Study Guide for the Classroom

Transcription

1 Study Guide for the Classroom In accordance to National Core Curriculum Standards Tears of Joy Theatre 323 NE Wygant, #201, Portland, OR

2 Tears of Joy Theatre presents The Adventures of Perseus About this Story Join the great Greek mythological hero, Perseus, on a classic adventure. Meet the Greek Olympian Gods, Athena and Poseidon as they guide Perseus on his journey to find the fearsome gorgon, Medusa. With hair of snakes, Medusa turns anyone who looks at her into stone. On winged sandals, Perseus travels the world and meets The Gray Sisters, who share one eye and one tooth; Atlas, who holds the world on his shoulders; and saves princess Andromeda from a sea monster. About the Play Tears of Joy Theatre performs Adventures of Perseus with a stunning combination of bunraku puppets (a form of Japanese puppet theatre in which puppeteers are dressed in black and are visible to the audience while manipulating large puppets), marionettes (a puppet that is manipulated from above by strings attached to their jointed limbs), and masked puppeteers. Director: Nancy Aldrich Set Designer: William Earl Puppet designer/builder: Steve Overton and Olde World Puppet Theatre Music composed and recorded: Mathew Nidek Lobby Exhibit The exhibit consists of Classical Theatre masks, Greek costumes and dress, Astronomy maps and information, geographical maps. This exhibit is provided to enhance the educational experience of your Field Trip. Please guide your students to look at our exhibits before and after the performance. Characters in the play Athena- Goddess of wisdom Poseidon God of the Sea Perseus - Son of Zeus Danae Mother of Perseus Polydictes The King Medusa a gorgon (monster) Atlas supported earth on his shoulders Andromeda Ethiopian princess Gray Sisters - Personification of old age, they share one eye and tooth Sea monster Vocabulary Vow Immortal Courage Hero Gorgon A promise Cannot die The ability to face danger without fear A figure in mythology known for great strength, courage, and daring A monster or beast 2

3 Tears of Joy Theatre s The Adventures of Perseus Curriculum Guide About this Guide: Hello teachers! We hope you enjoy this study guide and use it to increase your students overall experience of Greek Mythology in relation to their attendance of The Adventures of Perseus. The goal of this guide is to increase curriculum connections, further students understanding in Greek culture and mythology, and provide supplemental activities and lessons that enhance their attendance to a Tears of Joy s Theatre Adventures Field Trip. Six engaging lessons and activities are provided below. At the end of this guide you will also find supplemental material for you to freely use in conjunction with each lesson. Enjoy! Concept objectives: 1. Students will understand how to read and recognize literature and art as records of human experience. 2. Students will report on a topic, refer to the story, and recount appropriate facts using descriptive details. 3. Students will understand historical and geographical context. Introduction Why Teach Greek Mythology? Greek Mythology reveals a world of monsters, heroes, amazing journeys and daring feats. Exploring these famous tales equips your students to understand allusions in poetry and literature and, for that matter, daily life. These stories teach morality through example, delving easily into matters of the human psyche that all students can understand. Finally, Greek Myths connect to science and history, directing our eyes to the stars as we can see these heroes depicted in the constellations above us. Questions to ask students: 1. Who has ever read or heard of a Greek Myth? 2. Can any one name a Greek God? 3

4 Lesson 1 KWL Chart Supplemental page # 9 Introduction: A KWL chart compares students prior knowledge of a subject to what they learn as a result of this curriculum guide and their attendance to the performance. Lesson Activity Teachers print out or have students create a KWL Chart (pg. 9) 2. Students fill out the first two columns. a. 5 facts they already KNOW about Greek Mythology b. 5 concepts/facts they WANT to learn more about. 3. Students complete the following activities and attend The Adventures of Perseus. 4. Students complete the last column in the KWL chart with 5 interesting facts of what they LEARNED Supplemental Questions: 1. How much do you feel you already knew about Greek Mythology before this lesson? 2. How has your understanding about Greek Mythology increased? Lesson 2 Understanding the story Supplemental Page #10 Introduction: Perseus is one of the most celebrated Ancient Greek Heroes. His exploits in defeating monsters are found in the founding myths of Greek Mythology. The play The Adventures of Perseus, follows his journey to kill Medusa and rescue Andromeda from the Sea Monster. Lesson Activity Teacher distributes the Supplemental page #10 or has students create their own story map. a. Students depict characters, setting, and events (through drawing and writing) that happened in the story in the squares given. Supplemental Questions: 1. Why did the Greeks consider Perseus to be a hero? What things did he do? 2. Perseus became much wiser from his journey to find Medusa. What are some of the things he learned? How did this journey change him? 3. What characters helped or harmed Perseus on his journey? 4

5 4. What modern Superhero is Perseus most similar to? Lesson 3 Greek Myths and Greek Gods Supplemental pages # 11, 12, 13, 14 Introduction Greek mythology is the collection of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, and the nature of the world (See Why Teach Greek Mythology? ) Lesson Activity 3.1 Greek Myths 1. Teachers read various myths and descriptions of mythological characters (pgs. 11, 12) to the students. See suggested reading. 2. Students discuss favorite stories, characters, adventures, modern connections. Lesson Activity 3.2 Character Map 1. Students discuss and choose a favorite Greek Olympian to focus their study on. 2. Students fill in and complete the supplied Character Map (Pg. 13) a. Students draw picture of their Olympian. b. Students correctly identify the name of their Olympian. c. Students correctly identity the Olympian s position/title. d. Students supply interesting facts about their Olympian. Lesson Activity 3.3 Myth Bingo 1. Teachers print out and distribute the supplied Greek God Bingo (pg. 14) 2. Students fill in the names of Gods/characters/geographical locations on their form 3. Teacher calls names at random while each student marks it on their Myth Bingo Sheet 4. Play and have fun! Supplemental Questions: 1. What Ancient Greek Characters were represented in The Adventures of Perseus? What was their role in this tale? 2. Who are the main Gods of Olympus? Who are the 3 main brothers that divided rule? 3. How do the Greek Olympians and their powers compare to modern super heroes? 4. Why did the Greeks tell myth stories? What lessons can we learn from the various legends? 5

6 Lesson 4 Geography See Geographical Map in our Lobby Exhibit at the Theatre Supplemental Materials provided, pg. 15 Introduction: Geography teaches students understanding of the diverse and interconnected world in which they live. Students will view and draw simple maps and pictures, identify major physical features, and compare physical features with other countries around the world. Lesson Activity Teachers present a world map for the students, pointing out Greece, Athens and the Mediterranean Sea. 2. Teachers print out the available map (pg. 15) and have the students locate the following indicated locations. Supplemental Questions: 1. Where does The Adventures of Perseus take place? 2. How does the geography of Greece differ from the geography of Oregon? 3. Due to Greece s location on the Mediterranean Sea, what other countries are in close proximity? How could this have affected the Greeks? 4. In Mythology, Mt. Olympus is home to the Gods. Many Native American folk tales also tell tales about spirits who live at the top of the mountains. What makes the top of a tall mountain the ideal place for Gods and Spirits to live? Lesson 5 Ancient Greek Culture See Greek Clothing and Pottery examples in our Lobby Exhibit Supplemental Materials, pages # 16, 17 Introduction: Students will identify how culture is reflected in dress, art, symbols, heroes, and stories. Lesson Activity 5.1 Greek Dress (See Supplemental page # 16) * Examples of Greek Clothing can be found in our Lobby Exhibit at the theatre. 1. Teachers print and distribute the supplied Greek Dress coloring page (pg. 16). 2. Students color the various articles of Greek dress. Lesson Activity 5.2 6

7 Greek Art (See Supplemental page # 17) *Examples of Greek Pottery and art can be found in our Lobby Exhibit at the theatre. 1. Teachers print and distribute the supplied Pottery page (pg 17). 2. Students color the drawing in using only red/orange and black crayons/markers. Supplemental Questions 1. What clothing items did Perseus and other characters in the play wear? 2. How is Classical Greek Art represented in The Adventures of Perseus? 3. What does Greek Art tell us about Greek Culture? 4. How does Greek clothing differ than modern American clothing? Lesson 6 Science and Astronomy See the Star Map in our Lobby Exhibit Supplemental pages # 18, 19, 20 Introduction: The patterns the stars form look about the same as they did when the constellations were first named almost 3000 years ago. The ancient Greeks named many of the constellations for their gods and myths. The ancient Greeks and Romans knew of only five 'wandering stars or planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They named these planets after their gods. Lesson Activity 6.1 Indentifying Constellations and Planets 1. Teacher presents an astronomy chart or uses the one supplied (pg 18) 2. Students identify constellations and recognize their representation of a Greek God/character. (pg. 18) 3. Students identify the planets in our solar system, recognizing that the name of each planet is the Roman name for each Greek God. (pg. 19) Lesson Activity 6.2 Creating a Pinprick Constellation 1. Teacher distributes the provided material (pg. 20) 2. Students draw out a constellation in the provided circle 3. Students (safely) use a pin to poke holes through each star of the constellation 4. Students either use a flashlight or hold their page to a window to see the constellation shining through! Supplemental Questions: 1. What does the constellation of Perseus look like? Where can you locate it in our night sky? 2. What is the first constellation you remember finding in the night sky? 7

8 Further Reading Joseph Campbell: Occidental Mythology 1964 The Hero with a Thousand Faces 1949 Marcel Detienne: The Creation of Mythology 1981 G.S. Kirk: The Nature of Greek Myth 1974 McCaughrean, Geraldine, Greek Gods and Goddesses Rey, H.A., Find the Constellations, 1976, Houghton-Mifflin. A classic guide with simplified diagrams and text. Schaltz, D. Astronomy Activity Book, 1991, Simon and Schuster. Astronomy activities for elementary and middle schools. McAllister, Emma, Pocket Timeline Ancient Greece, British Museum Press, Sheehan, Sean, The British Museum Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ancient Greece, British Museum Press, Online Resources (astronomy resource) (Greek Pottery) 8

9 Lesson 1.1 KWL Chart GREEK MYTHOLOGY AND THE ADVENTURES OF PERSEUS What do you already KNOW? 1. What do you WANT to learn? 1. What have you LEARNED?

10 Lesson 2.1 Story Map The Adventures of Perseus Main Characters Setting Title Supporting Characters Conflict/Plot Resolution 10

11 Lesson Mythological Character descriptions Directions: Teachers read these descriptions at random while students find the corresponding characters on their MYTH Bingo sheet. For younger students, read the name of the character. Perseus - was the first of the heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits in defeating monsters provided the founding myths of the Twelve Olympians, Gorgon Medusa, and claimed Andromeda, having rescued her from a sea monster sent by Poseidon Andromeda - the daughter of an Ethiopian king, who, as divine punishment for her mother's bragging, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster aroused by the queen's hubris. She was saved from death by Perseus, her future husband. Athena (Roman name Minerva) was the goddess of craft, skill and wisdom. She was the patron goddess of Athens. Her symbol was the owl. Zeus (Roman name Jupiter) was the supreme god of the Olympians. He fathered many, including the heroes Perseus and Heracles. Poseidon (Roman name Neptune) was the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses. Although he was officially one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his time in his watery domain. Hades (Roman name Pluto) was the god of the underworld. Brother to Zeus and Poseidon, he reluctantly took control of the underworld when the brother drew lots after they defeated the Titans. Ares (Roman name Mars) son of Zeus, was the god of war, or more precisely of warlike frenzy. Artemis (Roman name Diana) was the virgin goddess of the hunt. She helped women in childbirth but also brought sudden death with her arrows. Aphrodite (Roman name Venus) was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She was also a protectress of sailors. Hermes (Roman name Mercury) was the messenger of the gods and guide of dead souls to the Underworld. A prankster and inventive genius from birth, Hermes aided the heroes Odysseus and Perseus in their quests. Mt. Olympus - is the highest mountain in Greece. Olympus was regarded as the "home" of the Twelve Olympian gods of the ancient Greek world. It formed itself after the gods defeated the Titans in the Titan War, and soon the palace was inhabited by the gods. 11

12 Atlas - Atlas was punished by Zeus and made to bear the weight of the heavens on his back. Medusa - was a monster, a Gorgon, generally described as having the face of a hideous human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone. The Gray Sisters/ Graeae - were three sisters who shared one eye and one tooth among them. Apollo (Roman name Apollo) son of Zeus, was the god of prophesy, music and healing. Hera (Roman name Juno) was the goddess of marriage. Hera was the wife of Zeus and Queen of the Olympians. Dionysus (Roman name Bacchus) was the god of wine. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and the mortal heroine Semele. Hephaestus (Roman name Vulcan) son of Zeus and Hera, was the lame god of fire and crafts. Demeter The Goddess of harvest, marriage and fertility. 12

13 Lesson Character Map Draw a picture of your favorite character Character/Greek God: Family or Origin: Physical Description: Description of abilities or powers: Describe a specific event that involves your character using first person narrative. 13

14 Lesson Greek Myth Bingo Choose from the below names and places to fill throughout the Bingo board. You are not allowed to repeat names. M Y T H If the description of a character is read, put an X over the square. If you correctly identify 4 in a row, shout MYTH! You ve won! Perseus Andromeda Athena Zeus Poseiden Hades Ares Artemis Hephaestus Aphrodite Hermes Mt. Olympus Atlas Medusa The Gray Sisters Apollo Hera Dionysus Demeter 14

15 Lesson 4.1 Find on the map: - Mediterranean Sea - Ionian Sea - Mount Olympius - Aegean Sea 15

16 Lesson 5.1 Ancient Greek Dress Color in the Ancient Greek clothing below. 16

17 Lesson 5.2 Greek Culture Pottery Directions: Using the pictures of Greek Pottery as an example, decorate your own vase only using black and red/orange colors! Keep in mind, the decorations on classic pottery were used to remind the user of an event or activity or communicate a message. What do you want to draw? 17

18 Lesson Highlight the following constellations: Perseus Ursa Major Draco Andromeda Pegasus Cassiopeia Astronomy and Greek Mythology 18

19 Lesson Astronomy and Greek Mythology Planets and the Olympian Gods Directions: Draw a line from the Planet to the corresponding Olympian God. Zeus Uranus Poseidon Hades Ares Aphrodite Hermes Cronus Write the corresponding planet and Olympian God and a short description of why you think the Ancient Greek people made this correlation. 1. Zeus - 2. Poseidon - 3. Hades - 4. Ares - 5. Aphrodite - 6. Hermes - 7. Uranus - 8. Cronus - 19

20 Lesson Make a Pinprick Constellation Directions: Choose a constellation from the examples on the left. Draw the constellation in the circle on the right. Safely, use a pin to punch holes through the stars in the constellation. Hang in a window or shine a flashlight through the page to see the constellation shine! Perseus Ursa Major Andromeda Draw your constellation Casseopiea Pegasus 20