Club Activities
Below are some examples of extracurricular activies I have used with younger Latin learners.
Roman Shield
& Centurion
After learning about the Roman army, we made our own Roman shields out of cardboard, elastic bands, velcro, aluminum foil, and a bottle cap. Afterwards we used the shields and pool noodles to play the game Centurion, an adaption of the game "Ninja." We also played Seize the Stansards (Capture the Flag) and Thraeces et Murmilloi (Sharks and Minnows).
Coniuratio
If you are familiar with the game "Mafia," this activity is basically an adaption to fit the context of the Catiline Conspiracy. Before playing depending on how much time was available, we read either the Latin or English excerpt from Latin for the New Millenium. Then after discussing who were Catiline, Cicero, and Cato, we played the following game
Latin Comics
One of my favorite activities to do with elementary and middle school students is to make a comic in Latin of a myth. Students are able to use visual images to support for their limited knowledge of the language. Below is an example of a myth, one of my 3rd grade students invented about Minerva, Jupiter, and Pluto (She only had a total of 3 hours of reading Latin before making this).
DE CONIURATIONE CATILINAE
Animus Catilinae mala consilia parat. Catilina tamen in curiam intrat, sellam petit, se tamquam bonus vir gerit. Tunc Marcus Tullius Cicero consul longam et luculentam orationem in curia habet. Cicero magna fortudine narrat Catilinam esse virum malum et civibus Romanis mortem parare. Cicero dicit se posse armis Romanos servare et Catilinam ab urbe Roma semovere. Catilina audit et terram spectat. Tandem Catilina dicit patres non debere verba Ciceronis audire. Patres tamen verba Ciceronis audiunt et urbem sevare dicernunt.
The mind of Catiline was preparing evil schemes to take over Rome. Catiline was upset because he attempted to be elected consul but was caught cheating. Greedy for power, Catiline gathered a group of criminals and made plans to start a huge fire in the city and take over the government. But Catiline hid his plans and entered into the senate house, took his seat, and acted as if he was a good man. Then the consul Cicero gave a long and eloquent speech in the senate house. With great bravery, Cicero told that Catiline was a bad man and that he was planning to kill many citizens. Cicero said that he was able to save the Romans with an army and remove Catiline from the city of Rome. Catiline, afraid, heard this and looked at the ground. Finally Catiline said that the senators shouldn’t listen to the words of Cicero. But a wise man named Cato the younger reminded the senators to be brave like their ancestors and not be afraid to stand up to Catiline. The senators listened to these words and decided to save the city. Finally Catiline fled from Rome, and his conspiracy was defeated by the Roman army.
Players:
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Senatores = Everyone. In the morning, the senatores debate which of senators they should send into exile. Each senator will have the opportunity to ask questions to each other to see if they can figure out who is a conspirator (Where were you yesterday? Did you stay at home or go out? Why are you so tired? Were you planning a conspiracy?). At the end, each senator will submit a vote of who to exile
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Catiline et 2 Conscii: At night, these players will be asked to open their eyes. They will silently select a senator to drive out of Rome that night with hand gestures.
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Cicero: After the Conscii, Cicero will be asked to open his eyes. They will silently pick one senator, and I will tell him whether he is innocent or a conspirator. Thumbs up means they are innocent, and Thumbs down means they are guilty.
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Cato: After Cicero, Cato will be asked to open his eyes. They will silently choose one senator to protect from the conspirators.
Voting Phrases:
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Sententiam date, date/ ferte suffragium
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tollite manus vestras
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quen vultis punier?
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quem conscium esse putatis?
Morning Phrases:
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galli cantant
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sol oritur
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omnes ex somno excitantur malo nuntio
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nam hac nocte Catilina interfecit …
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hac nocte obiit … optimus civis / scelestissimus homo, latro crudelissimus