Introduction
]|[ Standards ]|[ Resources
]|[ Process
Introduction
]|[ Standards ]|[ Resources
]|[ Process
Week 1: It's All Greek to Me... (Introduction to Greek
Myths through Cultural Archetypes)
This lesson introduces Greek mythology through archetypal heroes, and involves
students in researching a particular mythological character. Students also consider
how heroes are a reflection of culture, and how the arts might contribute to
the reflection of culture. In preparation for later, the class establishes first
contact with a partner class via the Internet.
Weeks 2-3: I'm Reading You Now (Exploring Myths through
Literature and the Arts)
This lesson spans the course of two weeks, and provides students the opportunity
to further explore Greek mythology through various art forms. Students are introduced
to Reader's Theater as a means of presenting their mythological character and
its related myth. Week 3 Project and Scoring
Guide
Week 4:
That's a Classic...Composition (An Introduction to Composition, Form, and
Structure)
This lesson introduces the concept of composition and structure in writing.
Students will be able to understand how composition can influence the effect
of a story on its audience. They will also compare composition and structure
in literature to composition and structure in music.
Week 5: I've got Rhythm! (Rhythm in Poetry and Music)
In this lesson, students explore the relationships between music, poetry, and
visual art. Using the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, the students develop an
awareness of the compositional elements of the Classical style, and the aesthetic
effects of those elements.
Week
6:
Something Funny Happened When... (Storytelling and Introduction to non-Western
mythology)
This lesson illustrates myths and archetypal characteristics through the art
of storytelling. Students will compare and contrast their own original stories,
with mythological stories. Students will also identify archetypal features of
African Masks, and create their own masks that demonstrate those features.
Week 7: The Cultural Connection (Comparing Cultures
and Their Myths)
This lesson gives students the opportunity to compare and contrast Western mythology
with mythology from other cultures. Students will develop a more advanced understanding
of the previous weeks' material. As they recognize archetypal patterns across
cultures, students will note how mythology helps to define values of different
cultures.
Week
8:
Piecing it All Together (Comparing Cultures Through Poetry)
This lesson teaches students the link between all the arts and culture. The
students focus first on poetry, distinguishing between classical forms and pattern
poetry, and including a poem in their journals for the final project. Students
then begin to finalize their presentations, considering how they can present
their society using the tools they have now learned.
Weeks 9-10: Reflections on All We've Learned (Synthesis:
Presentation of Mythological Societies)
Students develop, rehearse, and present their final projects. Culminating
Project and scoring guide
ADDITIONAL LINKS
These files are accessed through ARTSEDGE
and are provided as links within the text of lessons.
Week 1 | Weeks 2-3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Weeks 9-10