Big Idea: Making Art in English 1 by connecting ancient Greek myths with creative expression to further learning and build foundational understanding of ancient Greek culture and beliefs. Students will paint face masks based off a Greek God/Goddess/Mythical Creature of their choosing before reading the epic Greek tale of Odysseus’s journey home to Penelope and Telemachus after the Trojan War. These masks will mirror traditional ancient Greek play masks worn by actors during performances of dramas such as Antigone and Oedipus. This will also give students the chance to learn more in depth about the Greek Gods and how their stories shaped the ancient Greeks’ understandings of life and society. Students will finally then share what they have learned with the rest of the class so everyone can learn a bit more about ancient Greek life and culture.
Lesson Plan (for 90-minute block periods over 3 school days):
10-15 minutes (Bell Ringer)- Students will write a reflection on the following question: Imagine an epic tale of adventure with great wins, defeats, and lessons learned. Write a quick summary of the epic tale you are familiar with, either from books/movies/video games. In your story: What makes someone a hero? a villain? a God/Deity? Why do you think humans write/share stories with these types of characters? What do these stories tell us about our own societies and lives as humans?
20-25 minutes- Introduce the concept of Greek Mythology, ancient Greek life and culture, and the many stories of the Greek Gods and Goddesses. Have students take notes during lecture.
20-25 minutes- Have students research a Greek God/Goddess/Mythical creature of their choosing and the stories surrounding them. Students will then choose the tale they like best and fill out an inquiry worksheet to deepen and reflect on their understanding of such a tale.
10 minutes- Introduce the mask painting project where students will then create and paint a mask that reflects their chosen God/Goddess/Mythical Creature and a specific tale to go with it.
5-10 minutes- Pass out supplies and answer any questions. Students will then briefly sketch a draft of their mask.
Remainder of class (and next 2 class days)- Students will create their mask using paint, markers, construction paper, glue, etc. and write a short reflection (2-3 paragraphs) explaining in depth their project and tale. They will then each present their mask to the class for 3-5 minutes and teach/explain their chosen tales and epic stories. Students will then write a final reflection about the stories and tales they learned and how they understand ancient Greek culture and life. Students will then take this knowledge as they read The Odyssey and map the different Gods/Goddesses/Mythical Creatures mentioned throughout the story.
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