10 Awesome Ancient Rome Resources for Middle School & High School

Ancient Rome is one of my absolute favorite units to teach in World History! From gladiators and emperors to the rise of Christianity and the fall of an empire - it's definitely fun stuff to cover with middle or high school students.

To make the story of Rome truly come alive though, your kids are going to need more than just names and dates. They need visuals, primary sources, and hands-on activities that help them connect with Roman life and legacy.

Here are 10 teacher-approved resources that make your Ancient Rome unit interactive and easy to teach. Each links you to a resource you can download and implement right away with your students.

Use this as your go-to list for bringing the Roman world to life in your classroom!

10 Awesome Resources for Ancient Rome

1) Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius Reading

This dramatic reading takes students back to 79 CE when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the town of Pompeii. Students read a first-person narrative and answer worksheet questions to test for their understanding.

It’s a great way to show students the human side of ancient history while introducing geography, natural disasters, and Roman daily life.

2) Ancient Rome Interactive Notebook Set

This set of foldable-style graphic organizers covers every major topic from Roman geography and government to the empire’s achievements and legacy.

Students retain more when they cut, label, and organize information themselves. These are incredible resources for getting students engaged and active in their learning and allowing them to be creative with their notes.

3) Gladiators in Ancient Rome Primary Source Worksheet

Using a translated Roman text, students learn about gladiator games, their role in society, and what they reveal about Roman culture.

Primary sources like this one give students a window into real Roman values and public life. Plus, like all resources, an answer key and editable Google Doc version are both included! 

4) Ancient Rome Timeline Lesson

This activity helps students visualize the entire arc of Roman history, from the Republic to the Empire to the fall of Rome.

Students create a timeline, analyze key turning points, and identify cause-and-effect relationships between major events. This helps students see how Rome changed politically, socially, and culturally over time.

5) Julius Caesar and the End of the Roman Republic PowerPoint & Guided Notes

This PowerPoint introduces students to Julius Caesar’s rise, reforms, and assassination. It includes guided notes for students, vivid images, and discussion prompts to analyze Caesar’s leadership.

There's also a fully-narrated "flipped classroom" video option that you can have kids watch for homework or assign to absent students so they don't miss a beat. 

6) Good and Bad Roman Emperors Lesson

From Augustus to Nero, students evaluate Rome’s emperors and decide who ruled wisely and who led with corruption and cruelty.

The “magic portrait” slides add fun interactivity to your presentation. These help students compare leadership styles and understand why Rome flourished under some rulers and declined under others.

7) The Founding & Growth of Christianity PowerPoint & Guided Notes

This lesson traces Christianity’s origins within the Roman Empire, its early followers, and how it spread despite persecution.

It includes guided notes, another flipped classroom video option, and a Google Slides version to show Christianity’s geographic and cultural expansion.

8) Ancient Rome Study Guide and Unit Packet

A printable packet with review pages, maps, and short readings to reinforce everything from Roman government to daily life.

For younger students you can assign a page each day of class. Or, if you have more advanced or organized students, give them the full packet up front. This way they will always have something to work on throughout the unit.

9) Decline & Fall of Rome 3D PowerPoint

This immersive PowerPoint uses 3D visuals to explore the political, economic, and military reasons behind Rome’s fall.

Students can use 3D glasses or just enjoy the dynamic imagery that makes this complex topic engaging.

Why it matters: Turns abstract causes into memorable visuals that help students truly understand why Rome collapsed.

10) Ancient Rome Unit Plan Bundle

If you want your entire Rome unit planned, this bundle has everything... complete lesson plans, videos, PDF worksheets, projects, activities, PowerPoints, and assessments all in one.

EVERYTHING here is included in one simple download. This will save you hours of prep time while keeping your unit organized, interactive, and aligned to standards.

Conclusion

So, if you landed here because you’re searching for “Ancient Rome lesson plans,” “interactive Rome activities,” or “middle and high school Ancient Rome units,” - I promise you that these resources will make your classroom come alive.

Whether you just need a filler for part of your lesson tomorrow or you want a Complete Unit Plan Bundle to provide lessons for your entire month, these will help your students explore Roman government, society, and culture through hands-on learning. 

I hope they provide what you're looking for!