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Summer SAVY, Session 4 Day 2, Greek Mythology (Waxman) (5th – 6th)

Posted by on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in blog, SAVY.

We had another great day in Greek Mythology: Myth to Modern Legend! This morning, we wrapped up our discussion of the Greek gods/goddesses and learned about some minor figures. We even had the opportunity to simulate our own Olympian council vote, and then, we created our own new gods/goddesses!  

From there, we dove into the story of Persephone, perhaps one of the most well-known myths in Greek mythology. We went over the different parts of the underworld according to Greek myth, and students had the opportunity to draw their interpretations of the underworld’s layout. All of the groups were especially creative and detailed, and we were able to hang up their maps in our classroom! 

From there, we shifted to a discussion of heroes, which will remain the focus for the rest of the week. Students brainstormed what it means to be a “hero,” and we learned about the heroic archetype in literature. Of course, Hercules (or Heracles, in Greek) is the most famous of the Greek heroes, so we dedicated the afternoon to his tales of adventure. After reading the actual myth, we watched the animated film and ended the day with a spirited debate on the deviations from the original myth. Tomorrow, we will start the day by creating and performing scenes that we think should be added to the film! 

Some dinner table questions: 

  • What are some of the main elements of a hero in Greek mythology? 
  • What does it mean to be a hero? 
  • Why do you think that the animated movie made so many changes to the myth? 
  • What scene are you planning to add to the film and why? 

Have a great evening! 

Ms. Waxman