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GREEK AND ROMAN
MYTHOLOGY GIFTED UNIT An introduction to Greek, Roman, and
other cultural gods with emphasis on student creativity in writing about
them. |
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Weekly
Lessons |
Theme of the Day |
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Week 1 |
Essential
Question: How have the Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview for This Week of Mythology Introduction
to Mythology The Early Greeks/Romans/Norse
and the Components of their Cultures Mapping Greece, Italy and
Norway Definition of Mythology and
how it applies to Language Arts in every grade level. The Basic Themes of Myths Beginnings or
Creations The
Heavens and the Elements Growth
and Rebirth Love
and Marriage Heroic Deeds Death
and Endings Common Characteristics of
Myths
Explain natural phenomenon Many
gods The
gods are superhuman beings Gods
have human emotions Myths
contain magic Gods
appear in many disguises Good
is rewarded and evil is punished Myth:
Prometheus and Creation Stories Percy Jackson and the
Olympians: The Lightning Thief Screenplay http://screenplayexplorer.com/wp-content/scripts/The_Lightning_Thief.pdf Lesson Plans http://www.state.lib.la.us/empowerlibrary/LIGHTNING%20THIEF.pdf Lesson Plans http://www.webenglishteacher.com/riordan.html Rick Riordan Site for
Lesson Plans http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx Introduction to Mythology
Opening the Unit: Discussion on influence of Greek (architects,
philosophers, poets, teachers and think) and
Roman culture (the warriors and adaptors) on our society. Mythology Vocabulary For Students:
Increasing Student Vocabulary
http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes An Etymological Dictionary of
Classical Mythology: Influences on Astrology
http://library.oakland.edu/information/people/personal/kraemer/edcm/contents.html Activity: Design a Greek/Roman Gods’ book to use in the unit. Place in it journal entries, invent an adventure for a god, and write a letter from one god to another. Geography: Mapping Greece, Italy and Norway
TSW draw or trace ancient maps of these two countries and the
surrounding countries for the journey into Mythology, identifying key cities,
states , the Adriatic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Black
Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea.
The Map of Ancient Greece http://www.coloring.ws/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.coloring.ws/greek/map.gif
Geography/Environment of Greece
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/environment/
The Roman Empire Map (below) http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/262/268312/art/figures/KISH106.jpg
Geography of Italy http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/WorldGeography/Italy/Italy.htm Geography of Norway http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcnorway.htm Online Activities: Fun Trivia Games on Mythology http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/for_children/topics_for_kids/myths_and_legends_for_kids.html
Online Games from Mr. Donn (Ancient
Greece) http://greece.mrdonn.org/games.html Reading: Chosen portions of The Iliad by Homer http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/studyguide/homer.htm http://www.temple.edu/classics/iliadho/index.html How Zeus became the king of
the gods http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Zeus.html Prometheus and the Gift of
Fire and other Creation Stories http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/giftfire/prometheus.html Mythology Story: The Hierarchy of the Gods and Goddesses in
Mythology http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Mythology/
Greek Mythology Family Tree http://genealogy.lovetoknow.com/Greek_Mythology_Family_Tree
The Birth of the Gods and Goddesses
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/grecoromanmyth1/a/OlympiansEmerge.htm Jeopardy Games: Ancient Greece
http://greece.mrdonn.org/powerpoints-jeopardy.html Creation Stories
Role Play Activity on the Creation::
Mighty Myth p. 19 Marvelous Mythology:
Norse Version of the Creation of the Earth Marvelous Mythology:
Greek Version of the Creation of the Earth Video: Ancient Greece Video: Prometheus and the Gift of Fire Homework: TSW choose a Greek god/goddess make a powerpoint presentation based on this learned
knowledge. Project is due Week 3 of
the unit.
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Week 2 |
Essential Question: How have the
Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times?
Overview of the Lesson: Discussion on the Vocabulary Exploring
Greek and Italian as Romance Languages
Timeline of
Ancient Greece Introduce
Homer the Poet, the Iliad and the Odyssey Myths
Connected to Human Emotions Myths: Atlas and Pandora’s Box Reading in Greek and English
http://www.ilearngreek.com/mythology/mythology_directory.asp I Learn Greek Online http://www.ilearngreek.com/Mythology/mythology_directory.asp Learn Italian for Kids
http://italian.about.com/library/children/blabcindex.htm Mythology Vocabulary For Students:
Increasing Student Vocabulary
http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes Reading in Greek and English
http://www.ilearngreek.com/mythology/mythology_directory.asp An Etymological Dictionary of
Classical Mythology: Influences on Astrology
http://library.oakland.edu/information/people/personal/kraemer/edcm/contents.html Timeline of Ancient Greece: Printable
and Ready to Color http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/siteactivities/timelinegreek.pdf Timeline (Greece)
http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/access/greek/timeline_greece.htm Poetry Activity: Homer the Poet
Homer for Kids http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/literature/homer.htm
Homer’s Illiad http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/literature/iliad.htm
Homer’s Odyssey http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/literature/odyssey.htm Writing:
The Greek Alphabet http://www.omniglot.com/writing/greek.htm http://greece.mrdonn.org/alphabet.html Book:
If I Were a Kid in Ancient
Greece by Cobblestone Discussion on Myths Connecting
to Human Emotions
http://www.netplaces.com/classical-mythology/what-are-myths-for/emotion-overload.htm The Creation: Prometheus
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/religion/prometheus.htm Reading: Atlas myth and Thinkquest http://library.thinkquest.org/C005321/tq/Myth%20Library/The%20Myth%20of%20Atlas.htm Vulcan/Hephaestus, Creator
of the first woman Pandora http://www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/hephaestus/ http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/HephaistosMyths.html Pandora’s Box http://www.theoi.com/Heroine/Pandora.html
Atlas Information
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/gg/titan.html
http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanAtlas.html
Pandora
http://www.kidsinco.com/2009/01/pandora%C2%B4s-box/ ThinkQuest
on Pandora’s Box http://library.thinkquest.org/C0119204/pandora.html Discussion on Pandora’s Box
After class discussion on what Pandora found in the box and then
finding a box/jar in class,
Students will construct ten evils of today’s society to put in the
box. All evils must be
personified and have “eyes” and “wings”. HOPE must also be placed in the box. Students will
then write a poem about one evil contained in
the box and a hopeful solution to this evil. Ancient Greek Jeopardy Games http://ancienthistory.pppst.com/greece/jeopardy.html Math Activity: Math Olympics http://www.mathplayground.com/olympic_math1.html Video: The Story of Atlas and Pandora’s Box |
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Week 3 |
Essential Question:
How have the Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview of the Lesson: Review of the
Vocabulary Timeline of
Ancient Rome The Laws of
Ancient Rome Greek and
Roman Language Myths
Connected to Human Emotions Myths: The Birth of Rome (Romulus and Remus)
Persephone
Mythology
Vocabulary For Students: Increasing Student Vocabulary
http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes Timeline
(Ancient Rome)
http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/pdf%20documents/RomeTLPcs.pdf Online Games from Mr. Donn (Ancient Rome)
http://rome.mrdonn.org/powerpoints-jeopardy.html Roman Numerals http://www.novaroma.org/via_romana/numbers.html http://literacy.kent.edu/Minigrants/Cinci/romanchart.htm Art Activity: Create the Roman style of clothing http://www.howtomakeatoga.info/ The Laws of Ancient Rome
http://rome.mrdonn.org/senate.html
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/ancientrome.htm Roman/Greek Women and the Legal System
http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/clothing2.html Reading: If I
Were a Kid in Ancient Rome by Cobblestone The Persephone myth http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Persephone.html Activity: Ancient Rome Trivia Game http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/ancient_rome_quiz.htm Ancient Rome Jeopardy
Games http://rome.mrdonn.org/powerpoints-jeopardy.html Activity: Powerpoint games
on the Republic of Ancient Rome and its legal system http://rome.mrdonn.org/powerpoints.html Ancient Romans in Britain http://rome.mrdonn.org/powerpoints-britain.html Writing Activity: Writing the Greek Alphabet
The Greek Alphabet http://www.greekgrammar.org/ Video: Persephone Video: Ancient Civilizations for Children: Rome, Italy *Homework: Powerpoint
presentation due this week. |
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Week 4 |
Essential Question:
How have the Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview: The city of Troy and Heinrich Schliemann Everyday Heroism Greek Scrolls Thenes: Love and Marriage, Death and Endings Mythology Vocabulary For
Students: Increasing Student Vocabulary
http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes Sculpture Activity: Students make a sculpture of the Great Mother
Figure from clay. Reading: The City of Troy http://history-world.org/troy.htm
http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Troy/ Story of Orpheus and
Eurydice http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/eurydice/eurydicemyth.html The story of Pythia/the Oracle of Delphi http://www-personal.une.edu.au/~rrelke/pythia.htm Writing Activity: The Greek Scroll http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_greece/directions.htm Group Activity: Begin creating a bulletin board in
honor of the Trojan War. Group Activity: Build a Trojan horse using a wagon and
boxes or paper, drinking straws http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/greece/m-trojan.htm Video: Finding Troy
Video: The Judgment of Paris *Classwork Group Project: In small groups, students use their
knowledge on different creation
stories to write a 10-minute play to perform
in class. Resource is Playwriting
Seminars
http://www.vcu.edu/arts/playwriting/seminar.html.
Choices are given below.
Project is due next week.
Students will evaluate the work of their peers. 1.
Write story based
on the common elements found in the three stories in class. 2.
Write the play
intertwining the three stories where characters from each myth interact with
one another. 3.
Rewrite one of the
creation stories, changing the setting, characters, chronology of events,
ending, etc. 4.
Structure the play
around an individual new idea, demonstrating knowledge of the similarities
and differences of at least two creation myths. *Homework: Groups of 4 make a video commercial for a
god. Ideas: Athena’s Smart Pills, Demeter Cereal,
Aphrodite Makeup. Students make
storyboards, props and act out their commercials. Assignment is due Week 9 of this unit. |
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Week 5 |
Essential Question:
How have the Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview: Greek Achievements in the Arts and Astrology Greek and Roman Root
Words Everyday Heroism Labyrinths Themes: Love and Marriage, Death and Endings Theseus and the Minotaur Mythology Vocabulary For Students:
Increasing Student Vocabulary
http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes Activties:
Writing powerpoint presentations for
kids http://writing.pppst.com/essays.html A Collection of Monsters http://monsters.monstrous.com/ Encyclopedia of Greek gods, spirits,
monsters http://www.theoi.com/Encyc_A.html Reading:
Theseus and the Minotaur http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/theseus/a/102110-Theseus-And-The-Minotaur.htm The Odyssey http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.html http://greece.mrdonn.org/odyssey.html Activity: Students will make a labyrinth out of
cardboard rectangles after drawing one. Activity: Study the concept of magic tricks. Home Activity: Students will create a maze with whatever
material they have. Video: Theseus and the Minotaur |
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Week
6 |
Essential Question: How have the
Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview: Research on the Greek Men of the Classical
Age Hippocrates(science
and medicine) Archimedes (math) Socrates
(philosophy and logic) Aristotle (philosophy
and science) Plato (philosophy
and poetry) Pythagoras (math,
geometry and philosophy) Ptolemy (astrology
and geography) Nero (Roman
Emperor) Sophocles (music) Aristophanes
(comedy plays) Alexander the Great The Constellations Mythology: Jason and the Golden Fleece The Story
of Pegasus Geography: Alexander the Great http://greece.mrdonn.org/alexander.html Map of Alexander the
Great’s Empire http://www.biblestudy.org/maps/empire-of-alexander-the-great-map.html Reading: Jason and the Golden Fleece http://www.mythweb.com/heroes/jason/ The Story of Bellerophon and Pegasus http://greece.mrdonn.org/greekgods/pegasus.html http://www.dibonsmith.com/peg_con.htm The Odyssey http://www.mythweb.com/odyssey/background_s.html Writing: Rewrite a myth using the basic elements of
myths to go with a named constellation. Video: Pegasus the Flying Horse Jason and the Golden Fleece |
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Week 7 |
Essential Question: How have the
Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview: The Olympic Games Greek
Entertainment: the Theatre The Plays of Sophocles Antigone by
Shakespeare Poetry of Ancient Greece
Mythology: Procrustes (theme
of intolerance of differences) Atalanta
Hercules
and the Twelve Labors Mythology
Vocabulary For Students: Increasing Student Vocabulary http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes Myth Stories: Procrustes http://www.mythweb.com/teachers/why/basics/procrustes.html Atalanta http://www.hipark.austin.isd.tenet.edu/mythology/atalanta.html http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/greek_goddess_atalanta.htm Hercules and the
Twelve Labors http://www.mythweb.com/hercules/herc01.html The Olympic Games with
Activities http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_greeks/the_olympic_games/ Ancient Greek Poetry http://www.poetry-archive.com/collections/greek_dramatists.html The Plays of Sophocles http://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/sophocles001.html Antigone by Shakespeare (Monologue) http://www.actorpoint.com/free_monologues/drm102.html Activity: The gods in advertisements (make
presentations, research magazines, phone books and newspapers
for ads). Video: Atalanta Hercules and the Twelve Labors
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Week 8 |
Essential Question: How have the
Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview: Early Greeks and Geometry (Eratosthenes,
Pythagoras) The Number Devil Mythology: Medusa
Tantalus Mythology
Vocabulary For Students: Increasing Student Vocabulary http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes Reading: The Story of Medusa http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Medusa/medusa.html http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Gorgones.html Tantalus http://www.thanasis.com/store/tantalus.htm Activity: Create your own Roman coin. http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/directions.htm http://www.celatorsart.com/coins_made.html Activity: Create BINGO games using the names of gods
and their areas of power http://www.bingocardcreator.com/bingo-cards/literature/greek-mythology http://www.bingocardcreator.com/pdf/greek-mythology.pdf Activity: Begin creating skits based on old-time
radio talk shows and record on audiotape. Vintage Radio Scripts http://www.genericradio.com/library.php Video: Medusa and the Gorgons |
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Week 9 |
Essential Question: How have the
Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview: The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World Pompeii and
Herculaneum/Mt. Vesuvius Greeks in Flight:
rocket ships and airplanes today Mythology: Daedalus and Icarus Arachne
and Athena Mythology
Vocabulary For Students: Increasing Student Vocabulary http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
http://www.unmuseum.org/wonders.htm Pompeii and Herculaneum/Mt. Vesuvius
http://touritaly.org/pompeii/pompeii-main.htm
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/pompeii/ Activity: Create mythology board games demonstrating
student knowledge of what has been taught
in class during this unit. Activity: Study the parts of a volcano, the
conditions needed for a volcano and create a volcano. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/volcano/ http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/volcano/labelvolcano.shtml Activity: Origami Dragons http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-Origami-Dragon/ Activity: Design a monument made out of sugar cubes
to the character of choice, then write explaining
why this particular god was chosen.
http://www.ehow.com/how_12077261_make-model-washington-monument-out-sugar-cubes.html Myth Stories: Daedaus and
Icarus http://thanasis.com/icarus.htm http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/religion/myths/daedalus.htm Arachne
and Athena http://www.hipark.austin.isd.tenet.edu/mythology/arachne.html http://www.goddess-athena.org/Encyclopedia/Athena/Arachne.htm http://www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/athena/stories/athena-arachne/ Video: Daedalus and Icarus Arachne
and Athena Homework: Mythology commercial is due this week for
presentation. |
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Week 10 |
Essential
Question: How have the Greek and Roman cultures influenced our society? Why was storytelling so important to the
people of those times? Overview: The Food
of the Gods Banquet
Olympic Pentathlon
American Mythology Mythology
Vocabulary For Students: Increasing Student Vocabulary http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/25611#view=notes Olympic Pentathlon Olympic Fun
Facts http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0771580.html http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/worldhistory/ancientgreekolympics2.htm American Mythology:
The Star Wars Myth
Luke as Theseus flying through the labyrinth
Obi-Wan Kenobi as Merlin
Refusing to turn to the ‘dark side’ theme
Luke facing Odysseus’s obstacles
Creatures from the Cantina compared to supernatural monster creatures
Han is turned to stone like Medusa’s head turns people/animals into
stone
Leia is abducted and taken to Jabba’s lair
much like Persephone is abducted and taken to
Hades
When the Death Star is supposedly suppressed, it comes back like
Hydra’s heads
Vader and the Emperor look down on the conflict to comment unseen by
mere mortals, just like the gods in Olympus.
The Wizard of Oz
Lotus-Eaters/the field of poppies
Poseidon/the Wicked Witch of the West
Athena/Glenda the Good Witch
Odysseus’s crew/Dorothy’s companions
The journey home The Star Wars Myth http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/agordon/starwars.htm http://www.folkstory.com/articles/petersburg.html The Wizard of Oz Myth http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/8-myths-about-the-wizard-of-oz http://artnegro.com/wordpress/writing/the-wizard-of-oz/ |
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REFERENCE BOOKS Lipson,
Greta Barclay. Mighty Myth: a Modern Interpretation of
Greek Myths For the Classroom. Good Apple. Mastroianni, Nancy & Bradford, Mary
Elizabeth (1980). Marvelous Mythology. Manhattan Beach, CA: Teacher |
