"Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad": A Mythology Literature Circle
Students will read the classic tale "Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad" by Rosemary Sutcliff and participate in a Literature Circle based book discussion, rotating responsibilities and presenting their findings to the group.
Mrs. Russell, M.S. Ed.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(367)
What's included
10 live meetings
10 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. You will be asked to read two chapters per week (approximately 15-20 pages) and complete your "job" in order to be ready to present to the group each week.Assessment
I will be taking notes each week on a rubric that allows me to assess your overall participation and the completion and depth of your assigned weekly role. This can be shared with your parents upon request.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
*Please note:
Due to the student-led discussion format of this class, the smallest size that will work is 4 students. I will cancel the class if fewer than 4 students enroll. Invite your friends! That said, the class will not work well with more than 8 students. I will keep a firm cap on the limit as well, in order for everyone to have the best possible educational experience.
Q: How does this class work?
A: Students will read a portion of the text each week and will be given an assignment in order to interact with the text. They will be presenting their assigned work to the other students in the class each week.
Q: What skills are covered? What concepts are taught?
A: Summarizing
Personal writing responses
Sequencing events
What is foreshadowing?
Idioms
Internet Research and connections
Character analysis
Question and answer response -creation
Writing epithets
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Speech Analysis
Persuasive Speech Writing
Class Debate
Character Trading Cards (character analysis)
Letter Writing
Cartoon Summary
Similes
Allusions
A.C.E Writing Response
Symbolism
Cause/Effect
Compare/Contrast
Q: What is this book about?
A: (from Amazon description)
"For Greek myth fans, those who can’t get enough of the D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, and readers who have aged out of Rick Riordan, this classroom staple and mythology classic is perfect for learning about the ancient myths!
As the gods and goddesses of Olympus scheme, the ancient world is thrown into turmoil when Helen, the most beautiful woman in all of Greece, is stolen away by her Trojan love. Inflamed by jealousy, the Greek king seeks lethal vengeance and sends his black war ships to descend on the city of Troy. In the siege that follows, history’s greatest heroes, from Ajax to Achilles to Odysseus, are forged in combat, and the brutal costs of passion, pride, and revenge must be paid. In the end, the whims of the gods, the cunning of the warriors, and a great wooden horse will decide who emerges victorious.
Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time and Rosemary Sutcliff's retelling of the classic saga embodies all of the astonishing drama, romance, and intrigue of ancient Greece.
Don’t miss The Wanderings of Odysseus, the companion to Black Ships Before Troy, and follow Odysseus on his adventure home." (Companion class on Outschool coming soon!)
This book has been selected as a Common Core State Standards Text Exemplar (Grades 6-8, Stories) in Appendix B.
Q: Is there any homework?
A: You will be asked to read approximately 30 pages per week and complete your "job" in order to be ready to present to the group each week.
Q: Am I going to be graded on this?
A: I will be taking notes each week on a rubric that allows me to assess your overall participation and the completion and depth of your assigned weekly role. This can be shared with your parents upon request.Learning Goals
In addition to their first experience with the content of Homer's Iliad,
Summarizing
Personal writing responses
Sequencing events
What is foreshadowing?
Idioms
Internet Research and connections
Character analysis
Question and answer response -creation
Writing epithets
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Speech Analysis
Persuasive Speech Writing
Class Debate
Character Trading Cards (character analysis)
Letter Writing
Cartoon Summary
Similes
Allusions
A.C.E Writing Response
Symbolism
Cause/Effect
Compare/Contrast
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The lexile level for this text is pretty high, 1240L (compare to Harry Potter series which is at 880L). This means that your child might need support in addition to the support the class provides. Reading this book together as a read-aloud, and informally discussing is one option. Listening to the audio book together is another option. This is an optional measure of support, but your child might benefit. Especially during the first half of the book while we are learning lots of Greek names and places. New vocabulary!
Supply List
Teacher provided materials available for print-out. A copy of the book for the duration of the class. There are currently two options available in print. One is a mass market paperback with relatively fine print. I own this one and it is fine for older readers. https://www.amazon.com/Black-Ships-Before-Troy-Story/dp/055349483X Another printing is an illustrated option that is a lovely book. It is the winner of the CILIP Kate Greenway Medal. You can find it used online or here: https://www.target.com/p/black-ships-before-troy-by-rosemary-sutcliff-hardcover/-/A-52742061?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment%2BShopping_Brand&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=1017588&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu8r4BRCzARIsAA21i_D2WumdgBVbGUZBOSddiyy_iTI-EKw_B6hkXI6x6BJUKsCKaRNrid0aAoZNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined August, 2018
4.9
367reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
My name is Carie Beth Russell. I live in the Kansas City area with my husband, two daughters and two cats. I am a former elementary teacher and gifted education specialist. I have been “home” since my second daughter was born, but have remained active in the field of education by teaching educational summer camps, tutoring and teaching at a homeschool enrichment program.
My professional priorities center around student-led learning. It’s my strong conviction that supporting children as they learn, rather than dictating how and what they learn, is the way to encourage their inborn patterns of curiosity, wonder and problem-solving that will serve them well in all stages of being human.
While my own children attend public school, we very much view education as something we own and must take personal responsibility for. We work hard at educational advocacy within the public school context. I teach my daughters to communicate with their teachers, ask for what they need and request amended or extended: depth, duration and scope of projects, units, skills and personal areas of interest.
Gifted Education services often provide these things for students who have been identified as such, but these standards and the definition of “giftedness” vary from state to state, based generally on funding, and doesn’t allow for many students to qualify. This leaves an enormous group of students who have “need of different” but no access to a more open-ended and curiosity-led education.
Out School, and other platforms like it, allow students who are enrolled in public schools to adapt their learning modalities and pursue interests and learning pathways that intrigue their own very unique minds. This is great, but certainly not financially accessible to all. Teaching students to participate in Student Led Learning, in its various formats, allows them to continue on in their own investigations of an amazing planet and human experience, studying past, present and future as they forge their own distinct path.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$180
for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
60 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
4-8 learners per class
