In the early days of Rome, all citizens wore a toga as a sign of citizenship. Fashion the preschoolers togas using twin-sized sheets to fit their small frames. Hold the sheet so the shorter length is perpendicular with the floor. Wrap it twice around the child's body, and use a large safety pin to attach it to the child's clothing in the back. There should be excess length there. Collect it in a bunch and toss it over the child's shoulder to make it into a strap. Secure that material to the wrapped sheet area. Cut leaf shapes out of green construction paper and tape them securely to a headband that the child will then wear on her head. She's now dressed as a Roman citizen.
To tell time, the ancient Babylonians fashioned a crude sundial that would cut the days into hour-like sections. Cut a large circle out of foamboard. Then cut an equilateral triangle out of the board, so the sides are the length of the circle's radius. Keep the children at arm's length while you use a hot glue gun to attach the triangle permanently to the circle so a pointed end sticks up toward the sky. Take the sundial outside and lay it on a flat surface in the sunlight. Have the students note where the triangle casts its shadow and what that shadow looks like. Check back every 30 minutes to see the shadow move, and then show the preschoolers how to tell time on the sundial. For preschoolers, it doesn't matter whether the dial faces directly north. Seeing the shadow move is enough to get the point across.
The ancient Egyptians recorded their history and notes using hieroglyphs. These drawings are simple to make and fun to look at and decipher. Depending on the time period, hieroglyphs are read from right to left or from top to bottom. Have the children in your class give you suggestions for symbols to be used in your own hieorglyphic code. As they call out shapes and pictures to use for different letters and sounds, make a master key. Then help the children write a coded message for their parents. Remember to send a key home so the parents can decipher the loving words.
The Olympic Games first started in ancient Greece where such events as chariot racing joined the simpler tasks of racing and throwing. In a well-fenced area, gather the kids for track and field games. Have them race each other on a shortened track. Have them throw light balls as far as they can, as well as frisbees. Have them jump as high as they can. After an hour of Olypian effort, they'll probably be ready to head inside, where you can help them to fashion medals to highlight their hard, athletic work. Cut medium-sized circles out of construction paper and have the students decorate them with markers and glitter. Punch a hole at the top with a hole puncher, and thread some yarn or string through, tying it once there's enough length to fit over the child's head.