Ancient Rome Definition Cards

My one year project to learn ancient history is turning into more like a 3 year project. Such is life with little kids. Don’t worry though. Anyone that knows me knows that I always finish what I start. (Except that afghan I started crocheting 15 years ago…that I seriously need to give up on.) Our journey through Ancient History continues with Rome.

I made these definition cards so that even the youngest students can get a handle on this era of history. These Montessori-inspired cards feature 16 vocabulary words relevant to Ancient Rome. Control cards provide all the information in one place. Split cards can be matched for independent study or in a multi-player matching game.

The cards cover the following vocabulary words:

• Tiber
• Romulus & Remus
• plebian
• patrician
• aqueduct
• centurion
• gladiators
• Testudo formation
• senate
• forum
• tunic
• toga
• villa
• fasces
• barbarians
• Roman numerals

One of my main goals in presenting information like this to my young children is to give them mental “hooks” for learning even more information when they’re older. They may not remember names or dates, but by remembering some of these terms they will have a place in their brain to “hang” new information when they encounter it in the future.

One of my favorite ways to study ancient history with my kids is to listen to the audiobook Story of the World: Ancient Times. I like to have it playing while my kids color. My oldest, 7 years, will ask to hear certain sections again and again. One of his favorite parts in Ancient Rome is the chapter on the life of a gladiator.

For someone who didn’t like history at all when I was in school, I’m really enjoying learning about history as an adult. As I make these cards, I re-learn tons of information I’ve forgotten and even more information I probably never knew in the first place. Ancient Rome doesn’t disappoint. Even as I post these definition cards, I’m simultaneously working on cards for the most important historical figures of Ancient Rome. Their lives are fascinating! Sign up for my newsletter if you’d like to stay up-to-date with the latest resources.

Recommended Age Range: Kindergarten, Elementary
Time Required: ~30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: Free printable, less than $3 to laminate

Materials:

• Paper for printing Ancient Rome Definition cards and corresponding control cards. (Note that the last 2 pages of each document do not need to be printed as they just contain legal information regarding sharing and image sources.)
• 15 thermal laminating pouches

Supplies & Tools:

• Laminator
• Paper trimmer or scissors

Instructions:

1. Print the Ancient Rome Definition cards and corresponding control cards.
2. Laminate them using thermal laminating pouches (optional, could also use contact paper or not laminate them at all).
3. Cut them out.

To use these cards, I would first read a little about Ancient Rome using any of a number of wonderful resources. For my young kids, I like to use the book Everyday Life in the Ancient World. Then I show the kids a few of the control cards that directly pertain to whatever we just read. After that, I take piles of split cards featuring the same words and pictures. I make it into a game and let them match the pictures to the words. I leave the control cards out so that they can check their work or figure things out on their own if they get stuck. In the future, once they are more familiar with the words, they won’t even need to look at the control cards while they are making their pairs.

Click here for more Ancient History activities and printables for kids.

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