7th Grade Lesson Plan: It’s Greek To Me: Greek Mythology

Transcription

7th grade Lesson Plan:It’s Greek to me:Greek MythologyOverviewThis series of lessons was designed to meet the needsof gifted children for extension beyond the standardcurriculum with the greatest ease of use for the educator. The lessons may be given to the students forindividual self-guided work, or they may be taught ina classroom or a home-school setting. This particularlesson plan is primarily effective in a classroom setting.Assessment strategies and rubrics are included. Thelessons were developed by Lisa Van Gemert, M.Ed.T.,the Mensa Foundation’s Gifted Children Specialist.IntroductionGreek mythology is not only interesting, but it is also the foundation of allusion and character genesis inliterature. In this lesson plan, students will gain an understanding of Greek mythology and the Olympiangods and goddesses.Learning ObjectivesAfter completing the lessons in this unit, studentswill be able to:l Understand the Greek view of creation.l Understand the terms Chaos, Gaia, Uranus, Cronus, Zeus, Rhea, Hyperboreans, Ethiopia, Mediterranean, and Elysian Fields.l Describe the Greek view of the world’s geography.l Identify the names and key features of theOlympian gods/goddesses.l Create their own god/goddess.l Create their own myth explaining a naturalphenomenon.Materialsl D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri andEdgar Parin D’Aulairel The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Alikil The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myths byCharles Smithl Greek Myths and Legends by Cheryl Evansl Mythology by Edith Hamilton (which served as asource for this lesson plan)l A paper plate for each studentl Internet access to look up relevant sitesIMPORTANT NOTEDo not give student(s) the filled-in copy of the Gods/Goddesses chart. That is your answer key. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.

Lesson 1: Greek creation mythologyAlthough 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 welearn about the different myths.The short answer to how the Greeks viewed the creation of the world is this: Scary old gods came first; theygot 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 andbecame more and more miserable.Now, the longer answer: In the beginning, the universe was without form. It was not nothing; there wasmatter, 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 ofmonsters including the Cyclops, and then they created the Titans as the second generation. Uranus hatedall the Titans and was actually quite ugly about it – but there are only a couple of Titans that you need toremember: first, Oceanus, the god of the sea, and then Cronus, the strongest and best one of all. Gaia waspretty 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 marriedhis sister, Rhea – another Titan. It’s like a soap opera. This was called the Golden Age because men, who hadbeen 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 everytime his wife, Rhea, had a baby, he swallowed it. Rhea got a little sick of seeing all of her children swallowedalive, so she tricked Cronus when her sixth child, Zeus, was born; she wrapped up a rock to look like a babyand had Cronus swallow that instead. Zeus rescued his previously swallowed siblings, and all was right withthe world. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.2 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

World ViewThe Greek view of the world was a little different thanours. The Greeks believed that the world was flat, butcircular, like a paper plate. At the center of the Universewas Greece.Their world was divided by the Mediterranean, whichmeans “Middle of the Lands” in Latin. The river Oceanflowed around the world in a clockwise motion.In the north lived the Hyperboreans – an extremelyhappy people for whom life was sweet. When the oldpeople became tired of living, they threw themselvesinto the sea. This was a land of constant vacationwhere 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 inEthiopia, meaning really far away. So, if I say I parked in Ethiopia this morning, would that mean I’mclose to my office or far away? The Ethiopians were said to be on good terms with the gods and liked toentertain them.To the west were the Elysian Fields. This was the closest the Greeks got to the idea of heaven; only thebest and brightest of the dead people got to go there.To Do1. Read The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki.2. Draw your own representation of the Greek view of the world on the paper plate using colored pencilsand the map on the previous page as a guideline. Be sure to include the Ethiopians, the Hyperboreans andthe Elysian Fields on your map.3. Write a one-paragraph essay comparing the Greek view of the world to the contemporary view of it,including at least two points of comparison and two of contrast. You can follow this guideline:u 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.u Next, list two ways the views are similar. Here are examples:l The Greek view resembles the contemporary view in that .l Additionally, the views are similar because .u Next, list two ways the views are different. Here are examples:l However, the Greek view is not the same as the contemporary view because the Greeks believed.l The Greeks also thought .u Last, you will state a conclusion. Here’s an example:Therefore, even though the views have similarities, they differ in important ways. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY 3

Lesson 2: The Olympian godsUse 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 ownresearch to complete it. Now that you understand the way that the Greeksviewed 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.” MountOlympus is a real mountain in the north of Greece. Gradually, it becameassociated less and less with an actual mountain and more with an imaginary place high above the earth. According to the ancient Greeks, the gateto Olympus was made of clouds and it was guarded by four goddesses, theSeasons. Each god had his or her own dwelling place, but Olympus washome base.There were up to 14 gods considered Olympian gods. Seven of them wereZeus and his siblings, and seven others were children of Zeus. Sometimesonly 12 will be listed. The Greeks and Romans shared mythology, so youwill find two names for most gods.ZeusZeus was the king of the hill. Hewas dominating, powerful andhad a soft spot for pretty women.He could be terrifying when angry.His symbols were the thunderbolts, or lightning bolts made forhim by the Cyclopes (his uncles);the eagle; and the scepter, or rod.Please copy this information ontoyour chart.HadesHades, or Pluto, was the god ofthe underworld and of the dead.He was called the same names bythe Romans, but they also sometimes called him Dis or Dis Pater.He was Zeus’s brother and marriedPersephone after kidnapping heragainst her will. He was gloomyand frightening.PoseidonNext, we have Poseidon, or Neptune, as the Romans called him.He was Zeus’s brother, and hewas the god of the sea and alsoearthquakes. He often is shownwith a three-pronged spear calleda trident that was made for himby his nephew, Hephaestus, and/or a fish. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.4 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

HeraAthenaApolloOur first goddessis Hera. She sitson the right sideof Zeus and is hiswife. Of course,she’s his sister, too,but that’s the wayit was on Olympus. Hera’s Romanname is Juno, and she is the queenof the gods. She is the guardian ofmarriage and was well-loved by theGreeks; it’s kind of sad that she’s thegoddess of marriage but her ownmarriage was so bad. She was oftenjealous of her husband’s girlfriendsand did mean things to them, eventhe ones who didn’t want anythingto do with him, but she could betender and loving as well. Thepeacock was her symbol. In fact, thecircles in a peacock’s tail are said tobe the eyes of her 100-eyed servant,Argus.Next is Athena,or Minerva, thedaughter whosprang fullyformed from thehead of Zeusafter a majorheadache. She isthe goddess ofwisdom and war and also the protector and namesake of the cityof Athens. She preferred reason toviolence unless she was pushed.She turned Arachne into a spiderfor bragging that she could spinbetter than Athena. She was verycompetitive and is often picturedwith her helmet and a spear. Shecarried Zeus’s shield, called theaegis. The owl was her bird. Canyou see it in her hand?Apollo was a twin.His Roman namewas the same ashis Greek name.He was the god ofthe sun or light,poetry, music andmedicine and wasfamous for his oracles (wise womento whom he gave his power topredict and interpret the future). Hewas very proud and also protectiveof his mother and sister. His symbols were the gold bow and arrows,and he often appears golden andshining. He wears a laurel wreathin memory of Daphne, who didn’twant to be his lover and prayed toMother Earth for help escaping him;she was turned into a laurel tree.ArtemisAresHephaestusArtemis wasApollo’s twin.Her Romanname was Diana,and she was thegoddess of hunting, chastity andthe moon. Sheprotects womenand small children, is fiercelyindependent and particularly dislikes men. In pictures, she is seenaccompanied by three huntinghounds, a bow and a fawn.Ares or, as he isknown by his Roman name, Mars,was the god ofwar. He wouldfight on bothsides, if possible.He was young,strong andhandsome, andliked to dress inbattle clotheseven when he wasn’t fighting.Hephaestus,or Vulcan, wasborn lame andwas furthercrippled whenhe was thrownfrom Olympusby his mother,Hera, in a rage.He was the only Olympian with adisability. He was unhappily married to Aphrodite and worked as ablacksmith in the gods’ forge. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY 5

AphroditeHephaestus’s wife, Aphrodite,whose Roman name was Venus,was the goddess of love andbeauty. She was born out of seafoam when the blood of Uranusdropped into the ocean. Shewas the mother of Eros and wasirresistibly charming, fickle, vainand competitive. Her symbolwas a cestus, or magic belt, thatmade everyone fall in love withthe wearer; sometimes she wouldlend it to humans. This is a famouspainting of the birth of Venus, orAphrodite, by Botticelli.DionysusDionysus wasthe partier of themountain retreat.He was Zeus’s sonby another woman,who was drivencrazy by Hera and her jealousy.Dionysus went all around teaching people how to make wine andhaving a good time. Eventually,Hestia gave up her throne for him,and he lived on Olympus. He wasthe god of wine, of course, andalso vegetation.HermesHestiaHermes, or Mercury,was the god of science and invention,but he is best knownas the messengerof the gods. He isoften pictured witha winged helmetand sandals. He is said to haveinvented the alphabet, boxing andgymnastics! In this painting byGoltzius, you can see his helmetwith wings; he’s not wearing hisfamous sandals, though.Hestia was Zeus’ssister and thegoddess andprotectressof hearth andhome. She is alsoknown by herRoman name,Vesta. She wasgentle and kindand was very popular with theGreeks. She didn’t have a lot of adventures, so she’s rarely picturedin art.DemeterDemeter wasthe goddess ofthe crops andthe harvest. Sheis also known asCeres (Roman)and sometimesDeo. Her symbolsinclude a torch, acrown, a scepter and stalksof grain. She is often portrayedwith her daughter, Persephone,who was kidnapped by Hades andtaken to the underworld. By thetime she was rescued, she’d eatensix pomegranate seeds, so shecouldn’t escape the underworldentirely. Her mother was so franticthat winter draped the land andno crops would grow. A deal wasstruck, and Persephone was allowed to return to her mother forhalf of the year. So each year, whenshe returns to the underworld, fallcomes, then winter – but when shereturns to her mother, spring andsummer come again.Now, use at least two sourcesin addition to what you readhere to fill in your chart (nextpage) completely. Write downthe sources you used on theback of the chart.Book suggestionsl D’Aulaires’ Book of GreekMyths by Ingri and Edgar ParinD’Aulairel The Mighty 12: Superheroes ofGreek Myths by Charles Smithl Greek Myths and Legends byCheryl Evans(If your library doesn’t havethese, check around DeweyDecimal No. 398.2. That’s whereGreek mythology is.)Web referencesl greece.mrdonn.org/myths.htmll www.mythweb.coml mythman.coml loggia.com/myth/content.htmll .html This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.6 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

OLYMPIAN GODS & GODDESSES CHARTGreek nameRoman nameRealmSymbolFacts / onysus This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY 7

Lesson 3: Mythology biographical poemA biographical poem, or biopoem, uses a simple but specific structure to describe the most important factsabout 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 blankson this page are for your rough draft. When you’re done, copy your final version onto a separate sheet ofpaper and, if you would like, decorate it. Please attach this sheet to your final draft.Follow this format exactly, please:Greek Name ,I am (list four traits) , , , .I am [a relative] of (1-3 people) .Lover of (1-3 things or people) .Who feels/protects (1-3 things) .Who needs (1-3 things) .Who fears (1-3 things) .Who gives (1-3 things) .Resident of ,Roman Name .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. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.8 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Lesson 4: Olympians quizTime to test yourself – and beware, answers may be used more than once!A. ZeusB. HeraC. PoseidonD. HadesE. AthenaF. Apollo1. This god’s Roman name is Neptune.2. Name the goddess of war.A. ArtemisE. HephaestusB. Aphrodite F. HestiaC. HermesG. DemeterD. AresH. Dionysus13. Name the goddess of hunting and twinof Apollo.3. His symbol is the thunderbolt.14. Name the goddess of hearth and homewho gave up her throne for Dionysus.4. Her Roman name was Juno, and hersymbol was the peacock.15. Name the mother of Persephone; herRoman name is Ceres.5. Name the god of the underworld.16. This god’s Roman name is Bacchus.6. Name the twin of Artemis.17. His symbols are winged sandals and awinged helmet.7. Name the goddess of wisdom.8. Name the very jealous wife of Zeus.9. Name the god of the sun, poetry, musicand medicine.10. His Roman name is Jupiter.11. This god is anti-social and doesn’t likepeople.12. Name the wealthiest god.18. Name the only handicapped god.19. This god’s Roman name is Mars, and he isthe god of war.20. Her Roman name is Vesta.21. Her Roman name is Diana.22. His symbol is fire and a hammer, and hisRoman name is Vulcan.23. His Roman name is Mercury, and he isthe messenger of the gods.24. Name the god of wine.25. She was the goddess of love and beauty. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY 9

26. If you could have dinner with one god or goddess, who would it be and why?27. Which god or goddess do you think would make the best president and why?28. Imagine that Zeus has come to you and said that Olympus is lacking a god or goddess, and he needsyou to help. Invent a new Olympian and describe him or her below.Name:Roman Name:Connection to Olympus (related to another god or goddess? Married to a god or goddess?):Powers:Symbol:Personality traits:Friends:Enemies: This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.10 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Lesson 5: Putting it all togetherMyths 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, andprovide 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:l 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)l Cars – Toyota Avalon and Cressida, Cadillac El Dorado, Honda Odyssey, Mercuryl Shoes – Nikel Tires – Midasl Astronomy – Constellations like Orion, the Argo, all of the planets and the Pleiades. The Milky Way itselfwas supposedly the road over which the stars traveled to Jupiter’s palace.l 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 Sovietsthat 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. Apolloastronauts rode on Saturn rockets.Myths also make great stories. They come up in literature all over the place, from really serious stuff likeDante to comic strips. Myths inspire music; actually the word music comes from the mythological museswho 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, StarWars and The Lord of the Rings.Can you find at least three examples of mythology connections in the world?1.2.3. This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY 11

Lesson 6: Create your own mythHopefully myths inspire you, too, because you are about to create your own myth! As you know, myths wereoften 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 GrandCanyon or a mountain range was created. You will tell this myth in a story format.Here are the guidelines:1. Your story must involve at least two Olympian gods or goddesses. It may contain other gods or goddesses as well.2. 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.).3. Your story should be at least 350 words.4. Your story must have a clear beginning, middle and end.5. Your story should clearly show that you know something about Greek mythology. You will do this byincluding details about the Olympian gods and goddesses that show you know their powers, symbols andpersonalities.Here are some ideas to get you thinking:l Where did the Rocky Mountains come from?l Where did the Mississippi River come from?l What made the North and/or South Pole(s)?l Why is Earth the third planet from the sun?l Why is it dark at night?l What is in the middle of the earth? This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.12 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

AssessmentLesson 1Greek map of the world rubricGreek world comparison paragraph rubricContains all required elements properly labeled60Neatly done15Demonstrates insight into Greek mythological world 15Commendable use of color10Strong topic sentenceCorrect formatContains two similaritiesContains two contrastsStrong concluding sentenceLogical, thorough argumentTOTAL100101020201030TOTALLesson 2Lesson 3Olympian gods & goddesses chart rubricAll fields completed thoroughlyUsed at least two sources in additionto provided informationTOTAL100Mythological bio poem scoring rubric7030100Contains all required elements60Correct format20Neatly written or typed10Demonstrates insight into god or goddess10CreativityMaximum 7-pt bonusTOTAL100 ( up to 7)Lesson 4Olympians quiz scoring rubricMatching sectionCreation of god or goddessQuestion 26 & Question 27TOTALKey to Olympians quiz: matching25205501. C9. F2. E10. A3. A11. C4. B12. D5. D13. A6. F14. F7. E15. G8. B16. H17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.CEDFAECHB This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY 13

Lesson 6Create your own myth-scoring rubricExplains natural phenomenonor geological formationIncludes at least two gods or goddessesMeets minimum word lengthHas clear beginning, middle and endDemonstrates depth of understandingof Greek mythologyWriting is clear, focused and conveysthe story in an interesting wayTOTAL1520105151580 This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.14 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Answer key: Olympian gods & goddesses ISTICSZeusJupiterSupreme ruler ofthe gods; lord ofthe sky; rain godThunderbolts orlightening, eagleand scepter (rod)Dominating, powerful andhad a soft spot for prettywomenHeraJunoQueen of thegods; protectorof marriagePeacockWife of Zeus; well-loved bythe Greeks; often jealous ofhusband’s girlfriends, but shecould be tender and lovingPoseidonNeptuneGod of the seaand earthquakesTrident (threepronged spear)Did not mix with mortals, andhe was anti-socialHadesPlutoGod of the underworld and ofthe deadCornucopia andscepterVery wealthy; rarely visitedOlympus; married to PersephoneAthenaMinervaGoddess of wisdom and warShield, helmetand spearDaughter of Zeus who sprangout of his head fully formed;the owl is her birdApolloApolloGod of sun orlight; poetry, music and medicineGold bows andarrowsFamous for his oracles;proud & protective of hismother and sister; wearslaurel wreath in memory ofDaphne; has a twin namedArtemisArtemisDianaGoddess of hunting, chastity andthe moonThree huntinghounds, bow andfawnProtects women & small children; she is fiercely independent & particularly dislikesmenAphroditeVenusGoddess of loveand beautyGirdle and mirrorBorn out of sea foam; wife ofHephaestus; mother of Eros;interesting, charming, fickle,vain, competitive This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY 15

Answer key: Olympian gods & goddesses ISTICSHermesMercuryGod of scienceand inventionHelmet andwinged feetSaid to have invented thealphabet, boxing and gymnasticsAresMarsGod of warSpear and helmetWould fight on both sides;young, strong, prime of life;likes to dress in battle clothesHephaestusVulcanGod of fireAx and tongsSon of Zeus and Rhea; onlygod with a handicap; marriedto AphroditeHestiaVestaGoddess ofhearth and homeHearth and its fireZeus’ sister; protectressof hearth and home; verypopularDemeterCeresGoddess of earthand cropsTorch, crown,scepter and stalksof grainOften portrayed with herdaughter, Persephone, whospends time in the underworld, at which time itbecomes winterDionysusBacchusGod of wine andvegetationGrapes, winecups or wineskins, a pineconeheaded staffcalled a thyrsusWent around teachingpeople how to make wineand party; Zeus’ son This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public.Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.16 Mensa Foundation Lesson Plan: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

l D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire l The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki l The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myths by Charles Smith l Greek Myths and Legends by Cheryl Evans l Mythology by Edith Hamilton (which served as a source for this lesson plan) .