greek mythology research project middle school

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Greek Mythology Activities

By  MARISSA DESPINS  Updated April 09, 2024

I am back with another fun post on Interactive Notebooks! In this post, I am excited to talk about another fun way to use Interactive Notebooks in your Social Studies classroom. In my previous posts, I talked about using Interactive Notebooks for different Ancient Civilizations. These included Mesopotamia , Greece, and Egypt . Today I am going to dive a little bit deeper into Ancient Greece, and focus specifically on Greek Mythology.

Greek Mythology has always been one of my favorite topics to teach. I fell in love with Greek Mythology in university. While there, I had an incredibly engaging professor would regale us with stories of the gods and goddesses. I love how they feel a bit like fairy tales. The magic and monsters make these stories super engaging for young (and old!) learners.

I have a wide variety of different ready to teach Greek Mythology activities available in my TPT shop that you can download and use right away – see them all by clicking on the button below!

(This post contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!)

What are some fun ways to teach Greek Mythology?

Read on for a roundup of different ways to bring these engaging stories to life with your learners!

Videos for Teaching About Greek Mythology

Those of you who have been following me for a while, know that I am a huge fan of the Crash Course History series on YouTube. This series packs a lot of information into short clips. They also manage to keep things entertaining while still being really educational. This clip is a great one to start with. It introduces the concept of Mythology in a kid friendly way.

Another series I really love to show my students that relates to Greek Mythology is the Jim Henson “Storyteller” series. This is an old TV series from way back in the day. If you can get a hold of an old school DVD compellation, hold onto it like it is gold! Thankfully, you can also watch the individual episodes on YouTube. Each episode tells the story of a different Greek myth. I like to put these on after we read and do some activities with each myth. They make excellent review tools. The retellings of Orpheus and Eurydice and Daedalus and Icarus are definitely my favorites.

Word of warning, however. These are not your typical “Kermit the Frog” or “Muppet Show” type Jim Henson productions. These versions are much darker than your typical Jim Henson. You are going to want to make sure you watch them beforehand to make sure that they are not too scary if you have younger learners. I watch them every year with my middle school kiddos, with no issues whatsoever. I actually really like that they are less disney-fied than some of the other retellings out there. They manage to retain the magical creepiness of the original myths.

Greek Myth Read Alouds

Over the years, I have found that some of the Greek myths can be a bit complicated and have more complex vocabulary; reading the myths aloud the class provides access points for all learners, as students are actually able to comprehend text at a higher level than they can typically read. This is especially true for our younger and more vulnerable learners. I think reading aloud about the magic and wonder prevalent in these myths also helps build class community and provides excellent opportunities for class discussion. Also, reading and writing Greek Myths is a great way to tie some literacy into your Social Studies curriculum!

Some of my favourite read aloud collections include:

D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths – If you purchase only one book to teach about Greek Mythology, let this be it. It has great images and text that is easily accessible to all learners. It is probably the most used mythology book that I have in my collection, and a class favorite for sure.

The Children’s Book of Myths and Legends – This one is worth the purchase simply for the gorgeous illustrations. It contains myths from around the world, so it is perfect if you are planning to teach about the gods and goddesses from different cultures.

The McElderry Book of Greek Myths – Another classic. This one has quick and engaging versions of pretty much all of the popular myths, and makes a fantastic read aloud. This one is great if you are wanting to teach mini units on some of the individual myths, as you can pick and choose the ones you want to include.

Mythlopedia – This is a series of mini reference books about the different gods, goddesses, and monsters of Ancient Greece. I love using these as reference tools for research on the characters.

Looking for ways to keep students accountable during your read aloud time? Check out our post on read aloud accountability!

Allusions from Greek Mythology

Mythical Allusions are words and phrases that many of your students will have heard and used in everyday life, often without knowing where they came from. When watching TV, they may have heard ads for Midas Tires. On Valentine’s day, they may have heard people talking about a friend being hit by “ Cupid’s Arrow “. They may even own a pair of Nike shoes, or have a pack of Trident gum in their back pocket. Mythical Allusions are all around us!

An understanding of these allusions helps to give context. For example, when you know the story of Nike, you can better understand why a running shoe manufacturer would choose that name for their shoes. This short video clip does a great job of explaining allusions in a kid friendly way.

The resource below contains a variety of short reading passages explaining different allusions from Ancient Greece. Students can read the passages, fill in the fact gathering graphic organizer, and use the included templates to make a fun foldable for their Interactive Notebooks. You can snag a copy of this resource for yourself by clicking here , on the image below, or on the product cover at the bottom of this post.

To learn more about using allusions in your classroom, check out our post on mythical allusions to build vocabulary!

Greek Mythology One Pagers

If you have read my previous posts , you already know that I am a huge fan of One Pagers . They are a fantastic way to have students gather and present information in a way that is powerful and engaging.

I really like the versatility of One Pager projects, as they can be used in so many ways. I like to have my students use them as fact gathering templates to help them process and present information from reading passages and class notes.

Alternately, they work great for independent research projects. Students can research a god or goddess of their choice, and present the information they uncover in a One Pager format. One Pagers also make great review tools before a final assessment. If you are interested in trying out my collection of Greek Mythology One Pager templates with your class, you can click here , on the image below, or on the product cover at the bottom of this post.

I hope this post gives you some ideas to help you get started with teaching all about the gods, heroes, and monsters of Greek Mythology with your own class! Is Mythology a topic covered in your curriculum? Let me know about your experiences with teaching about Greek Mythology in the comment section – I am always looking to learn from you!

Looking for some of the resources mentioned in this post?

Click on the product covers below to go directly to the products in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Looking for more information on these resources?

Check out the video below for a detailed overview!

Looking for more information and FREE resources for teaching Ancient Greece?

Check out the related blog posts below!

Interactive Notebooks: Ancient Greece

9 Essential Topics for your next Ancient Greece Unit

History Stations: What are they and how can I use them in my classroom?

The Importance of Teaching About Ancient History

5 Tips for Engaging History Lessons

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22 Ancient Greece Activities for Middle School

Ancient greece activities, ancient greece lesson plans.

If you’re an Ancient Civilizations teacher and need some Ancient Greece activities, you’re in the right place! We’ve compiled our top free and paid resources to help you have a successful Ancient Greece unit. We want to help you succeed, whether you use these as an outline or to help supplement your existing unit! All links and resources below are what we personally use in our Ancient Greece unit.

Ancient Greece Activities for Middle School

Ancient greece word wall.

When starting off a new ancient civilizations unit, we’re big on vocabulary activities as there is a lot to cover. With that, we always find that word walls are a great tool! This resource includes 26 Ancient Greece vocabulary words that are ready to print and display on your bulletin board. Because images are included on every card, they’re also helpful for your visual learners!

Never used an ancient civilization word wall before? This blog post will teach you how to set up, organize, and use them effectively in your classroom!

Introductory Vocabulary Activities

Just like all of our units, we also like to have vocabulary-based activities. These vocabulary activities for Google Drive are fun ways for students to practice the Ancient Greece vocabulary words in a variety of ways. There’s 8 activities ranging from matching, fill-in-the-blank, Frayer Model, quizlet links, everything you would need for vocabulary! Because they are digital, it’s very easy to have students jump into one of these activities if there’s extra time.

Ancient Greece Unit Introduction

One thing we try to do is make our lessons relevant to students, so connecting present-day Greece to Ancient Greece is something we find important. To do that, we take a more modern approach to our unit and have students complete this unit introduction activity . Students research key details about modern Greece, and when we shift back to ancient times, that prior knowledge makes it easier.

Ancient Greece Slideshow + Note Sheet

We find it helpful to share background information at the start of the unit, so students can make connections during other activities. With this  Ancient Greece Slideshow for Google Slides , teach your students about the GRAPES of Ancient Greece! This 54-slide Google Slideshow provides a detailed overview of Ancient Greece, including geography, the Olympics, philosophers, and much more! This no-prep resource also includes both printable and digital note sheets!

Ancient Greece Bell Ringers

If you’re looking to improve your classroom management and help students review material,  these bell ringers are perfect! This set includes 20 Ancient Greece Bell Ringers for Google Drive that are 100% editable and ready to use. These warm-up prompts cover a variety of topics that come up in an Ancient Greece unit while also building helpful skills! Topics covered in this resource include Greek mythology, philosophers, democracy, Athens, Sparta, Hellenistic Kingdoms, and more!

Ancient Greece Map Activity

Geography is another starting topic we find important, but unlike other ancient civilizations, Greece’s geography is a bit different. Our Ancient Greece Geography Activity has three parts; a graphic organizer, map labeling, and an inquiry question at the end. Students will research specific geography terms, label them on a map, and then explain how geography relates to the development of civilization.

Engineering an Empire Video on Ancient Greece

While you’re in the process of introducing Ancient Greece, we found a great video from the History Channel’s Engineering and Empire Series . They have the full 45-minute video up on YouTube, packed with tons of information and nice visuals. This could be used as a full introduction for your unit, use it as a movie day, or as an emergency sub plan.

Minoans and Mycenaeans Inquiry Activity

One of the first historical topics you’re going to cover is the Minoans and Mycenaeans. With that, we find an inquiry activity to be a great approach. In this inquiry activity , students examine photographs from the Minoans and Mycenaeans and make predictions based on those images. They then share those predictions with the class and discussion begins on what we can infer about these early societies.

Ancient Greece Government Simulation and Google Slideshow

Ancient Greece is an excellent civilization to showcase major types of government. Ancient Greece has gone through monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy. We’ve created an Ancient Greece Government Simulation activity that goes through each one individually, and then students act them out. Afterwards, you can go over the pros and cons of each government together. It connects not only to Greece, but to other civilizations throughout history!

Ancient Greece Timeline

If you’re looking to make your Ancient Greece Unit more hands-on and engaging, this printable Ancient Greece Timeline is the resource you need! In this interactive timeline project, students construct a timeline that features reading passages, maps, and images. The information included in these features covers the Minoans, Mycenaeans, Dark Age, Archaic Greece, Classical Greece, and Hellenistic Civilization. Not only will this activity give students the chance to physically build a timeline, but it will also become a learning tool that they can refer back to throughout the unit!

Panhellenic Games Simulation

This no-prep, game-based Ancient Greece Olympics Simulation will be the highlight of your Ancient Greece unit! In this simulation with printable and digital options, students will “compete” in 8 popular events from the Panhellenic Games and answer trivia questions about the Greeks and Ancient Olympics! In each round, students will learn about a different event from the Panhellenic Games and participate in a classroom-friendly version of the event!

SHEG Athenian Democracy

A free resource we highly recommend related to government in Ancient Greece is from SHEG . The main topic of discussion is whether or not Athens was truly democratic. It’s a DBQ-style resource with lots of great documents to have your students practice analyzing primary resources.  This activity also pairs well as a follow-up to our simulation activity.

Acropolis of Athens Activities

This no-prep reading passage and activity set is perfect for teaching about the Acropolis of Athens and the Parthenon! Whether you use the printable or digital versions, have your students read the passage about the Acropolis of Athens and how its use evolved over time before they complete two creative activities about what they learned! The activities included are a reading comprehension puzzle and short answer questions.

Historical Wife Swap Video from Horrible Histories

It’s not an Ancient Greece Unit without discussing the differences between Athens and Sparta. One resource we like to use as an introduction is a video from Horrible Histories . The 5-minute video does a nice job at showcasing the cultural differences of the two societies through a reality-style wife swap. It’s quick, well done, and the students have a few laughs. Please note however that the link provided is a compilation of their videos, so for Ancient Greece you’ll start at the 8-minute mark. 

Peloponnesian Strangers Comic Video

Another great Sparta and Athens resource we recommend is this comic strip video . The original comic was made by McGraw-Hill but we’ve found this video narrates it very well . It covers the story of two friends, one from Sparta and one from Athens, discussing their cultural differences. They cover topics such as home life, activities they grew up participating in, etc. 

Athens vs Sparta Statistics Sorting Activity

One of our favorite Athens and Sparta activities is our Athens vs. Sparta Statistics Sorting activity ! Students are presented a variety of shuffled statistics on either Athens or Sparta, and match which statistic goes with the proper location. It’s a great way for students to get invested in the topic and maybe even get a little competitive. It works as an intro or review activity and helps students understand how these differences affected each city-state’s way of life.

Athens vs Sparta Rap Battle

A very interactive resource that our students have enjoyed is our Athens vs. Sparta Rap Battle . There are full reading passages on each city-state included, and students conduct research to prepare a rap, song, or poem. This activity allows students to shine and get creative while being able to identify those differences. Any time we’ve used this activity, it’s always been a blast in class!

Persian Wars and Peloponnesian War

If you are looking for an effortless, step-by-step approach to teaching your students about the Persian Wars or Peloponnesian War, you are in the right place! This lesson and overview activity will guide students through the many twists and turns of the Persian Wars and Peloponnesian War in an organized and thorough way. With both a printable and digital version, this resource divides the events of these wars into eight different sections. Some of the topics covered in these sections include: What happened during the First Greco-Persian War? Why did tensions grow between Athens and Sparta? Who won the Second Greco-Persian War? And more!

Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology Overview Slideshow

No Ancient Greece unit is complete without discussing some Greek Mythology. While every teacher is going to be different, we like to give at least an overview of the major Greek Gods and Goddesses. With that, we start with an overview slideshow introducing the Olympians.

Greek God Rap

We’ve also found a helpful review of the Greek gods and goddesses through this Greek God Rap Video . It’s a bit cringy, but it helps reinforce and retain the info in a fun and silly way for your students. And honestly the song is pretty catchy once you listen to it.

TED-Ed Greek Mythology Videos

If you want to take your Greek mythology section further, TED-Ed has wonderful videos on some of the different myths. Two of our favorites are the Myth of Prometheus and Pandora’s Box . They’re both very well-made, students enjoy them, and you can even turn them into EdPuzzles.

Greek Mythology Instagram Activity

If you’re looking for a fun review activity of Greek gods and goddesses, we do have a very engaging Instagram activity . Students take different gods and goddesses and create Instagram profiles for them, including identifying photos and writing captions. It’s great for review, and students really get into it.

Greek Mythology Activity Sheet

An easy, low-prep activity option we always recommend are our Early Finisher or Emergency Sub Plan activities. We’ve created one specifically pertaining to Greek Mythology with three activities, including mystery lockers, word search, and password game! These games are perfect to have on hand when students fly through an assignment or something that comes up last minute.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief”

Another easy activity that students enjoy is watching The Lightning Thief from Disney. It’s a great way to wrap up your Greece unit or right before spring break, especially if you need an activity to finish up the unit. It’s a very convenient activity as it’s available on Disney+.

Alexander the Great Gallery Walk

Looking to give your students a museum experience about Alexander the Great ? This gallery walk activity will be a meaningful way to teach your students about Alexander the Great and his empire! This activity highlights 13 different artifacts, paintings, and passages, along with corresponding information that provides an overview of what is known about Alexander the Great. With printable, digital, and editable options and an answer key, you have everything you need for a successful activity!

DBQ Project: How Great Was Alexander the Great?

Another topic we like to bring up during Ancient Greece is Alexander the Great and the Macedonians. We’ve found a very good DBQ resource from the DBQ Project that discusses whether Alexander was actually deserving of the Great title. The resource includes a map showing how much land Alexander conquered and discusses how it affected the people of each continent. It’s also a good primary and secondary source analysis activity. 

Ancient Greece Job Fair

An engaging activity we’ve created for students to learn about key leaders and philosophers is our Ancient Greece Job Fair . It includes resumes for Pericles, Socrates, Aristotle, and Alexander the Great. Students analyze their resumes and decide which various jobs to hire them for. Not only does this activity reinforce unit information, but it promotes job skills that many students would otherwise not get.

We’re The Thinkers

Another video from Horrible Histories that we’ve enjoyed is “ We’re the Thinkers ”. It’s a parody of a Monkees’ theme song that covers Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, and Diogenes, and it can be a fun addition to the job fair activity.

Ancient Greece Research Project

Looking for a creative way to teach your students about the many significant philosophers, writers, scientists, mathematicians, historians, doctors, and leaders of ancient Greece? If so, you and your students will enjoy this research project ! In this no-prep activity, each student will select one of the historical figures from ancient Greece, research them, and prepare a short speech that they will present to their classmates from the perspective of that historical figure. The speech will highlight the accomplishments of their historical figure, and then students can vote on the most impactful Greek leaders and scholars after everyone has presented their speeches. Historical figures include Aristarchus, Philip II of Macedon, Thucydides, and more!

Ancient Greece Test

Save yourself time at the end of your Ancient Greece Unit with this Ancient Greece Test and Study Guide ! This ready-made test has printable and digital options, and all text is 100% editable. Each version includes 2 different testing options for Google Docs and for Google Forms, so you have the flexibility to use whichever version works best for you! To help your students prepare for the test, this resource also includes an editable Ancient Greece Study Guide for Google Docs!

Ancient Greece Agenda Slides

Need a way to stay more organized during your Ancient Greece Unit? These Ancient Greece Daily Agenda Slides Templates will help you save time and better immerse your students in the unit! These slides for Google Drive are editable and each template features a photograph of Ancient Greece in the background, as well as Ancient Greece clipart. They can be used to share your daily agenda, bell ringers, and more!

Ancient Greece Bulletin Board Kit

Connect your bulletin boards to your course content in just five minutes with this effortless, ready-to-print Ancient Greece Bulletin Board Kit ! With this bulletin board kit, students have the opportunity to view artifacts used by those living in Greece thousands of years ago! If you want to incorporate more primary sources into your classroom but don’t know where to start, this is an easy way! The 25 artifact posters include the titles of the artifacts, when they were created or used, where they were found, and where they’re currently located.

Ancient Greece Bookmarks

These printable Ancient Greece Bookmarks are a fun addition to your Ancient Greece unit! This set includes four different designs that feature images and clipart that are related to Ancient Greece. The bookmarks are 100% black and white so that students can color in the images or personalize them as they wish! These coloring bookmarks make a great prize, a short early finisher activity, or can even help students save time when using their textbooks!

Ancient Greece Early Finisher Activity or Emergency Sub Plan

A final easy, no-prep activity is another of our Early Finisher activities for Ancient Greece. It includes a matching puzzle about the leaders from the golden age of Athens, and a vocabulary crossword puzzle. This activity sheet is an additional worksheet to have on hand in emergencies or students need something extra to work on.

Teaching Ancient Greece

When teaching any ancient civilization, it’s always important to have activities that make the content fun and engaging for students. If you liked any of our Ancient Greece activities, you’ll love our Ancient Greece Unit Bundle ! This bundle contains 15  resources and is a great way to supplement your textbook or curriculum materials about Ancient Greece! We’ve had great success with these resources, and our students had a blast!

As of 2024, we now have all of our Ancient Civilizations unit bundles available on our own website, which you can check out here. We believe the organization to be even better than how you can receive the files on TPT, and it also helps if your school district blocks Google Drive files from TPT!

Looking for ideas and inspiration when planning your Ancient Greece unit? If so, this free Ancient Greece resource guide   can help! It showcases each of our Ancient Greece resources to help you decide which options will be best for your students. For more details about how we put fit these resources together and how long we spend on each activity, you can also download our free Ancient Greece unit plan !

If you liked this list of 22 Ancient Greece Activities for Middle School, consider watching the corresponding video here !

Are you looking for some new teaching ideas to engage your students in your social studies class? If so, you’ll love our FREE guide: 5 Creative Projects to Ignite Student Engagement in Your Social Studies Class . These activities have both printable and digital options and can work for any social studies subject!

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Creative School Projects for Greek Mythology: Project for Middle School Students

• Kellie Hayden
• Categories : English lesson plans for middle school
• Tags : Teaching middle school grades 6 8

A Choice of Mythology Projects

This lesson can be completed after students complete a research paper on a Greek or Roman god, as in part one the lessons in this series. Or, this can be stand-alone project.

Place Students into Small Cooperative Groups

First, place students into small groups. These projects work best with groups of two-to-four students. Students should all have work that is to be completed individually within the group. There should be a group grade and an individual grade so that students are held accountable as an individual and as a member of a team. Students will write research papers for an individual grade. The group grade will come from the chosen project.

Preparation for Activity

Next, tell students that they have a choice of activities that focus on learning more about Greek or Roman mythology. Each group must complete a bit of research to complete the activity. So, gather as many books as possible on the topic for students to peruse and secure the computer lab to complete research.

Project Details

The goal of this project is to learn more about Greek and Roman myths. Then, students will present the information creatively to the class so that other classmates can learn the information as well.

Sharing Myths in Creative Ways

First, students need to choose a myth that they want to share with the class. Next, they need to decide how they would like to present the information to the class. The following are ways that students can present the information:

• Students can share the myth through drama. They can turn the myth into a play and then act out the myth. Students will need to write a script and to find props and costumes. Last, they will need to act out the play infront of the class.
• Students can share the myth through a PowerPoint presentation. Students will need to create slides with good graphics and pictures, choose music and have every student speak during the PowerPoint presentation.
• Students can share the myth through creating a lesson and then playing a game. Students will need to present the information in a speech. Then, the students will quiz the class by creating a cross word puzzle or game show type game, such as Jeopardy .

Students should be assessed using a rubric. It is helpful to allow students to help create the rubric. The individual grade can come from the research component of the project. Each student can write a small research paper using the MLA format.

Sample contents.

This post is part of the series: Mythology Project

For the middle school classroom, these lessons about mythology are fun yet educational.

• Middle School Research Project on Greek Mythology
• Mythology Choice Project
• A Lesson Plan on Turning a Myth Into a Play
• Review of Mythology for Teens by Zachary Hamby

• My Storyboards

Greek Mythology & the 12 Olympians

Have you ever wondered where sayings like "He has the Midas touch", "You have to find their Achilles heel", or "Don't be fooled by a Trojan horse!" came from? Well, these sayings and many more come from ancient Greek myths.

Ancient Greek is the root of many English words and phrases, and their culture has famous portrayals of themes and stories that are still relevant today. No matter how much time has passed, the lessons of these literary works remain important in today's world, and are iterated on and alluded to almost everywhere.

Students will love our Greek mythology activities such as: important symbols in Greek mythology, list of deities and their signs, hero’s journey, Greek God and Goddesses, and more! These myth projects and ideas are creative, engaging, and easy to customize. Check out the Greek mythology lesson plans below:

Student Activities for Greek Mythology

Essential Questions for a Mythology Unit

• What role can myths and beliefs from the past have in today’s world?
• How does the definition of a hero change? Why? What is the definition of a hero in Greek mythology? What is the definition of a hero today?
• How do we use stories to explain the world around us? How did the ancient Greeks use stories to explain things they didn't understand?
• What lessons can we learn from Greek mythology?
• Who are the 12 gods and goddesses of Olympus and what are their symbols?
• How are the personalities of the Olympians reflected in their powers, domain, and the Greek mythological symbols?
• What role do Greek myths, or myths from other civilizations, play in our lives today?

More About Our Pre-Made Activities

Greek mythology is a vast collection of stories, history, and individuals that can be overwhelming and difficult to keep track of. Storyboard That’s team of teachers have created several assignments to help you and your students gain a better understanding of Greek mythology, and have come up with some really cool activities for students to show what they know in engaging and creative ways. Read more below!

• Olympian Symbols: Greek god symbols are extremely important in Greek mythology. All gods, minor and major, had symbols and physical features that set them apart and identified them. For this activity, students will create a storyboard of the symbols of Greek gods. This is an excellent way to keep track of what represents whom!
• Myth Plot Diagram: Each story within Greek mythology is filled with twists and turns. For this activity, students can create a plot diagram of the myth of their choice, or one that is assigned to them by their teacher.
• Themes: If you take a good look at Olympus Greek mythology, you will surely notice that there are recurring themes surrounding the stories and history.
• Greek Gods and Goddesses: Have students keep track of the gods and goddesses by making a list of deities and their signs, domains, symbols, and more! Our Storyboard That artists have created characters for the main gods, can you find them in our art library?
• Olympian Poster: Having students research and spotlight an Olympian god or goddess is one of our most popular myth projects. Using the poster layout or a biography poster template as a starting off point, students can create a biography poster for the god or goddess of their choice.
• Symbols, Themes, and Motifs: Themes, symbols, and motifs add color and richness to stories. In chart format, students can identify and compare the different themes, symbols, and motifs in two or more stories. Some of the recurring ideas throughout several myths include: human flaws, war, temptation, payback and reward, love, fate, and beauty. Students will be engaged as they explore these areas in a colorful storyboard!
• Vocabulary: The vocabulary in Greek mythology can be very difficult to keep track of. Not only the terms, but also the Greek names versus the Roman names of the gods and goddesses. There are so many ways to use storyboards to explore Greek vocabulary. For this activity, we have given the example of how some Greek names have been transformed into English words such as martial (Mars, god of war), volcano (Vulcan, god of fire and forge), and cereal (Ceres, goddess of harvest).
• Create Your Own Greek God: A really fun way to engage students is to have them create their own Greek god. After learning about the elements of Greek gods and goddesses (domain, power, weakness, symbol, connection with the real world, etc.), they can create a spider map that includes the name, attributes, and back story, or a poster of their own individual!
• Hero’s Journey: The hero’s journey is a recurring pattern of stages that many heroes go through over the course of their journey. Some of the most popular hero journeys include Hercules, Theseus, and Odysseus, but our outline can really be used with a number of Greek gods and goddesses.
• TP-CASTT Analysis: The TP-CASTT method of poetry analysis is a very useful way to dissect a poem. Much like the order of operations in mathematics, TP-CASTT asks students to uncover deeper meanings of the poem in a sequential way in order to understand its parts. Students can dissect poems that are related to Greek myths in order to help them understand the larger scale stories!
• Social Media: Social media is a very popular form of connection and communication for middle and high school students. An exciting and engaging way to incorporate student interest into education is by having kids create a social media page for one or more Greek gods or goddesses. What would Medusa post about on Instagram? Would Loki post his tricks on Twitter? Check out our social media poster templates or our social media page worksheet templates for inspiration!
• Modern God Poster: An alternative to the spider map activity above is to create your own Greek god poster! Be sure to include all of the same attributes (domain, power, weakness, symbol, etc.), but expand your creativity by using a colorful biography poster template to get your creative juices flowing!

What is Mythology?

Mythology is, first and foremost, a collection of stories that describe the lives and exploits of the gods and preternatural forces before the time of recorded history. As a genre , mythology typically explains unknown origins, the reason for natural occurrences, or human nature. The stories reflect the values and issues of communities and to some extent, of society as a whole. Greek mythology is not the only type in the genre; many cultures from around the world have exquisite mythologies.

Greek mythology consists of the ancient Greeks' polytheistic beliefs. It begins with a creation myth, explaining how the earth was formed. Other myths deal with the origins and life of Greek heroes, and explanations of the natural world. Many are familiar with the particular Greek gods as they pertain to domains such as love, war, and trade, but may not know the origins of these gods. Together, these gods make up the Greek Pantheon.

Why Do We Study Greek Myths?

Greek myths have endured for thousands of years. Many of the Greek gods, heroes , and monsters represent ideals or certain traits. Mythical characters were the subjects of various art: sculpture adorning architecture, wall paintings, mosaics, free-standing sculpture, pottery, and so much more. The stories persisted partly because there were physical reminders of the stories in stone everywhere. Beyond the various physical remnants, Greek myths are old tales rich in plot, character, theme, and symbolism.

Romans appropriated many Greek myths as their own, but made significant alterations to them. The Roman Empire was a dominant force for hundreds of years and brought Roman culture to conquered lands throughout Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. The Renaissance and the Neoclassical eras in history saw a resurgence of Greco-Roman influences in art, literature, and science. As Western Civilization expanded across the world, the Greek stories remained! For an interesting take on this idea, be sure to check out The Lightning Thief and the rest of the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan.

Greek mythology has a great deal of variation, because the stories were traditionally told and retold orally. Even ancient sources differ on the order of events and characters! When stories are passed down through the generations and translated into other languages, some of the details do not always stay the same. "Pandora's Box" is an excellent example of how details can morph from one thing to another. Pandora actually had a jar and not a box, but the popular use of Pandora's Box has remained.

Greek myths have pervaded our culture and literature. Many English words come from Greek roots, but there are also words that evolved directly from Greek mythology, such as narcissist , herculean , echo, and nemesis . Authors and artists have referred to Greek mythology for hundreds of years, either as direct subject matter or to represent something symbolically. In order to understand these various allusions , students need exposure to important characters and important symbols in Greek mythology. Check out our Greek mythology activities above!

12 Gods of Olympus

Greek mythology is centered around the powerful group of gods who lived on Mount Olympus, the tallest mountain in Greece. It is believed that these gods and goddesses ruled all aspects of life, and met as a council to discuss important things such as punishments, war, and the way of life in general. The twelve gods and goddesses are: Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Poseidon. Other gods and goddesses who were sometimes included as Olympians are Hades (god of the Underworld), Hestia (goddess of home and family), and Eros (god of love and also known as Cupid).

These important gods and goddesses looked like average men and women, but they could change their forms to look like animals and other things. For the most part, they remained on Mount Olympus, but Posiedon preferred to live in his palace under the sea.

The Olympians are also important influences to various heroes on their quests. Some influences may be positive, like Athena guiding Hercules or Odysseus, but some can also be major obstacles for heroes. Poseidon inhibits Odysseus from making it home to Ithaca, Hera tries to foil Hercules' Labors whenever she can, and Zeus sends the Argo way off course on its way home. Learning more about the personalities, areas of influence, and symbols of the Greek gods and goddesses is beneficial for understanding various allusions in literature, music, art, architecture, astronomy, marketing, and more. Students will love analyzing the various Greek mythological symbols and how the Greek gods' and goddesses' powers were said to be related to events and natural disasters.

The influence of the ancient Greek myths remains after many centuries in art, architecture, language, literature, and modern television and film. The stories in Greek mythology have universal themes and archetypes that are applicable across cultures, but are also memorable narratives by themselves. The Olympians often take a center role in these Greek myths because they are the twelve major gods of the Greek pantheon.

Who Are the 12 Olympian Gods?

• Zeus , also known as “The King of all Gods”, or “Father of Gods and men”, Zeus was the most powerful god who controlled the sky, storms, thunder, and lightning. He was also known as the god of justice. He is represented by a lightning bolt and eagles. Zeus was the youngest son of Cronos and Rhea, and when he was old enough, he and his siblings and uncles overthrew his father and gained control of the different realms. Zeus married Hera and together they had three children: Ares, Eris, and Hephaestus.
• Hera is the queen of the gods, and the goddess of marriage and childbirth. She is often represented by peacocks and wedding rings. Daughter of Cronos and Rhea, Hera is also known for her hatred of Troy, and tries to help the Greeks win against the Trojans whenever she can. Hera had three children with Zeus: Ares, Eris, and Hephaestus.
• Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. She is often represented by a mirror, rose, or a dove. Aphrodite was the daughter of Uranus and Dione, but sometimes she was also said to be the daughter of Zeus and Thalassa or Dione. Aphrodite’s beauty was so stunning that men who catch a glimpse of her fall into a puddle of incoherent mutterings.
• Apollo , the god of sun and music, is represented by a golden lyre and a golden bow and arrow. He is the twin brother of Artemis, and the son of Zeus and the nymph Leto. The Greeks prayed to Apollo for good health, and feared him when a plague or other illness hit.
• Ares is the god of war, and he is represented by a spear and a shield which were often used in violent conflicts. Son of Zeus and Hera and brother of Athena, Ares is often defeated in stories that involve war. Ares is also known for being Aphrodite’s lover.
• Artemis is the goddess of the moon and the hunt, and carries a silver bow with arrows. Apollo and Artemis were the twin children of Zeus and the nymph Leto, but Artemis was the apple of Zeus’ eye. For Artemis’ third birthday, Zeus gave her a silver bow and arrows, wood nymphs, and hounds to hunt with. He also gave her the gift of chastity, which was part of her wish. She became known as a fierce huntress, and she was also very protective of her nymphs.
• Athena , known as the goddess of strategy and wisdom, is represented by a helmet and scroll, to be used for strategy in times of war. Daughter of Zeus and Metis, Athena used her skill and intuition to outwit others in battle.
• Demeter is the goddess of harvest and is represented by sheaves of wheat. During times of famine or poor crop yields, the Greek people came to Demeter for help. She had two children with Poseidon, Arion and Despoena, and one child with Zeus, Persephone.
• Dionysus , the god of wine, pleasure, and festivity, was typically represented by a cup and grapevines or vineyards. He was also a demigod, which means he was the son of a god and a mortal; his father was Zeus, and his mother’s name was Semele. Dionysus is perhaps most well-known for granting King Midas the power to turn everything he touched into gold.
• Hephaestus is the blacksmith god, as well as the god of fire and the forge. He is represented by a hammer and anvil. Son of Zeus and Hera, Hephaestus was flung off of Olympus by his mother when he was born: she thought he was so ugly that he would not win his father’s affection.
• Hermes , who is known as the messenger god, was the son of Zeus and Maia, is represented by winged sandals and his Caduceus staff. Hermes had many responsibilities including being the god of trade and thieves. He often was the messenger for his father, going back and forth from Olympus to Earth to the Underworld.
• Poseidon , also known as the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, is represented by his three-pronged trident and horses. Son of Rhea and Cronos, and brother of Zeus, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter, Poseidon and other family members worked together to overthrow his father. After the battle ended, Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon chose which realm each god would rule; Poseidon chose the sea.

There are so many interesting and entertaining stories about these gods and goddesses, and it is truly incredible how they are all intertwined. Storyboard That makes it simple to keep track of the myths and adventures that these gods and goddesses are a part of!

Other Greek Mythology Project Ideas

• Storyboard the life of your favorite Greek god or goddess.
• Create a family tree and list the Greek gods and goddesses along with their signs and symbols!
• Complete a storyboard showing Zeus being overthrown like Cronus or Uranus before him! Choose a god who will defeat Zeus, and tell how it happens.
• Research Greek gods and their symbols, and create a biography for your favorite!
• Make a presentation of all of the different Greek mythology symbols.
• Teachers can take their Greek mythology lesson plans offline by printing out colorful Greek mythology worksheets and graphic organizers related to the activities above such as social media page worksheets , character map worksheets , biography worksheets , vocabulary worksheets , plot diagram worksheets , and more!

For more information about Greek mythology and its influences, be sure to check out the following Teacher Resources.

• Ancient Greece
• Types of Heroes
• The Hero's Journey
• Elements of an Epic
• The Creation of the World
• Explanation Myths
• 12 Labors of Hercules
• Jason and the Golden Fleece
• The Odyssey
• Oedipus the King
• The Lightning Thief
• " The One Eyed Giant "
• Theseus and the Minotaur
• "Icarus and Daedalus"

Purchase The Complete World of Greek Mythology by Richard Buxton or D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire on Amazon to use as resources for Greek myths!

How to Use Greek Mythology Activities

Introduce essential questions.

Begin your mythology unit by discussing essential questions that explore the relevance of myths in today's world. Encourage students to think about the changing definitions of heroes, the use of stories to explain the unknown, lessons from Greek mythology and the role of myths in modern life.

Engage with Pre-Made Activities

Utilize pre-made activities from Storyboard That to enhance students' understanding of Greek mythology. These activities include creating storyboards of Olympian symbols, plot diagrams of myths, exploring themes, listing deities and their signs, designing posters, analyzing symbols and motifs, examining vocabulary, and more. Choose activities that align with your lesson objectives and student interests.

Explore the 12 Olympian Gods and Goddesses

Introduce the 12 gods and goddesses of Olympus, their personalities, domains, and Greek mythological symbols. Discuss their influence on heroes and their representation in various aspects of life, such as art, architecture, literature, and marketing. Help students make connections between these mythological figures and their presence in today's world.

Encourage Creativity and Research

Encourage students to engage in creative projects that deepen their understanding of Greek mythology. Assign tasks such as creating their own Greek god or goddess, conducting research on the hero's journey, analyzing poems related to myths using the TP-CASTT method, designing social media pages for mythological characters, and making posters or spider maps of individual gods

Incorporate Greek Mythology Worksheets

Print out colorful Greek mythology worksheets and graphic organizers to support offline learning. Utilize worksheets related to social media pages, character maps, biographies, vocabulary, plot diagrams, and more. These resources provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Greek myths.

Further Exploration and Resources

Encourage further exploration of Greek mythology by providing additional teacher resources and recommending books such as "The Complete World of Greek Mythology" by Richard Buxton or "D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths" by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire. These resources can deepen students' knowledge of archetypes, allusions, ancient Greece, types of heroes, the hero's journey, and specific myths like "The Odyssey" or "Jason and the Golden Fleece."

Frequently Asked Questions about Greek Mythology & the 12 Olympians

Who is the most powerful god in greek mythology.

Zeus , who is known as “The King of all Gods” is the most powerful of all the gods and goddesses. He controlled the sky, storms, thunder, and lightning. Zeus married Hera and they had three children together.

What are the different types of mythology?

The most well known types of mythology are Norse , Egyptian , and Greek. However, there are many other types of mythology from different countries and religions around the world.

What is a myth?

A myth is a story that is about how the world came to be, and why certain events happened. While some may think that myths are not accurate, they were, at one point, believed to be real.

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An Introduction to Greek Mythology

Greek mythology is not only interesting, but it is also the foundation of allusion and character genesis in literature. In this lesson plan, students will gain an understanding of Greek mythology and the Olympian gods and goddesses.

Learning Objectives After completing the lessons in this unit, students will be able to:

• Understand the Greek view of creation.
• Understand the terms Chaos, Gaia, Uranus, Cronus, Zeus, Rhea, Hyperboreans, Ethiopia, Mediterranean, and Elysian Fields.
• Describe the Greek view of the world’s geography.
• Identify the names and key features of the Olympian gods/goddesses.
• Create their own god/goddess.
• Create their own myth explaining a natural phenomenon.
• D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire
• The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki
• The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myths by Charles Smith
• Greek Myths and Legends by Cheryl Evans
• Mythology by Edith Hamilton (which served as a source for this lesson plan)
• A paper plate for each student
• Internet access to look up relevant sites

Note: Do not give student(s) the filled-in copy of the Gods/Goddesses chart. That is your answer key.

Lesson 1: Greek Creation Mythology

Although when we think of mythology we think of a collection of stories, there is a beginning to them. Understanding the beginning of the story, the creation of the world, gives us a framework to build upon as we learn about the different myths.

The short answer to how the Greeks viewed the creation of the world is this: Scary old gods came first; they got stomped down by their kids, who were better looking, younger gods. These gods created humans. Humans and gods fought for supremacy, and the humans won a few rounds but eventually got trounced and became more and more miserable.

Now, the longer answer: In the beginning, the universe was without form. It was not nothing; there was matter, but it was unorganized, shapeless, mixed up and dark. This was called Chaos.

After Chaos, more divinities, or gods, came into being.

Gaia, the Earth, held up Uranus, the sky. Gaia and Uranus had a bunch of kids. First they had a bunch of monsters including the Cyclops, and then they created the Titans as the second generation. Uranus hated all the Titans and was actually quite ugly about it — but there are only a couple of Titans that you need to remember: first, Oceanus, the god of the sea, and then Cronus, the strongest and best one of all. Gaia was pretty ticked at Uranus for being a jerk, so she helped Cronus overthrow him.

So, let’s keep this straight. Cronus is Uranus’s son. Cronus became the king (bye-bye Uranus), and married his sister, Rhea — another Titan. It’s like a soap opera. This was called the Golden Age because men, who had been made by a Titan named Prometheus, were living in harmony. Everything was hunky dory.

It didn’t last, though, because Cronus heard a prophecy that one of his sons would dethrone him, so every time his wife, Rhea, had a baby, he swallowed it. Rhea got a little sick of seeing all of her children swallowed alive, so she tricked Cronus when her sixth child, Zeus, was born; she wrapped up a rock to look like a baby and had Cronus swallow that instead. Zeus rescued his previously swallowed siblings, and all was right with the world.

The Greek view of the world was a little different than ours. The Greeks believed that the world was flat, but circular, like a paper plate. At the center of the Universe was Greece.

Their world was divided by the Mediterranean, which means "Middle of the Lands" in Latin. The river Ocean flowed around the world in a clockwise motion.

In the north lived the Hyperboreans — an extremely happy people for whom life was sweet. When the old people became tired of living, they threw themselves into the sea. This was a land of constant vacation where people were said to live for 1,000 years. In the south lived the Ethiopians. In Greek drama, mention is often made of various gods being in Ethiopia, meaning really far away. So, if I say I parked in Ethiopia this morning, would that mean I’m close to my office or far away? The Ethiopians were said to be on good terms with the gods and liked to entertain them. To the west were the Elysian Fields. This was the closest the Greeks got to the idea of heaven; only the best and brightest of the dead people got to go there.

• Read The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki.
• Draw your own representation of the Greek view of the world on the paper plate using colored pencils and the map on the previous page as a guideline. Be sure to include the Ethiopians, the Hyperboreans and the Elysian Fields on your map.
• Directions for Paragraph: Begin with a topic sentence. Here is an example: The Greek view of the world both resembles and differs from the contemporary view.
• Next, list two ways the views are similar. Here are examples: The Greek view resembles the contemporary view in that: Additionally, the views are similar because:
• Next, list two ways the views are different. Here are examples: However, the Greek view is not the same as the contemporary view because the Greeks believed The Greeks also thought
• Last, you will state a conclusion. Here’s an example: Therefore, even though the views have similarities, they differ in important ways.

Lesson 2: The Olympian gods

Use the information in this lesson to begin to fill in the gods and goddesses chart at the end of this lesson; you will also need to do your own research to complete it. Now that you understand the way that the Greeks viewed the beginning of the world, you are ready to learn about the Olympian gods.

First, we have to explore exactly what we mean by "Olympian gods." Mount Olympus is a real mountain in the north of Greece. Gradually, it became associated less and less with an actual mountain and more with an imaginary place high above the earth. According to the ancient Greeks, the gate to Olympus was made of clouds and it was guarded by four goddesses, the Seasons. Each god had his or her own dwelling place, but Olympus was home base.

There were up to 14 gods considered Olympian gods. Seven of them were Zeus and his siblings, and seven others were children of Zeus. Sometimes only 12 will be listed. The Greeks and Romans shared mythology, so you will find two names for most gods.

Zeus was the king of the hill. He was dominating, powerful and had a soft spot for pretty women. He could be terrifying when angry. His symbols were the thunderbolts, or lightning bolts made for him by the Cyclopes (his uncles); the eagle; and the scepter, or rod. Please copy this information onto your chart.

Hades, or Pluto, was the god of the underworld and of the dead. He was called the same names by the Romans, but they also sometimes called him Dis or Dis Pater. He was Zeus’s brother and married Persephone after kidnapping her against her will. He was gloomy and frightening.

Next, we have Poseidon, or Neptune, as the Romans called him. He was Zeus’s brother, and he was the god of the sea and also earthquakes. He often is shown with a three-pronged spear called a trident that was made for him by his nephew, Hephaestus, and/or a fish.

Our first goddess is Hera. She sits on the right side of Zeus and is his wife. Of course, she’s his sister, too, but that’s the way it was on Olympus. Hera’s Roman name is Juno, and she is the queen of the gods. She is the guardian of marriage and was well-loved by the Greeks; it’s kind of sad that she’s the goddess of marriage but her own marriage was so bad. She was often jealous of her husband’s girlfriends and did mean things to them, even the ones who didn’t want anything to do with him, but she could be tender and loving as well. The peacock was her symbol. In fact, the circles in a peacock’s tail are said to be the eyes of her 100-eyed servant, Argus.

Next is Athena, or Minerva, the daughter who sprang fully formed from the head of Zeus after a major headache. She is the goddess of wisdom and war and also the protector and namesake of the city of Athens. She preferred reason to violence unless she was pushed. She turned Arachne into a spider for bragging that she could spin better than Athena. She was very competitive and is often pictured with her helmet and a spear. She carried Zeus’s shield, called the aegis. The owl was her bird. Can you see it in her hand?

Apollo was a twin. His Roman name was the same as his Greek name. He was the god of the sun or light, poetry, music and medicine and was famous for his oracles (wise women to whom he gave his power to predict and interpret the future). He was very proud and also protective of his mother and sister. His symbols were the gold bow and arrows, and he often appears golden and shining. He wears a laurel wreath in memory of Daphne, who didn’t want to be his lover and prayed to Mother Earth for help escaping him; she was turned into a laurel tree.

Artemis was Apollo’s twin. Her Roman name was Diana, and she was the goddess of hunting, chastity and the moon. She protects women and small children, is fiercely independent and particularly dislikes men. In pictures, she is seen accompanied by three hunting hounds, a bow and a fawn.

Ares or, as he is known by his Roman name, Mars, was the god of war. He would fight on both sides, if possible. He was young, strong and handsome, and liked to dress in battle clothes even when he wasn’t fighting.

Hephaestus, or Vulcan, was born lame and was further crippled when he was thrown from Olympus by his mother, Hera, in a rage. He was the only Olympian with a disability. He was unhappily married to Aphrodite and worked as a blacksmith in the gods’ forge.

Hephaestus’s wife, Aphrodite, whose Roman name was Venus, was the goddess of love and beauty. She was born out of sea foam when the blood of Uranus dropped into the ocean. She was the mother of Eros and was irresistibly charming, fickle, vain and competitive. Her symbol was a cestus, or magic belt, that made everyone fall in love with the wearer; sometimes she would lend it to humans. This is a famous painting of the birth of Venus, or Aphrodite, by Botticelli.

Dionysus was the partier of the mountain retreat. He was Zeus’s son by another woman, who was driven crazy by Hera and her jealousy. Dionysus went all around teaching people how to make wine and having a good time. Eventually, Hestia gave up her throne for him, and he lived on Olympus. He was the god of wine, of course, and also vegetation.

Hermes, or Mercury, was the god of science and invention, but he is best known as the messenger of the gods. He is often pictured with a winged helmet and sandals. He is said to have invented the alphabet, boxing and gymnastics! In this painting by Goltzius, you can see his helmet with wings; he’s not wearing his famous sandals, though.

Demeter was the goddess of the crops and the harvest. She is also known as Ceres (Roman) and sometimes Deo. Her symbols include a torch, a crown, a scepter and stalks of grain. She is often portrayed with her daughter, Persephone, who was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld. By the time she was rescued, she’d eaten six pomegranate seeds, so she couldn’t escape the underworld entirely. Her mother was so frantic that winter draped the land and no crops would grow. A deal was struck, and Persephone was allowed to return to her mother for half of the year. So each year, when she returns to the underworld, fall comes, then winter — but when she returns to her mother, spring and summer come again.

Hestia was Zeus’s sister and the goddess and protectress of hearth and home. She is also known by her Roman name, Vesta. She was gentle and kind and was very popular with the Greeks. She didn’t have a lot of adventures, so she’s rarely pictured in art.

Now, use at least two sources in addition to what you read here to fill in your chart (next page) completely. Write down the sources you used on the back of the chart.

Book suggestions

• (If your library doesn’t have these, check around Dewey Decimal No. 398.2. That’s where Greek mythology is.)

Web references

• Some Great Greek Myths
• Mythography
• Encyclopedia Mythica

Lesson 3: Mythology biographical poem

A biographical poem, or biopoem, uses a simple but specific structure to describe the most important facts about someone. Your assignment is to write a biopoem about one of the gods or goddesses you have studied. You may choose any god or goddess (except Aphrodite, because she’s the example below). The blanks bewlow are for your rough draft. When you’re done, copy your final version onto a separate sheet of paper and, if you would like, decorate it.

Follow this format exactly, please:

Example (you may not use this goddess):

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, Desire, Beauty and Fertility. A daughter of Zeus and Dione; wife of Hephaestus. Lover of sons Aeneas and Cupid and brother Ares. Who protects sailors. Who needs a chariot. Who fears War, Athena and Hera. Who gives Helen to Paris, a magic belt to Hera, and Medea to Jason. Resident of Mt. Olympus. Venus.

Lesson 4: Olympians quiz

Time to test yourself — and beware, answers may be used more than once!

• If you could have dinner with one god or goddess, who would it be and why?
• Which god or goddess do you think would make the best president and why?
• Imagine that Zeus has come to you and said that Olympus is lacking a god or goddess, and he needs you to help. Invent a new Olympian and describe him or her below.

Lesson 5: Putting it all together

Myths are a way of understanding the world. This lesson has been about Greek mythology, but every culture has myths. Myths define social customs and beliefs, explain natural and psychological phenomena, and provide a way for people to discuss things that cause anxiety.

Mythology is all around us. Here are just a few examples of places we find myths today:

• Days of the week — Wednesday (Woden or Odin — Norse god); Thursday (Thor — Norse god); Friday (Freya — Norse goddess); Saturday (Saturn — Roman god who ruled before Jove)
• Cars — Toyota Avalon and Cressida, Cadillac El Dorado, Honda Odyssey, Mercury
• Shoes — Nike
• Tires — Midas
• Astronomy — Constellations like Orion, the Argo, all of the planets and the Pleiades. The Milky Way itself was supposedly the road over which the stars traveled to Jupiter’s palace.
• NASA — The first part of U.S. space program was Project Mercury, named after the messenger of the gods because the project’s purpose was to send a message to the Soviets that America was in the space race. The Gemini Project was next; Gemini is Latin for "twins," and the project was called this because the capsule held two astronauts. Apollo astronauts rode on Saturn rockets.

Myths also make great stories. They come up in literature all over the place, from really serious stuff like Dante to comic strips. Myths inspire music; actually the word music comes from the mythological muses who inspired art of all kinds. Painters such as Michelangelo and Botticelli were inspired by myths. Even children’s movies are a good place to look for myths; you will find them everywhere, including Snow White, Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. Can you find at least three examples of mythology connections in the world?

Lesson 6: Create your own myth

Hopefully myths inspire you, too, because you are about to create your own myth! As you know, myths were often used to explain natural phenomena. Your challenge is to create your own myth to explain some natural phenomenon or land formation. It could be anything from the origin of hurricanes to how the Grand Canyon or a mountain range was created. You will tell this myth in a story format.

Here are the guidelines:

• Your story must involve at least two Olympian gods or goddesses. It may contain other gods or goddesses as well.
• Your story must explain some natural phenomenon (such as a weather event) or some geological feature (a mountain range, a large valley, a sea, an ocean, a polar ice cap, etc.).
• Your story should be at least 350 words.
• Your story must have a clear beginning, middle and end.
• Your story should clearly show that you know something about Greek mythology. You will do this by including details about the Olympian gods and goddesses that show you know their powers, symbols and personalities.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Where did the Rocky Mountains come from?
• Where did the Mississippi River come from?
• What made the North and/or South Pole(s)?
• Why is Earth the third planet from the sun?
• Why is it dark at night?
• What is in the middle of the earth?

This series of lessons was designed to meet the needs of gifted children for extension beyond the standard curriculum with the greatest ease of use for the educator. The lessons may be given to the students for individual self-guided work, or they may be taught in a classroom or a home-school setting. Assessment strategies and rubrics are included at the end of each section. The rubrics often include a column for "scholar points," which are invitations for students to extend their efforts beyond that which is required, incorporating creativity or higher level technical skills.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

100 Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love!

10 Greek Myths Every Student Should Know

These myths surface in our culture again and again.

From building background knowledge of where modern terms and phrases originated to important life lessons humans have been grappling with for centuries, there is a Greek myth for all of it. Here are 10 great Greek myths that your students should know and a few ways to integrate them into your lessons.

1. Gordias and the Gordian Knot

King Gordias wins his throne in a most unusual manner. Born a peasant, he receives a sign from Zeus telling him to ride into town on his oxcart. He does, only to discover that the king has just died and an oracle has told the people that their new king will be arriving soon … by oxcart! After being crowned, Gordias ties up his cart in the town square in honor of Zeus. The knot is so complex that it inspired a legend. The man who unties/undoes the Gordian knot is destined to rule over all of Asia.

Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:

• History/Social Studies: This Greek myth is perfect for a middle- or high school-level discussion about the places in history where legend and truth get a bit cloudy. The puzzle of the Gordian knot was eventually solved, so the story goes, by a real-life person, Alexander the Great. And he did, in fact, go on to conquer and rule much of Asia. What a great launch activity or conversation topic for a class studying the history of ancient Greece or Western civilization. If Alexander the Great really exists, does that mean the Gordian knot does too? What about King Gordias and his prophetess queen?
• English/Language Arts: This story has many potential ELA links. The metaphor of the “Gordian knot,” an unsolvable puzzle or one that can only be solved by thinking “outside the box,” is common in literature. Sharing it builds students’ background knowledge and shows how complex and intertwined legend and history can become. Especially when you consider that King Gordias, who quite possibly did exist historically, had a fairly famous son in the world of Greek myth.

2. King Midas

King Midas is King Gordias’s only son. One day, he meets the god Dionysus, who takes a liking to Midas and decides to grant him one wish. Without thinking, Midas wishes that everything he touches be turned to gold. After turning most of his palace, his food and wine, and (in some versions of the myth) his beloved daughter to gold, Midas realizes his gift is actually a curse. Depending on the retelling, Dionysus either takes pity on King Midas and removes the golden touch or poor Midas starves to death.

• Elementary classes: This myth is perfect for younger students because it avoids a lot of the more adult themes that are often present in Greek myths. Students of all ages will recognize the thematic concepts of greed, lack of forethought, and penance found in King Midas’s story.
• English/Language Arts: For older students, it may be interesting to have them reflect on modern examples of King Midas’s weakness. They will have little trouble identifying people who sought great wealth only to suffer a fall from grace in today’s world.
• Science/Mathematics: While requiring a bit more planning, the King Midas story could be an excellent launch for a discussion about elements and their identifying properties. What would a grape made of solid gold weigh? If Midas’s clothes turned to gold, would he be able to walk? Experiments or math problems based on these ideas would gain student interest and get them talking about the real-world possibilities of this myth.

3. Arachne the Weaver

Arachne is the best weaver on earth and she knows it. After refusing to thank the goddess Athena for the gift (Athena is the goddess of weaving as well as wisdom and war), Athena challenges Arachne to a weaving contest. Arachne agrees. When the contest is over, even Athena has to admit that Arachne’s work is better. In a rage, Athena turns Arachne into the world’s first spider, forcing her and her descendants to weave beautiful webs for the rest of time.

• Science: What a great introduction to a biology unit on arachnids, right? It’s also great for any unit that has to do with understanding how things came to be. The Greeks had a bunch of myths that they used to explain and understand nature that would be ideal to pull into a science lesson.
• English/Language Arts: In addition to working well in lessons on word origins, the myth of Arachne would work beautifully as a mini-lesson on identifying theme. The Greeks were really big on showing the proper respect and humility in front of their gods. They believed that mortals who were arrogant would be punished for their pride. Simple stories like this often make challenging concepts like identifying thematic ideas or making thematic statements easier.
• Elementary: Perfect for a creative writing unit. Read this myth to your class and ask the students to create their own stories explaining how an animal came to be or how some other aspect of the natural world exists.

4. Echo and Narcissus

Echo is a forest nymph cursed by Hera, the queen of the gods, to only be able to repeat the last few words said to her by others. She encounters Narcissus, a shockingly handsome mortal who has gotten lost in the woods and falls madly in love. Narcissus, however, has no interest in Echo and quickly grows annoyed with her repeating his own words back to him. He tells her to go away. Echo, in despair, slowly fades away until nothing but her voice remains. Meanwhile, Narcissus becomes bewitched with his own reflection after bending to take a drink from a pond. Vowing to stay there until the beautiful image loves him back, Narcissus sits beside the pond for weeks. Eventually, he too wastes away, becoming the lovely flower that bears his name to this day.

• Psychology: Echolalia and Narcissistic Personality Disorder are both medically and legally recognized as mental illnesses today. This story could introduce students to the origins of these conditions and many others. The word “narcissist” is often used by our older students. But how many of them actually know where the word comes from or how it got its meaning? This could be an interesting way to introduce the medical history behind some psychological concepts.
• Science: This is a great story to read as a way to start a discussion about how our understanding of science and nature change over time. For the ancient Greeks, these stories were their religion, their entertainment, their history, and, yes, their science. The stories dictated how they understood the world around them.
• English/Language Arts: Greek myths make excellent stories for mini-lessons on literary elements. Just think about how easy it would be to review characterization with the story of Echo and Narcissus. Indirect characterization? How about Hera’s punishment of Echo instead of going after her unfaithful husband? Or Narcissus falling in love with himself? Thematic concepts? Jealousy, love, punishment, revenge, pride, arrogance. The ancient Greeks sure knew how to pack a lot into a short story!

5. Sisyphus

Sisyphus is a Greek prince who outsmarts Hades not once but twice . After cheating death and living a long and happy life, Sisyphus finally dies of old age. When he arrives in the Underworld, Hades is eagerly awaiting him. Instead of letting him float around as a shade for the rest of time, Hades condemns Sisyphus to Tartarus, the darkest realm of the Underworld. Here, Sisyphus and other evil mortals are brutally punished for eternity. Sisyphus’s punishment is to struggle and strain to push a heavy boulder to the top of a steep hill. Just as the boulder is about to reach the top, it slips and rolls back down to the bottom of the hill. Sisyphus has to trudge back down and start all over again. And again. And again. Forever.

• English/Language Arts: There are so many English words that have origins tied to Greek mythology that entire mini-units can be devoted to their study. “Sisyphean,” a word that usually denotes a task or job that is pointless, endless, or that can never really be completed, owes its origins to Sisyphus’s eternal punishment.
• Reading: In many ways, Sisyphus is one of the first antiheroes. He is not a good man, but in many retellings, we definitely find ourselves laughing at his antics and rooting for him as he outsmarts the gods.
• Mathematics: The first time Sisyphus cheats death, he actually stops people from dying altogether by trapping Thanatos, the ancient Greeks’ version of the Grim Reaper on Earth. The gods only notice when Ares, the god of war, complains about how boring battles are when nobody dies. This story could make a fascinating opening for a lesson on exponential growth and what might happen to the world’s population if no one ever died.

6. Pyramus and Thisbe

See if this one sounds a bit familiar. Pyramus and Thisbe are two teenagers madly in love with each other. Their parents, however, are bitter enemies and forbid the two from ever being together. In secret, the teens plan to meet up at a nearby mulberry tree and elope. When the night arrives, Thisbe makes it to the spot first but is forced to run away. A bloody-jawed lioness, fresh from a kill, is lying directly under the tree. As she flees, her cloak is left behind. Later, when Pyramus shows up, he sees the lioness tearing the cloak to pieces. Fearing the worst, Pyramus removes his dagger and plunges it into his heart, dying instantly. Thisbe returns later, and upon seeing Pyramus’s body, takes his dagger and kills herself as well. From that day on, the formerly white berries of the mulberry bush became red, stained with the blood of the young lovers.

• English/Language Arts: Students love to discover that “Romeo and Juliet” was heavily influenced by an earlier story. This myth is a great way to get students fired up for discussions about background knowledge, plagiarism, citing text, and paraphrasing.
• Argument/Discussion: This myth has many issues that could inspire interesting conversations/arguments in different subject areas. Discussions of the destructive power of feuds, teenagers being impulsive or irresponsible, drawing incorrect conclusions, and behaving rashly are all potential topics of debate or discussion.

7. Pandora’s Box

To punish mankind for using fire given to them by the god Prometheus, Zeus creates woman. He makes her beautiful but devious and gives her a box filled with death, disease, and all the other miseries and sufferings of the world. He sends her to to earth with specific instructions not to open the box for any reason. Soon after arriving on earth, the curious Pandora opens the lid of the box, releasing all the evils of life into the world. She slams the lid back on the box as quickly as she can, and even though she had released pain and suffering, hope remains inside the box. According to the Greek myth, this is because Zeus wants humans to suffer but also have hope that if they pray to the gods, the gods might help them.

• Mathematics: Okay, I know I’m stretching a bit, but as an “English person,” I would have loved to have had a math teacher who used stories like this when introducing concepts like volume or other geometric terms. How big would a box have to be in order to store all the evils of the world, for example?
• English/Language Arts: The name Pandora means “the one with all the gifts,” which is a great opening for a discussion on irony and/or foreshadowing. Additionally, this is one of those words that has a modern connection, the Pandora music app. Get students thinking about why an app might choose that particular name. (It’s also the name of the planet from the movie  Avatar. )
• Social Studies/Health: This Greek myth provides an interesting segue into a conversation on gender roles and stereotypes. Man was created by Prometheus and given the gift of critical thinking, but Pandora was made by Zeus for the specific purpose of causing chaos and suffering. What does this say about the way the ancient Greeks viewed men and women?

Icarus, the son of Daedalus, the ingenious craftsman who created the Minotaur’s labyrinth, lives in Crete with his father. They are prisoners of King Minos. In order to escape, Daedalus invents beautiful wings made from feathers and wax. The pair put on the wings and fly away from Crete. The escape plan is a success. Daedalus warns Icarus that the wings are fragile and that he shouldn’t fly too close to the ocean or the dampness will make the wings too heavy. Daedalus also warns Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or the wax will melt, but Icarus can’t help himself. He loves the feeling of soaring through the clouds in the bright sunshine. He flies higher and higher until he can no longer hear his father’s pleas for him to be careful. The wax melts and Icarus plummets into the sea and drowns.

• Elementary: Perfect as a starting point for conversations about rules and why they matter, the story of Icarus is a cautionary tale. Students could discuss why Icarus didn’t listen to his father, why rules matter even if we don’t want to obey them, and what Icarus could have done differently to still have fun while staying safe.
• English/Language Arts: This myth is another that lends itself to discussions about thematic concepts like hubris. Students could be asked to consider the common idiom “flying too close to the sun,” and find modern examples of people who “made the same mistake” as Icarus.
• Science: Daedalus’s inventions are fantastic (and some are downright scandalous!). A discussion of some of his more school-appropriate inventions would be a wonderful launch for a makerspace of invention activity. Students could be challenged after a lesson on flight and/or aeronautics to discuss why the wings wouldn’t work or to invent their own method of (hypothetical) personal flight.

(WeAreTeachers Note: The myth of Perseus is one of the most commonly shared of the Greek myths. Often, however, it is told from the hero’s perspective. The tale of Medusa is equally fascinating, but it is much sadder and more troubling. It contains depictions of sexual assault and abuse. While it is a myth worthy of study and discussion by older students, it should be approached with care.)

Medusa is a Gorgon, a hideous monster with serpents instead of hair. If she looks at you, you will instantly be turned to stone. But she wasn’t always a monster. Medusa was once a beautiful maiden, a priestess to the virgin goddess Athena. One day, the god Poseidon sees Medusa and decides he wants her. He attacks her in Athena’s temple. When Athena realizes that Medusa has been defiled in her temple, she punishes not Poseidon, her uncle and fellow god, but Medusa, turning her into a terrible monster that no man would ever wish to look upon ever again. Medusa lives her life like this until one day, the hero Perseus, slays her, bringing her head home to use as a weapon against his enemies. Afterward, he lays her head at the foot of the statue of Athena. Athena places it on her shield as a symbol of her power.

• English/Language Arts: We chose to tell this myth from the Medusa perspective rather than the Perseus perspective it’s usually told from because it makes it a fascinating study on point of view. If this myth is told as Perseus’s story, it’s a heroic tale of a demi-god slaying a horrible monster. From Medusa’s point of view, however, this is a tragic tale of the gods taking advantage of a mortal woman again and again. Students are usually quite angry to learn this side of the story. It would make an excellent creative-writing prompt.
• Science: Although much more suited to older students, there is a lot of research about how the description of Medusa as a monster is very similar to depictions of what happens to human bodies after death. In fact, many religions have gods or monsters who are depicted similarly, indicating a long-standing human fear about what happens to us after we die. This would make an interesting lesson in how mankind makes sense of frightening things it doesn’t understand.
• Social Studies/History: Looking at any of the Greek heroes and comparing them to our heroes today is an excellent activity. The ancient Greeks valued strength, courage, and the quest for fame. Would your students say that we value the same things today? Or would they say our society values different things?

10. Atalanta and the Golden Apples

Atalanta is abandoned in the forest as a baby by her father, who wished she was a boy. She’s raised by first a bear and then some hunters, who teach her how to be an amazing athlete and hunter even though she’s a girl. Eventually, her father decides she’s become so famous for her hunting skills he should bring her home, but only if she agrees to get married. Atalanta agrees, but only if the man can beat her in a foot race. Many men try, but none succeed. Eventually, one suitor prays to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, for help. Aphrodite gives him golden apples to throw in Atalanta’s path during the race. The young man does this and they succeed in slowing down Atalanta, who stops to pick them up. The young man, Hippomenes, wins the race and marries Atalanta.

• English/Language Arts: Often, Greek myths are wonderful to use as prompts for creative writing activities. Imagine asking students to write about the race from different perspectives. Did Atalanta choose to lose the race? If so, why? Why was Atalanta so easily distracted by the apples? Did Hippomenes play fair given how many other men had tried to win the race before him but failed?
• Social Studies/History: Another excellent myth to read as a launch or additional text when discussing gender roles in different cultures. Atalanta is shown to be a skilled hunter and athlete, so many students are somewhat perplexed as to why she is so easily tricked by the apples. In some versions of the myth, they are magical, drawing Atalanta’s attention despite her better judgement. In other versions, Atalanta likes Hippomenes and doesn’t mind the ruse as it gives her an excuse to lose the race.
• Mathematics: The combining of Greek myths and mathematics might not be immediately obvious, but that can be part of the fun. Give your students a Greek myth like this one at the end of a unit and ask them to come up with math problems based on what they’ve learned in class and the events of the story.

What other great Greek myths could be used as lessons for students? Let us know in the comments.

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Greek Mythology: Mythology Project

• Mythology Project
• Cite Your Sources

Citing your Sources!

• How to Use MyBib videos

Best Practices:

• Create a new project in your mybib.com account as soon the project is assigned.
• Add each source into mybib as you find it and you will have a list of all your sources so you will not forget or lose any.

Note taking tips

If possible take notes with pen and paper: According to this 2014 study, "The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking,"  taking notes by hand is more effective for learning than typing notes.

Read first, take notes after Read carefully through the text completely. Think about what you just read. Understand it. Then without looking at the text write down the important facts and details. Write the main ideas in your own words.

In your own words Paraphrase. Take notes in your own words. Avoid writing complete sentences - use bullet points.

Quotes If you are going to write down a complete sentence put it in quotation marks and only use it in your paper as a quote with a reference to the author and a citation.

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Annotated Bibliography

For this project, your teacher is asking for an annotated bibliography.

A bibliography is a list of the sources you used and consulted for your research project.

An annotation is a summary/description and  evaluation.

So for this project you will need to hand in the:

• list of  sources you used and consulted during your research along with
• your succinct summary/descirption of the source and your evaluation for how useful it was.

An example: Here is an example bibliographic entry in the MLA format:

Ingri D'aulaire, and Edgar Parin D'aulaire. D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths . Doubleday, An Imprint Of Random House Children’s Books, A Division Of Penguin Random House Llc, 2017.

Here is that same entry with an annotation:

Ingri D'aulaire, and Edgar Parin D'aulaire. D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths . Doubleday, An Imprint Of Random House Children’s Books, A Division Of Penguin Random House Llc, 2017. This book has short versions of all of the major Greek myths including gods, goddesses, heroes and monsters. This book had excellent coverage of the Persephone and Hades story and provided superb details that helped make my final presentation of the story much stronger.

Want to know more about annotated bibliographies? Check out this page on the Purdue O.W.L.

A sampling of the Print Books available for this project!

Use the index to help you find your topic! - The index is usually at the back of the book and is arranged alphabetically.  

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• Last Updated: Jan 12, 2024 2:14 PM
• URL: https://libguides.wellesleyps.org/hs/greekmythology

Mrs. Nelson Teaches

Engaging ela education, my top 3 greek mythology units.

Greek Mythology is hands-down one of the most popular units that I have ever taught to my middle school students–second only to my Fun Poetry Unit. With the rise of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series and other modern allusions to Greek Mythology, students’ interest in the ancient stories is higher than ever. I love to capitalize on that interest and teach students important literacy skills while enjoying the engaging stories of well-known Greek mythical figures.

When I teach Greek Mythology, I divide our study up into three subunits. I begin building students’ base knowledge about twelve major Greek gods and goddesses . Following that, we spend some time reading and analyzing the themes of several famous Greek myths . And finally, we study The Hero’s Journey and eight of the most well-known Greek Heroes. The entire unit takes about a month and students LOVE it! At the end of each lesson, they are literally BEGGING for more Greek Mythology!

Let’s take a closer look at each of the subunits!

1. Greek Gods and Goddess Unit

First, my students and I take a look at ancient Greek Deity. Greek Mythology is full of interesting characters, but perhaps none so intriguing as the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece! This  FUN no-prep middle school  unit examines each goddess and god individually. Students will be able to recognize each deity’s Greek and Roman name, his or her title or realm, the symbols associated with him or her and become familiar with the major myths involving each god or goddess. The twelve gods I include in this unit are Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hades, Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus and Artemis.

For each deity, I use a note card for students to keep track of the vital information of each god–by vital, I mean the information mentioned previously and that will also be on the test! On the flip side of the note card, I’ve included an artist’s depiction of the god or goddess. If we have time, I’ll ask students to color the whole thing; but at a minimum, I ask that students at least color any visible symbols of the goddess or god. This helps them recognize the goddess or god in art, pictures, etc.

We end this part of the unit with a test (review included) and a fun creative activity that my students have always really enjoyed!

2. Introduction to Greek Mythology

Secondly, in the unit , I like to pause and reflect with students about why it’s a good idea to study Greek Mythology. I have devoted an entire additional blog post about my top four reasons we should study Greek Mythology, so I won’t go into that here. However, I do review these reasons with students as part of the unit. We read seven Greek Myths and analyze the theme of each myth. I really enjoy pausing with students and considering what might be a life lesson that can be learned from each myth. Typically, there are many in each myth. Often, my students decipher themes that haven’t even occurred to me! I love this part of the unit where students can think critically!

The myths that we read include:

• The Tragedy of Echo and Narcissus
• The Tragedy of Phaethon
• Prometheus and the Theft of Fire
• The Story of Pandora
• The Judgment of Paris
• Oedipus and the Oracle at Delphi
• The Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus

Each of these stories is so fun to read with students! Some they may have heard of before and others they may not be familiar with. Either way, they are exciting myths to study and analyze together. This unit also includes some creative projects at the end that are a fun way to wrap up this section of our Greek Mythology study .

3. The Hero’s Journey – Greek Mythology

Finally, the last portion of my Greek Mythology unit is centered around Joseph Campbell’s monomyth or “ The Hero’s Journey .” We begin the unit by introducing the journey and then proceed to read about eight famous Greek Heroes: Perseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, Achilles, Theseus, Heracles, Jason and Odysseus. For each hero story, students can mark how the hero went through The Hero’s Journey and then complete an additional fun and creative activity.

This unit concludes with a formal writing assignment that takes students through the entire writing process discussing their personal hero. We work on prewriting/brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. It’s maybe less fun, per se, for students, but it is meaningful for each them to think about someone they admire and why.

Fun and Engagement are Contagious!

As with most lessons we teach in our classrooms, if we are having fun, our students are more likely to have fun. Smiles and enthusiasm are contagious; so are pessimism and dread! So find something to be happy about and have fun studying Greek Mythology with your students!

One thing that may put a smile on your face is that if you bundle these three resources, you’ll get 20% off!

Brenna (Mrs. Nelson)

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Greek Mythology Research Sheets

Subject: History

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

4 June 2024

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A set of research sheets for students to investigate the gods and goddesses from Greek mythology. Each research sheet has a variety of questions for students to complete. Each one can be enlarged to A3 to make a poster.

Includes both colour and black and white images which students can colour in. Also comes with a blank template and a bonus word search on Greek gods and goddesses.

Great as a topic starter or cover lesson.

Curriculum connection: History -Key stage 2 Ancient Greece – a study of Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world

The following are included in the set:

• Blank template

Clipart by:

Ron Leishman ToonClipart

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 25%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Greek Mythology Bundle

Includes five essential and engaging resources for teaching and learning about Greek mythology. Enjoy a 25% discount on this bundle! Includes the following resources: ➸ PowerPoint ➸ Word Searches ➸ Research Sheets ➸ Card Sort ➸ Fact Fan Clipart by: Ron Leishman [Digital Toonage](https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ron-Leishman-Digital-Toonage) [ToonClipart](https://www.toonclipart.com/)

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• Ancient Greece for Kids

Ancient Greece Free Activities and Projects for Kids and Teachers

These are free to use original activity and project ideas for kids and teachers for your unit study of ancient greece for 6th grade. they can be adjusted for any grade..

Greek Olympics: Ancient Greek Olympics for the Classroom 3-4 days mini-unit with student role handouts and games .  This is a great group activity, and really helps the kids understand the concept of city-states and the fierce competition that existed in ancient Greece between them. I usually use this early in the unit because it's so much fun, and so very Greek.

Greek Geography Activity: Working in small groups, be real estate agents. Sell your site. Use real location names. If its a sea, name it. Give reasons why anyone should settle down in such a mountainous area. Remind students that the Greeks were independent. Their culture developed from villages that grew into unique and independent city-states . Have groups create a "For Sale" brochure or sign.

The Greek Dark Ages: Minoans, Mycenaeans, Dorians, & the Greek Dark Ages - group activity

The Greek Gods:

A Slightly Different Approach to the Greek Gods Family Tree - I used felt. Felt sticks to felt and it's colorful. I created the tree, a green tree with two tiers of branches and a brown tree trunk and secured that to a wall in my classroom. To one side, I had rectangles with Greek gods names , but they were not on the tree or in any particular order. You can post them up any old way, or stash them a box. This was ready to use before the kids came to class. Then I used the myths . From the myths, as a class, we could figure out from clues in the myth who was who in the ancient Greek world, including Hera and Zeus. Down at the bottom of the tree, on the trunk, I placed the demi-gods - half mortals, and the monsters. It worked very well. The kids filled the tree quite rapidly. They also ran into deities that I had not prepared. They prepared them and added them to our very cluttered tree. Somewhere in there, I remind the kids now that: "The Greeks had over 2,000 gods. I don't think we're going to get them all up on our wall. But we can certainly get up a few." If you have multiple classes as I did, leave your tree up with gods posted, and have the kids check if the other classes were correct. Mix up the myths - different myths for different classes. That way, every class has a chance to add to the family tree. I left the tree up during our entire ancient Greek unit.

Working in Small Groups, write your own myth:  Years ago, someone told me, when I was a new teacher, fictional writing needs to be a small group activity. And she was so right. One of my students did the least amount of work with the most amount of disinterest until one day, in his small group, he was chosen to be the narrator of the myth they created. It was his only participation and he was incredible. He was all the characters. His voice changed for each. His body adjusted for each. At the end of his presentation of the group's very short original myth, instead of clapping, there was dead silence. Thank goodness for one little girl who said - that was incredible! Then everybody clapped. From then on, he came alive. Word spread. People were talking about him for days much to his embarrassment and delight.

NEW: Case Files of the Hercules Detective Agency (short stories about ancient Greece)   Join Herc and his buddies as they solve the many problems facing the ancient Greek people, just by reading a short story! Meet some monsters! Visit the Olympics! Find out how kids got an education. How did men get their hair cut? How did people meet each other to get married? Who were the Oracles? What were the gods really like and how did they get along? What was the stone zoo?  What happened to the missing olive trees? How did Hercules and the Minotaur become best friends? These questions and many more are answered by Hercules and his many friends though the Case Files of the Hercules Detective Agency.  Ways we use these stories : Homework: Assign a story as homework, and next class day, start class with a quick brainstorming session - what did this story tell you about ancient Greece? Small group activity: Each group with a different story to recap, illustrate, and present.  Or, working in small groups, have them write a case file of their own that shares something about daily life, inventions, religion, or geography in ancient Greece. We selected Hercules, spelled the Roman way, as the central character.

Business Cards: Tell the kids the gods are really getting upset. People are coming to the temples asking them to do everything. They don't do everything. They have jobs. People need a reminder of what jobs each god can do. In frustration, the gods have come to you to fix this. You need to create for them some business cards that they can use to advertise what they do best. (Example: Apollo, Want a sun tan? See Apollo. Or Hera: Wedding Consultant. Aphrodite: Love Advice for the Lonely. Work in groups. If you have multiple classes, work in large groups. Give each class different gods. That way, when they are all posted on the wall, the kids in each class can enjoy them. Assign groups the gods they will be helping. Give them some time. Have each class them share their business cards ideas with the class. Collect the card so can make a montage of all the cards from all classes on your wall.

Greek Gods activity: Zeus is retiring - Apply for his job.

Ancient Greek Daily Life Activities:

Daily Life Activity: This is an interesting approach for a small group daily life activity: interesting lesson idea . Tell your students: Imagine you are a famous architect and you have just discovered the ruins of an ancient Greek home. Go through each room, carefully piecing together the clues. Each group in your class is assigned a room. The group creates clues (pieces of the past) for that room and its purpose in ancient Greece. Then, each group's room becomes an exploration station. Set up your stations around your classroom and allow students to explore each station and create a list of "discoveries" that tell us about daily life in ancient Greece. Then open class discussion. Although this is fictional writing, it is also technical writing as the assignment requires the discovery of artifacts and clues. We teach multiple classes. Some of our groups during this two-day activity chose to add to existing rooms. Some created nearby businesses. Some created neighbors. I had two groups, actually, who challenged the findings of two different discovery stations. One group was clearly, based on their presentation, seeking a grant to correct misinformation. Very fun. Our two-day activity became a four day one and I left the discovery stations up for about 10 days.

Daily Life Activity : Trading Market Simulation , barter in ancient Greece. Optional use: Students can create products that would be needed in ancient Greek daily life to barter. This can be as simple as a word on a piece of paper or a quick drawing. 

Critical Thinking Activity: Question what you read on the web! - computer lab, small group activity

Famous Greeks Activities: The Great Greeks

TV Interviews with the Great Greeks

Invite three famous ancient Greeks to a dinner party - and be a good, Greek host  

The News, what's going on in the ancient Greek world: The Daily Athenian, newspaper project

Greek Bingo with printout Greek bingo card

Gift Wrapped Greeks - one of my personal favorites for teaching and reviewing inventions and achievements, but Mr. Donn never uses this one. He thinks it's too much trouble, but then, you should see how he wraps!

Conduct a Socrates Seminar , Socrates Seminar Classroom Activity

Mock Trial: Socrates, Mock Trial, Classroom Activity (2-3 class periods, 55 minutes each)

Greek government in different city-states: Determine how each government in ancient Greece would handle a convicted violent criminal

Famous People, Costumes: Lesson Ideas for Ancient Greece -   Paper Columns, Make a Greek Chiton

Greek Pot Patterns - Printable Download - Greek Vases

Online Game Day: Ancient Greece - Games and Interactive Learning Sites for Kids - I set this activity to work by creating a scavenger hunt sheet of things for kids to find in the sites listed on their exploration sheet. The kids have to site the source for each scavenger find for verification. 

My Ancient Greek Activity Book - Includes making business cards for the gods .

Greek Worksheets -

• Ancient Greece, alphabet worksheet, free download, school history)
• Ancient Greece, overview, lesson plans
• Ancient Greece, Olympics, lesson plan
• Ancient Greece, trade, including a trading game, lesson plan
• Ancient Greece, education, lesson plan
• Ancient Greece, home life
• Ancient Greece, Democracy, lesson plan
• The Hellenistic Period, lesson plan
• Parthenon Marbles, lesson plan, controversy
• History for Kids (I don't usually use worksheets, but these are very good and useful to assign for optional homework for a little boost in grade - does not count against, only counts for)

Choose Your Own Adventure from over 70 different classroom activities and possible assignments

Online Quiz: Interactive Quiz Questions with Answers about Ancient Greece for Kids and Teachers

Concluding Activity: Fifth and Sixth Grade Greek Fair

New teachers : Easy desk arrangements for the classroom - I move my desks around all the time, depending upon the activities I'm doing that day. It took me forever to realize I can have the kids move their desks, after I mark the spots with masking tape. You don't want to have the kids moving into formations all the time, but occasionally it's a smart thing to do. Tell them you need their help prior to movement. It's a team building activity. It's not your classroom that way, it's "our" classroom. They will want to help you. 

Free Lesson Plans, Classroom Activities, Projects:  Since we look at many ancient cultures during the same school year, kids can actually forget what culture they are studying while they are studying it. For Ancient Greece in 6th grade, we opened each day's lesson with one quick Aesop fable to keep them on track. The projects and activities can be adjusted for any grade, but are designed for middle school, and 5th through 10th grade. The study of ancient cultures is such a fun year. We wish you the very best year ever!

Ancient Greek Olympics for the Classroom 3-4 days mini-unit with student role handouts and games, designed for 6th grade, can be adjusted for any grade

Socrates, Mock Trial, Classroom Activity (2-3 class periods, 55 minutes each)

Early Greece: Minoans, Mycenaeans, Dorians, & the Greek Dark Ages - group activity

Question what you read on the web! - critical thinking, computer lab, small group activity

Using case files from the Hercules Detective Agency in your classroom

Alexander the Great and Johnny Appleseed (classroom activity and lesson idea to transition 6th grade units, from Greece to Rome)

Over 90 Ancient Greece Activities for elementary and middle school Kids and Teachers - some ours, some sent to us

Early & Classical Greece Units    

Ask Mr. Donn (unit review, quiz with answers, interactive)

Geography Lesson Plans - several

Government:

Early History - Minoan, Mycenaean, Greek Dark Ages

City-States & Government - Athens, Sparta

Greek Wars - Trojan, Persian, Peloponnesian

Gods, Goddesses, Myths -many, include projects and classroom activities

Daily Life, Homes, Women, School - many, include projects and classroom activities

Achievements/Inventions

Art & Architecture - Vases, Columns, Theatre

Ancient Greek Olympics

Achievements, Inventions

Stories, Overviews, People, Special and Concluding Activities, and Quizzes

Ancient Greece for Kids and Teachers (Mrs. Masters) – Review, Activity and Game

Activity: TV Interviews with the Great Greeks

Choose Your Own Adventure (from a long and creative list of Classroom Activities and Possible Assignments)

Aesop's Fables

Famous People - Pericles, Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Alexander the Great, lesson plans, Great Greeks

7 Wonders of the Ancient World (as selected by the ancient Greeks)

Lesson Ideas for Ancient Greece (some ours, some sent to us)

Welcome to Ancient Greece, Overviews & Units

Webquests & Resources

Interactive Games Online for Ancient Greece for Kids (flash games have been removed)

Explore Ancient Greece

For kids: overview.

Geography & Maps

Early Greece: Minoans , Mycenaeans , Dorians

Greek Dark Ages

Rise of Greek City-States

• On Land: Greek Warriors
• At Sea: Greek Ships
• Persian Wars
• The Delian League
• Peloponnesian War

Alexander the Great

• The League of Corinth

Hellenistic Greece

Decline and Fall

Achievements & Contributions

Inventions & Discoveries

Interactive Timelines

Investigate Real Life Artifacts

Play Greek Games! Interactive

For Kids: Art, Culture, Government

Greek Drama and Theatre

Greek Dance

Types of Government

Roots of Democracy

Greek Alphabet

Greek Vases Tell a Story

Greek Columns and Architecture

Elgin Marbles

For Kids: Greek Mythology

Ancient Greek Myths for Kids, retold by Lin Donn

• Zeus, Hera, and Little Io
• The Competition, Athena and Poseidon
• Theseus, the Minotaur, and the Maze
• Dionysus and Ariadne
• Icarus and Daedalus, Wings
• The 12 Labors of Hercules
• Demeter and Persephone, Reason for the Seasons
• Apollo's Oracle at Delphi
• Perseus, Andromeda, and the sea god, Poseidon
• King Midas and the Donkey Ears
• And Many More

Ancient Greek Gods & Goddesses

The 12 Olympians

Mount Olympus

Greek God Family Tree

Religion, Gods

Acropolis & Parthenon

For Kids: Ancient Greek Daily Life

Greek Women

Greek Slaves

Pets & Toys

Hair Styles

Education, School

Wedding Customs

For Kids: People

Famous People

Pericles Funeral Oration

Greek Philosophies

Greek Legends

Greek Fables

Homer's Iliad & Homer's Odyssey

For Kids: Interactive Quizzes

Greece Geography

Early Greece

Greek Government

Greek Olympics

Alexander the Great & Gifts from the Greeks

For Teachers

Activities and Projects

Lesson Plans & Units

PowerPoints

Jeopardy Games

Interactive Games

For Kids and Teachers: Other Ancient Civilizations

See Also: Early Humans for Kids and Teachers

Archaeology for Kids and Teachers