Mythology Daily Lessons

AresNov. 12

• Read page 32 in D’Aulaire’s• In paragraph form, answer the following.– Explain “skin deep beauty” using Ares as an example.– What is ironic about him being the god of war? What

might this say about war?– Remember what we have studied about writing

effective responses. RACE

Athens, GreeceNov. 13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP-FsX0QW88

Athens, Greece: Ancient Acropolis and Agora by Rick Steves 4:32

AthenaNov. 13

• Read pages 34-37 in D’Aulaires’. • Create a visual image of Athena showing her

character, interests, role in mythology, etc. On the back, write a paragraph about why the city of Athens is so named. Make sure you have a strong topic sentence.

A Link to a Short Version of Athena’s Story http://www.mythweb.com/gods/athena.html

Rick RiordanNov. 14

• Get out your assignment on Athena. Make sure your name and period are on it. Underline the topic sentence of the paragraph that you wrote. Put it in the tray.

• In your journal--What do you think inspires authors to write the books that they do? What questions would you ask Rick Riordan about the Percy Jackson series?

• Listen to the podcast.• In your journal--What would you still like to ask Rick

Riordan? If you could talk to him, what would you ask him or talk about? What did you learn from the podcast?

• Prepositions– Introduce Preposition Song– Next Slide– Quiz-________

Podcast: http://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/audio/kids/068-episode-for-families-percy-jackson--the-olympians-the-lightning-thief-at-the-met

across

after

among

at

before

between

by

during

for

over

round

since

through

to

under

until

up

with

from

in

into

like

near

off

on

out

opposite

Preposition Review: Write at least 5 sentences about mythology that contain prepositional phrases.

HW—Complete the worksheet on prepositional phrases.

Poseidon—Nov. 17

Read D’Aulaires’ pages 38-41. In the section you just read, you learned about Poseidon’s

personality. It is appropriate that he is the god of the sea because his personality matches the temperament of the sea. Write a paragraph comparing Poseidon’s personality to the temperament of the seas.

Now, think about what your personality could be compared to. Explain your thinking.

After you finish your paragraph, type what you are comparing your personality to in the opened screen of wordle.net or http://www.tagxedo.com/. If you have more than one word, type them as one word and capitalize each word. We will create a Wordle for each class and one for all of the classes combined.

Hades—Nov. 18-20

Read D’Aulaires’ pages 56-63.Draw your own map of Hades including the River Styx, Persephone, Hades, Tartus, Elysian Fields, Hermes, Charon, Cerberus, and Rhadamanthus. Add one other detail that you find in the pages read. Use prepositional phrases to help describe their locations. At least 4 of your sentences must start with the prepositional phrase. For example, you might draw the Cererbus beside the gates. Next to your drawing, you would write, “Cerberus sits beside the gates.” Do not repeat prepositions. Please underline the prepositional phrases. Make sure to use correct capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.

Atlas and Hercules—Nov.

21 • Preposition Test• Read pages 132-146• You are starting a company that you are naming after Atlas or

Hercules. What would the company do? What would be its name? What would be the slogan and logo? What would be its address? Who would be your target audience?

• Using what you learned about propaganda, create an advertisement for your company.

• End of Class—What did you think about this task? Why did you create the ad you did? Do you think your ad tells about the character of Atlas or Hercules? Why?

Other Myths Dec. 1• Get a yellow literature book and read– Apollo’s Tree: The Story of Daphne and

Apollo-pages 658-661– Arachne- pages 662--666

• After reading, write 5 one sentence summaries for each of the stories. Make sure you use correct capitalization and punctuation.

• If you finish, you may work on the comprehension sheets that go with the short myths found on the table.

Contract Dec. 2-4

– You are going to spend the next three days completing a mini-contract with different tasks. Some are required and some provide you with choice. Please make sure you pace yourself to finish all of your work.

– See next 2 slides.

Contract-2 slides. Handout.• Everyone should do the following 3 writing to learn tasks:• 1. Read D’Aulaires’ pages 100-107. What is the connection

between the Muses and the word museum? • 2. Read D’Aulaires’ pages 182-189. Explain the meaning of

“Achilles heel.”• 3. Read D’Aulaires’ page 74 about Pandora and her box. On

a piece of white paper, draw a picture of what you think her box would look like today and brainstorm at least 10 evils that she would release into the world in a modern version of her story.

• 4. Read D’Aulaires’ pages 123-131. Using a bulleted list describe several unusual punishments handed out by the gods. In paragraph form, answer the following. If you had been given one of the punishments, which would you choose? Why?

•

• Choose one of the following. • Complete your choice on a piece of notebook paper. If you want to be

creative with the text messages layout, you may use a piece of white paper.

• 1. Write a series of text messages from one god or goddess to another. You may use texting language. There should be a minimum of 10 exchanges. Make sure that you clearly indicate who is “talking” and use creativity.

• 2. Write 5 clues for at least 5 different characters, gods, goddesses, etc. Provide the answer as well. These clues should help others determine who you are referring to without being too obvious.

• Example: • Answer: Zeus—You may not use Zeus as one of your 5.• Nursed by the fairy goat Amaltheia, Feared, A Titan, Loved by his

mother, Could be invisible• • If you finish early, get one of my other books on mythology and read

stories from other cultures.•

Helios and Phaethon and King Midas—Dec. 5

• Read D’Aulaires’ pages 82-85 and pages 124-125.• In the first story, Helios promises his son anything he

wanted without anticipating the consequences about what he might wish for. In the second story, King Midas almost starved to death because of the wish King Midas made. If you could make one wish, what would you wish for? Write at least 5 sentences explaining your wish. Then, make a t-chart with positive consequences on one side and negative, unintended consequences on the other.

• If you finish, you may work on the comprehension sheets that go with the short myths found on the table.

Theseus-Dec. 8

• Read D’Aulaires’ pages 148-157.• In the story, Hades had a magic bench that no one

could ever rise from once they had sat on it. If you had to place the bench somewhere and never rise from it, where would you choose to put it and why? What would you want to see/experience/hear, etc? Use strong details to help explain why you would choose this spot.

• If you finish, you may work on the comprehension sheets that go with the short myths found on the table.

Dec. 9• Select one of the pieces you have written during

this unit. On a piece of paper provided, re-write it as a final draft. Make sure you use RACE to develop a complete response.

• Pick either of the following pieces:– Athena paragraph– Poseidon paragraph– Muse paragraph– Achilles’ paragraph– King Midas paragraph– Hades’ bench paragraph

The Golden Fleece—Dec. 10• Read D’Aulaires’ pages 162-175.• The Golden Fleece was hung in

Apollo’s temple in Delphi to remind all Greeks of the great deeds of Jason and the Argonauts. Think forward many, many years into the future. What do you want to be remembered for after your death? Why? What will you need to do to make this happen? Explain in a paragraph.

• When you finish, organize the items in your binder to be in the order listed to the right.

• If you finish, you may work on the comprehension sheets that go with the short myths found on the table.

• Table of Contents• Ares—skin deep beauty• Rick Riordan—what would you still want to

ask him• Poseidon—describe how Poseidon’s

personality was like the temperament of the seas; what is your personality like

• Echo/Prometheus/Orpheus and Eurydice/Icarus and Daedalus/Phaeton—summary of one

• Helios and Phaethon and King Midas—what would you wish for? Pros and cons?

• Theseus—where would you put your bench?• The Golden Fleece—what do you want to be

remembered for? • Apples of Love and the Apple of Discord—

characteristics of happy relationships—word splash—tomorrow’s assignment

The Apples of Love and The Apple of Discord--Dec. 11

• Read D’Aulaires’ pages 178-180.

• This story describes several relationships that are both happy and unhappy. Brainstorm characteristics of happy relationships of any kind—parent and child, friends, spouses, etc. Create a word splash of these characteristics.

• When you finish, organize the items in your binder to be in the order listed to the right. These will be turned in tomorrow.

• Ares—skin deep beauty and irony about him being god of war

• Rick Riordan—what would you still want to ask him

• Poseidon—describe how Poseidon’s personality was like the temperament of the seas; what is your personality like

• Echo/Prometheus/Orpheus and Eurydice/Icarus and Daedalus/Phaeton—summary of one—You may not have finished this. If not, don’t worry about doing it now.

• Helios and Phaethon and King Midas—what would you wish for? Pros and cons?

• Theseus—where would you put your bench?• The Golden Fleece—what do you want to be

remembered for? • Apples of Love and the Apple of Discord—

characteristics of happy relationships—word splash of brainstormed list

Dec. 12

• Staple the items in your binder together and turn them in. These were to be gathered yesterday.

• Who am I? Identify the mythological character in the PowerPoint. Quiz grade.

• Read D’Aulaires’ pages 182-187.• If you finish, you may work on the

comprehension sheets that go with the short myths found on the table.

Dec. 15

• Read the story “The Horse of Wood” by Alfred J. Church

• In class, you are going to write an extended response to the following question. This will count as a grade.

• Explain the expression: “Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts.” Cite evidence from “The Horse of Wood” to support your response.

Dinner Party-Dec. 16 and 17

• You and friends have a party planning business that has been hired to plan a birthday party for Zeus. The guest list should include another god, a goddess, a mythological creature/beast, and a mortal. Again, this is a time to be creative while also including facts from the stories you have read.

• Your team will have a large piece of paper to create an idea board for the party.

• Ideas of what to include:– Develop a menu for the

party. – Tell how each character is

going to arrive at the party. – What gift will each guest

give Zeus for his birthday? – Who is going to sit by each

other at the table and what will they talk about?

– Is there entertainment? Song list? Band?

– Is Zeus going to give party favors? What?

– Memorable quotes from the party

Your Choice—Dec. 18 and 19

• Today, you have a choice on what you want to do for the last two days of the unit. Your work should illustrate what you have learned during the unit.

• Choices:– Rewrite the ending of your favorite myth.– Write a proposal for a video game based on Greek

mythology including details about the plot, characters, etc.– Design a mythological zoo.– Design and illustrate a comic strip on mythology.– Use a well-known song and rewrite the lyrics to be about

mythology.