U6W5 A Day in Ancient Rome

A Day in Ancient Rome

CHAPTER 1 JOURNEY BACK IN TIME All week, Mrs. Palmer had been hinting about a special project. At last, the time had come to find out what it was. " I hope everyone is ready for a big adventure, " Mrs. Palmer grinned. Then she turned on the whiteboard. Grace leaned over to her friend Lila and whispered, " I love when she uses the whiteboard to show us places. It's like we're really there! ” Lila didn't respond. She looked bored.

“ Prepare to travel back in time to ancient Europe. ” Mrs. Palmer's booming voice sent a shiver of excitement through the classroom. " Feel how we bounce up and down on the waves as we cross the ocean! Taste the salty sea air! " Mrs. Palmer knew how to create the perfect mood, and Grace's imagination sparked to life. Grace leaned forward in her chair. She didn't want to miss a thing. A map of the world appeared on the big screen. Grace recognized some of the places on the map.

Mrs. Palmer touched the screen and the map zoomed in to show a boot-shaped country in Europe. Grace recognized that it was ltaly. Then Mrs. Palmer touched a star labeled Rome that was near the center of the boot. Suddenly, the map disappeared and was replaced by a drawing of five men in long white togas. The words Ancient Rome appeared at the top of the screen. " I wonder who those men are, " thought Grace. “ Or, actually, who they were. "

For the first time, Grace thought about what life was like so long ago. She stared at the picture on the large screen. “ I know it's just a drawing, but they look so real, " she marveled. “ They look as though they're in the middle of a very important conversation! " " Could they be talking about sports or their families?” Grace wondered. Their faces were lit up with so much excitement and feeling. She could almost see their hands moving wildly as they talked.