The Odyssey Project: An Ancient Greek History Camp
How did wise Odysseus defeat beasts, gods and mortals to survive a hellish journey home from war? Ancient Greek myth project - great for fans of Percy Jackson (Summer Camp available)
Jonny Walker (he/him) - MA (Uni of Cambridge)
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(612)
What's included
5 live meetings
4 hrs 35 mins in-class hoursHomework
There is no compulsory homework element to the project, but children typically enjoy developing creative responses to the monsters we meet along the way. Between sessions, I will be encouraging children to draw the characters as they see them, and will be inviting them to make masks out of cardboard and other commonly available recycled stuff. This is entirely optional and the making would take place outside our five lessons. I emphasise that this is not essential.Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Come and discover one of the world’s oldest and most exciting stories: The Odyssey. Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ tells of how Odysseus, a survivor of the Trojan War, makes his perilous journey home. Along the way he and his soldiers encounter Cyclopes, a sorceress, fearsome sea monsters and many other challenges. At the same time, we learn of what is happening back at home on Ithaka, as Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, struggle to maintain hope and control as they are preyed upon by invaders. While we will use extracts from Emily Wilson’s beautiful translation of ‘The Odyssey’, and I will share from some children’s books, this project is one in which we bring the story to life through oral storytelling, discussion and drama. I am not just reading to them - I tell the story in a way that shares my interpretation, and I encourage the children to create their own interpretations. The class can work brilliantly well on its own, but it works best if your child has already taken part in ‘The Iliad Project’ which I run. Odysseus is a character we first meet in the Iliad, and his story continues in this project. The way in which we share and tell this tale together focuses on the excitement and drama of the events, and is a project which is designed to entertain and fascinate you. We take a unique look at the story, which brings a lot of humour out of it. We imagine Odysseus as a beleaguered comic hero, for whom one bad thing happens after another. Like all my classes, I am to balance humour, curiosity, a brilliant social dynamic and some real intellectual rigour. Lesson 1 - The Journey Home Begins - Raids, Lotus-Eaters and the Cyclopes Lesson 2 - Poor choices - The Witch, The Pigmen and the Fury of Zeus Lesson 3 - Getting closer - Imprisonment, Athena and the Bravery of Telemachus Lesson 4 - The Revenge of Wisdom - Arrival in Ithaka, the slaying of the suitors Lesson 5 - Slow Reflection - What can we learn from the story of Odysseus?
Learning Goals
Have fun engaging with one of the most amazing stories ever told.
Learn about the tale of the hero’s return from Ancient Greece.
Learn about and read some of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey, an ancient poem that tells about the world’s most famous journey.
Think deeply about and discuss complex themes - hope, intellect, love, transformation.
Develop the ability to hold challenging story narratives in our heads.
Produce creative responses to the story, through art and drama.
The best thing is that when the class is over, your child can pass the story on to the next generation!
Syllabus
5 Lessons
over 1 WeekLesson 1:
The Journey Home Begins
Who was Odysseus? What is the Odyssey? How did the Trojan War end? The Ciccones, The Lotus Eaters and the Cyclops. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Poor Choices Were Made...
A silly old windbag. Odysseus meets the Sorceress Circe. The Cannibal Giants. Piggy transformation. Scylla and Charybdis. Those famous Sirens. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Getting Closer to Home...
The cows that should not be eaten. Odysseus is alone. Arrival on the island of Scheria. He tells his story... The gods are watching. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
The Revenge of Wisdom
Odysseus gets back to Ithaka and begins his plan to save his wife and son, but it proves to be more difficult than he imagined. Featuring chairs being thrown around... 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The nature of this story is that it is quite violent - it features heroes slaying monsters, and later on, heroes killing other men.
Supply List
A notepad for children to draw within and between sessions. Optional.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined February, 2021
5.0
612reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have taught Ancient Greek tales in this way in UK primary schools since 2019, and am able to teach it in a way that is age-appropriate in terms of challenge and content. My Iliad Project on Outschool has rave reviews.
Testimonial from a UK teacher whose students I taught:
'I was amazed at how, through Jonny's storytelling - which was both intricate and engaging - the children were able to internalise the complex narrative and use all of the new vocabulary.'
Reviews
Live Group Course
$113
for 5 classes5x per week, 1 week
55 min
Completed by 103 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
3-12 learners per class
This class is no longer offered
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