Greek Mythology Character Cubes

1. Find Greece on a world map. Research information about the names and qualities of ancient Greek characters. Read several Greek myths. Students identify six characters or scenes that they find especially fascinating.
2. On white paper, draw six large circles with Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils. Within each circle draw a square whose corners all touch the sides of the circle. Cut out the six circles with Crayola Scissors.
3. Inside the squares, create drawings showing characters, scenes, or objects from Greek mythology using Crayola Gel Markers. Write descriptions, including names. If you can, write them in Greek!
4. Fold the lines forming each square upward. Place one circle face down on its edges. Select one edge from each of four other circles and glue them to the edges of the circle facing down with Crayola Glue Sticks.
5. Glue one edge to its adjoining edge to form a square. Attach the remaining circle's edges to the four edges that are still open to form a Greek Mythology Character Cube.

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

LA: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

LA: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.

SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.

VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

VA: Select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of ideas.

VA: Use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks.

VA: Describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts.

Possible classroom resources include: D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire; Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters by Donna Jo Napoli; A Child's Introduction to Greek Mythology: The Stories of the Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, Monsters, and Other Mythical Creatures by Heather Alexander

Invite a community member that is of Greek origin to speak with students about Greek mythology and the Greek language & writing. Prior to the visit, students compose questions for the visitor. Afterwards, students post learning to a class blog.

In teams, students investigate ancient Greek temples. Students use recycled materials to create models of the original structures. How do these structures look today? Find contemporary pictures to share with classmates.

In small groups, students review several Greek myths and select one for updating. Students re-write the story in a contemporary setting. What aspects of the myth will change? What would stay the same? The group prepares to present their updated myth to classmates.