rome.
2. Either Hannibal or his generals (was / were) going to attack.
3. Each of the twelve tables (lists / list) a law.
4. Identify the complete subject and predicate: 'The mighty armies of Carthage crossed the Alps.'
5. Write a sentence with a compound subject joined by 'and.'
1Why does the phrase between a subject and verb (like 'of the legions') so often trick people?
Activity
Complete practice items 1-5 in your notebook.
Vocabulary
subject
Who or what a sentence is about; the simple subject is its key noun or pronoun.
predicate
What the subject does or is; the simple predicate is the verb.
subject-verb agreement
The rule that a verb must match its subject in number (singular/plural).
The subject names who/what; the predicate tells what it does or is.
Memory Work
ANSWER KEY: 1. was (subject = Senate, singular; 'along with the consuls' doesn't change it); 2. were (nearer subject = generals, plural); 3. lists (each = singular); 4. complete subject = 'The mighty armies of Carthage', complete predicate = 'crossed the Alps' (simple subject = armies, simple verb = crossed); 5. accept any correct sentence with a plural verb, e.g. 'Caesar and Brutus were once friends.' This agreement skill is graded directly in this week's writing rubric.
Geography30 min
Mapping the Italian Peninsula and the Western Mediterranean
Objective: The student will draw the Italian peninsula and the western Mediterranean, labeling Rome, Carthage, and the Punic War setting.
Geography helps explain Rome's rise. Italy is a long, boot-shaped peninsula reaching south into the central Mediterranean, with the Apennine mountains running down its spine and fertile plains (like Latium, around Rome) for farming. Its central position let Rome reach in every direction. Just across a narrow stretch of sea, on the North African coast, sat Carthage, its great rival, controlling the western Mediterranean from there and from the large islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, which lay between them like stepping-stones (and became the prizes of the First Punic War). To win the Second Punic War, Hannibal famously avoided the sea and marched overland from Spain (which Carthage also controlled), across southern Gaul, and over the Alps into Italy from the north. Drawing task: sketch the Italian peninsula (the 'boot') with the Apennines, and mark Rome on the Tiber in central Italy and the toe pointing toward Sicily. Across the sea, mark Carthage on the North African coast. Label the western Mediterranean Sea and the three key islands: Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica. Finally, draw a dashed arrow tracing Hannibal's route from Spain, across Gaul, over the Alps, into Italy. Add a compass rose.
1How did Italy's central position in the Mediterranean help Rome?
2Why did Hannibal march over the Alps instead of sailing to Italy?
Activity
Draw and label the map as described (Italy, Rome, Carthage, the three islands, the western Mediterranean, and Hannibal's route).
Vocabulary
peninsula
Land nearly surrounded by water; Italy is a long peninsula in the Mediterranean.
Apennines
The mountain range running down the length of the Italian peninsula.
Italy is a boot; Rome sits on the Tiber; Carthage faces it across the sea.
Memory Work
Prep: have the reference map on screen; print a blank Italy outline if possible. Praise correct placement of Rome (central, west coast) and the three islands. This map extends to the full Empire next week.
Wrap-Up5 min
Notebook Wrap
Objective: The student will consolidate the day's skills work.
Add 'Apennines' and 'subject/predicate' to your glossary. Write one sentence about Hannibal's march, then underline its complete subject once and its complete predicate twice.