1.19 Introduction to MythologySUGGESTED LEARNING STRATEGIES: Prewriting, Word Map

Recall the defi nition of myth: “a story from the past involving gods or heroes. Myths often explain beliefs, customs, or mysterious natural phenomena or identify acceptable and unacceptable behavior.”

1. You may already be familiar with some of the Greek and Roman gods. Complete the following chart. Conduct research to identify those you don’t know, as well as corresponding gods and goddesses of other cultures.

Greek name(Roman name) Responsibility or Role

Similar God or Goddess in Another Culture

(identify the cultures)

Apollo

Ares

(Mars)

Artemis

(Diana)

Athena

(Minerva)

Demeter

(Ceres)

Aphrodite

(Venus)

Zeus

(Jupiter or Jove)

Hades

(Pluto)

Hermes

(Mercury)

Poseidon

(Neptune)

Hera

(Juno)

ACTIVITY

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ActiVitY  1.19Introduction to Mythology

Materials:• Internet access or library

resources, such as encyclopedias

• Chart paper

• Colored markers

• Vocabulary Notebooks

Purpose:• To understand the influence of

mythology

• To recognize connections between myths of various cultures

steps:1Activate prior knowledge by asking students to list the names and places they know that might be associated with mythology. Some of your students might identify Zeus and Apollo, but many students’ exposure to mythology has come through films like Disney’s Hercules, Atlantis, and Aladdin. Review the definition of myth from Activity 1.17. Provide these definitions of mythology: “the system of myths told by a given culture”; also, “the study of myths in general.”

2You may have students complete the graphic organizer on this page as a research activity, or you may present it as a teacher-led activity.

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continued

ACTIVITY 1.19

2. Select one of the gods or goddesses you identifi ed on the previous page. Conduct further research in order to create a “Missing” or a “Wanted” poster for him or her. Your poster should include all the relevant information identifi ed below and anything else you think would be appropriate. Be prepared to present this poster to a group and display it in the classroom.

Name: Age: Also Known As:

Last known location:

Physical description (include a visual; you can sketch what the god or goddess might look like, or provide another visual):

Signifi cant actions/crimes:

Presumed dangerous? Why?

Known Associates:

Additional information/distinguishing features:

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ActiVitY  1.19 Continued

steps:3This activity, construction of a Wanted—or Missing—poster for one of the gods or goddesses, could be done at home in order to conserve class time. When students have completed their posters, you might display the posters around the room for the duration of this unit. Sample text for a Wanted poster (without a visual) is included at the bottom of this page. You may wish to use this to model the activity with students.

4Direct students to revisit the folk literature graphic organizer in their Vocabulary notebooks and further develop their ideas with the concept of myth. Add this word to the Word Wall.

5Revisit the essential Question: Why is storytelling an important aspect of a culture or society?

TEACHER To

TEACHER If students have not yet begun reading myths or

folk tales independently, this is a good time to get them started. Ask them to watch for these gods or similar ones from a different culture.

Sample Wanted poster text:

Hermes, aka “Mercury”Description: Handsome youth bearing a herald’s staff,

wearing winged sandals and a winged helmet.Age: Approx. 3,000 years

Wanted for: stealing Apollo’s cattle, the murder of Argos,transforming Battos into stone,

and accessory to the murder of MedusaPresumed Dangerous: has magical power and the cunning to use it

treacherouslyKnown Associates: Zeus, Ares, Odysseus, PerseusLocation: Last seen flying over downtown Arcadia

50,000 Drachmae reward!

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Unit 1 • The Choices We Make ��