School Projects on Greek Mythology
The study of Ancient Greece is an area of education often included in school curriculum for all ages. With the history of events like the Trojan War, the writings of Homer and the philosophy of Socrates and Plato, there is a wealth of information about this area and time. One major characteristic of the Ancient Greek culture was their belief in gods and goddesses, which we now refer to as Greek mythology. These stories make a great platform for educational study and projects for the classroom.
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Literature
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One quintessential element of the Greek mythology tradition is the work of the poet Homer. The "Odyssey" and "Illiad" are still often viewed as the ultimate writings for the culture of Greek mythology. Advanced students can read and study sections of the books themselves, and younger students can benefit from learning about the stories and reading adaptations. In 2005, author Rick Riordan put the characters from mythology into the hands of young readers with the first in his series of Percy Jackson books. Students can compare these books to research they have done while studying mythology.
Speech
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An interesting way to bring the history of Greek mythology to life is for students to give speeches about gods and goddesses in character. Teachers and facilitators can assign a particular god or goddess to each student, or students can choose their own based on their research and study. Students can dress up in traditional Greek attire and use props to assist them in their presentation. Teachers can ask their students to think about how the god or goddess would act or how they would speak. This presentation can be a way of each student teaching the entire class about different gods and goddesses.
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Formal Paper
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One assignment that will require research and education about Greek mythology while also satisfying a school's requirements for writing is to have students write a formal paper about the subject. Teachers can choose to have each student write about a particular god or goddess, or they can have students answer questions like why the study of Greek mythology is important. Students can also write about a particular book covering the information of Greek mythology, including the "Odyssey."
Creative Writing
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A writing project perhaps more interesting to the teacher and the student is a creative writing assignment. Students can write a new myth based on the Greek myths they have learned in class. Students can write short stories involving characters based on the gods and goddesses discussed during class. Other projects include writing poems, parodies and plays. Any of these creative writing projects can be done individually or in a group.
Artwork
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Making artwork is another project that is creative and can be an individual or group activity. Students can make posters that could even accompany a speech or creative writing project mentioned above. Dioramas, sculpture and painting are other art projects that can be tied to the study of Greek mythology.
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References
- Photo Credit ancient greek warrior image by circotasu from Fotolia.com
