Shaping the Dawn: Architecture and Art History of the Ancient World

Architecture and Art History for Middle School and above

Embark on a journey through temples, tombs, amphorae, and arches with Shaping the Dawn, a 33-week study of ancient architecture and art history designed for middle school and up. This richly structured guide explores the built and visual legacies of prehistory, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome — offering a dynamic companion to any ancient history curriculum.

Students will alternate weekly between architecture and art history, engaging with thoughtful readings, design-based examples, creative response activities, and focused study on the elements of art and principles of design.

Schedule:

Term 1 Foundations and Early Civilizations

Term 2 Grecian Classical Perfection

Term 3 The Roman Horizon

Required books:

• The Story of Architecture by Waterhouse
• The Story of Painting by Janson (may be difficult to find, be sure to check used sites such as Amazon Used, Thriftbooks, PangoBooks, Ebay, and AbeBooks/can be substituted with just weekly lessons and links if completely unable to acquire)
• Parthenon by Lynn Curlee
• City by David Macauley
• Book of Centuries (the one you use for all other subjects)
• notebook or artbook (see above)
• computer with internet access
• Form in Hand supplies (found in back of guide)

Includes enriching study helps:

-architectural illustrations

-concepts in practice

-defining vocabulary

-hands-on creation: the stone, the column, the arch, the fresco

Your download will also include the Architecture and Art History posters, 7 Principles of Design and 7 Elements of Art, as engaging steps to awaken wonder and train the eyes and mind to notice and appreciate.

Perfect for families following a history-centered education or those using Epoch & Echoes as their spine, particularly Ancient history.

Recommended contemporary and complimentary studies:

History – The Symphony of History, vol. 1 Overture

Geography – Ancient and Middle East

Composer – Joseph Haydn and Gustav Holst and Ottorino Respighi

Poetry – Rivers of Antiquity and Echoes of Antiquity and William Wordsworth

Picture – James Tissot and Lawrence Alma-Tadema and John James Audubon

*the guide includes QR Codes for easy links, if you choose to print the document.

For printing, we recommend our print partner Humble Heart Press.

Due to the digital nature of this product, we are unable to accept returns.