The roles of myths in ancient cultures around the globe are similar to those of the ancient Greeks, as humans attempted to explain how the world was created and why things happen.

The ancient Greeks believed that the world was a delicate balance between order and chaos, with the gods holding the reins of creation and fate. 

Each week we'll study the gods and goddesses, collectively known as the Pantheon, and the fascinating stories and myths that are part of Greek mythology.  We'll learn about the divine beings, their characteristics, and the legendary tales that form the rich and diverse world of Greek mythology.  Appropriate for mature elementary students and above.


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The standards based Greek Mythology elective I taught in high school was a favorite with students, generating widespread interest and making it a very popular elective class.

Upon request, I will create an individualized learning plan for students who wish to receive a letter grade or certificate of completion. *****


🙋JOIN ANYTIME 🙋
Lessons are interactive and designed to be accessible to participants with varying levels of familiarity. Whether you are a beginner or have some prior knowledge, this class provides an engaging and comprehensible learning experience.

Mythology can be taken as a standalone course; nevertheless, this class is intentionally designed as an ongoing program, delivering a comprehensive and structured learning experience. Its flexibility allows students to engage with the material at any point during the academic year.

UPON ENROLLMENT, you will receive a WELCOME EMAIL and students will be offered an optional activity related to the INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND to Greek mythology.   In addition, an attachment will explain the ongoing optional project which is focused on creating a visually captivating and informative representation of what students learn each week. This hands-on approach to learning encourages students to think critically and actively engage with the material.

Lessons include teacher-created, standards based handouts and graphic organizers (including "answer keys"), allowing students the option to construct an interactive notebook. This notebook serves as a tangible artifact suitable for hybrid learning, homeschool projects, or simply turned into a mythology reference book.

There will be a variety of modes of instruction used including google slides, video clips, discussions, handouts to print (optional), and interactive games to review learning such as Kahoot, Blooket, and Jeopardy.

The individual lessons serve as an introduction; however, experienced learners will benefit by gaining new insights in each session.

Students may remain in this ongoing class as long as they wish to strengthen their understanding and share their passion of Ancient Greek Mythology.


--- FEBRUARY 2024 ---

Week 1: Greek Creation Myth and the Titans

Week 2: The Titans and their Significance

Week 3: Overthrow of Uranus & Cronus' Reign

Week 4: The Rise of Zeus and the Olympian Gods

Week 5: Titanomachy and the Battle of the Titans

Week 6: Aftermath of the Titanomachy

Week 7:  Prometheus and the Gift of Fire

Week 8:  Pandora’s Box (Jar)

TO BE CONTINUED...
Orpheus and Eurydice
Daedalus and Icarus
Jason and the Argonauts
Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa
Theseus and the Minotaur
Hercules and the Twelve Labors
Echo and Narcissus
The Abduction of Persephone
Arachne and Athena
King Midas and the Golden Touch
Bellerophon and Pegasus
Jason and the Golden Fleece
Hercules and the Twelve Labors
Athena and the Olive Tree
The Golden Apple and the Judgment of Paris


🙋Did you know that many foundational literary works draw inspiration from Greek mythology?  Besides embarking on a fascinating journey through ancient stories exploring gods, heroes, and mythical creatures, learners will enhance their  literary comprehension.


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BACKGROUND
What is a myth?
Myths are stories people would tell to make sense of their world and were passed down over generations. Greek myths were a huge part of the religion in Ancient Greece and offer a glimpse into what was important in the lives of the ancient people who told them. 

Most often, myths were created to teach people about something important and meaningful in daily life, such as morals and life lessons (i.e. love your family, respect your elders)  how to explain things they could not always understand (i.e. the seasons, illness and death) and natural phenomena (i.e. fire, earthquakes, and floods.) They often feature battles and terrible monsters and teach the importance of bravery, intelligence, and the consequences of right and wrong choices. Greek myths showed that gods and mortal men could both be punished or rewarded for their actions. 

Because the Greeks believed that the gods and goddesses had control over every part of people's lives, there was a different god for almost everything. They imagined that the gods lived together up on the top of Mount Olympus,  but just like people, gods argue, fall in love, get jealous of each other and make mistakes.  

These stories about the gods have survived for more than 2,000 years as they were told over and over again before they were written down.  The sources we have that tell the stories  come from many different authors from different parts of the Mediterranean world and from different points in time, spanning several centuries. As cultures and beliefs change, their stories adapt too.  As a result, there are many different versions of the stories. Some of the oldest versions come from two long poems called the Iliad and the Odyssey. They tell of the gods and their dealings with humans. The poems were said to be written by a man named Homer.  Another poet, Hesiod, wrote a work called the Theogony around 700 BCE. In the Theogony, Hesiod explained the history of the gods. It is Hesiod's versions that are most commonly "accepted" and will be the focus of this class.


***** This class is secular in nature and religion will not be discussed.  Questions regarding religion will be referred to parents. *****

BONUS LEARNING:  ART HISTORY
Details of the ancient tales have been found on everything from coins, to pottery to temples to stone statues.  In addition to meeting the gods, heroes, monsters and myths, students will be shown images of these artifacts and learn to identify the god, goddess, heroes, and/or monster depicted on them as they relate to lessons.