Stones of Erasmus | English Language Arts and Humanities Resources for the Middle and High School Classroom | Grades 6–12

The Tragic Genius of Daedalus: Greek Myth for Teens

I’ve always had a conflicted relationship with stories about fathers and sons, which is why the myth of Daedalus has always spoken to me. On the surface, Daedalus is a hero—sometimes even described as a demigod. But look deeper and you'll find a darker tale. Daedalus, the legendary Athenian inventor, is a prototype for the scientist-artist: brilliant, creative, but deeply flawed.

Growing up, my own father worked in an oil plant as a mechanic—far from a Daedalus figure. Yet, I always admired the idea of the accomplished, technically-skilled dad, full of techne. In the Greek myth, Daedalus becomes jealous of his gifted nephew, Talos, and pushes him from the heights of the Acropolis. Some versions say Talos dies; others that he’s transformed into a partridge. Either way, Daedalus is convicted and exiled.

In Crete, Daedalus is caught up in King Minos’s political games, building the labyrinth to contain the monstrous Minotaur. The web of myths—Minos, Pasiphaë, the bull, Theseus, and Ariadne—all spiral around Daedalus. But at the heart is a theme that feels painfully modern: the unintended consequences of genius and ambition.

Eventually, Daedalus and his son Icarus attempt their escape from Crete on wings fashioned from wax and feathers. Despite his father's warnings, Icarus flies too close to the sun; the wax melts and he falls into the sea. The story is a cautionary tale—about invention, about parenting, and about the tragic cost of overreaching. Talos and Icarus are both sacrifices, consumed by Daedalus's drive and flaws.

This myth still resonates today: human innovation can bring light—or unleash disaster. Whether it's fossil fuels, AI, or air conditioning, our inventions often have unintended consequences. We, like Daedalus, are both brilliant and blind to the costs.

After Athens and Crete, Daedalus ends up on the island of King Cocalus, still inventing, still being hunted by Minos. His cleverness solves the riddle of the spiral shell, but it also gives him away. Even at the end, he cannot stop inventing—no matter the danger.

So are we the inheritors of our fathers’ mistakes, or do we forge our own paths? Teaching the myth of Daedalus to teenagers is challenging but rewarding. The themes—creativity, jealousy, consequence—are universal and deeply relevant.

I’ve created a classroom-ready lesson plan on Daedalus for middle and high school ELA teachers. It’s perfect for units on Greek mythology, invention, or even modern novels like Percy Jackson. Bring this compelling story to your students—and add it to your teaching toolbox!

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Download the Daedalus & Icarus Lesson Plan

Explore the full resource—discussion prompts, activities, visuals, and more for the Daedalus myth:

Gorgeous Lesson Activity for The Vatican Apostolic Palace — Perfect for Art History, Humanities, and English Language Arts (Grades 10-12)

Explore the Vatican Apostolic Palace After Pope Leo XIV’s Election

Bring the renewed buzz surrounding the Vatican Apostolic Palace straight into your classroom! Our print-and-digital lesson lets students in grades 10-12 investigate how papal power, art, and architecture intersect, using maps, primary sources, and CCSS-aligned analysis tasks.

Why You’ll Love This Resource

• Interdisciplinary power: Perfect for Art History, Social Studies, and ELA crossover units.
• Primary-source rich: Includes Mary W. Arms’s 1909 account of an audience with Pope Pius X, plus two lavishly illustrated cards on the Sala Regia and Sala Ducal.
• Two vintage maps: A 1929 Vatican City plan and a 1914 floor map of the palace help students visualize the popes’ world.
• Ready-to-teach supports: Teacher notes, Cornell and illustrated notetakers, Frayer vocabulary model, 23-question bank, exit tickets, and a two-point rubric keep planning time low.

Inside the Download

Formats: PDF • Google Slides

Student-facing materials — anchor charts of key figures and places, guided overview text, map activities, primary-source reading card, supplemental art cards, notecatchers, vocabulary practice, and exit tickets.
Teacher-facing materials — answer keys, rubric, and extension ideas that invite students to research figures like Bernini, Bramante, and Pope Sixtus V.

Classroom Ideas

1. Map Race: Assign small groups a list of palace rooms—first team to locate them on the 1914 plan wins candy.
2. Socratic Seminar: Use the question bank to debate whether modern popes should still live in the Apostolic Palace.
3. Art + Lit Connection: Pair Vasari’s frescoes of papal triumphs with passages from Dante or Petrarch for a thematic collage.

Ready to Dive In?

Download the free resource and add it to your teacher toolkit, and let your students traverse centuries of Vatican history without leaving their seats.

© 2025 Stones of Erasmus. Public-domain images courtesy of Google Books and The New York Public Library.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave Lesson for Middle & High School | Philosophy & ELA

Explore Plato’s Allegory of the Cave with easy-to-follow lessons, engaging questions, and activities perfect for humanities and philosophy classes.

If you want to teach philosophy to young people, use this lesson plan to introduce students to Plato’s theory of reality. I was inspired to create this resource when I retold the story of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave (from The Republic) in plain language. In the tale, one prisoner wakes up and questions what is real and what is not. Let your class read the narrative, then use the comprehension and discussion activities to explore Plato’s metaphysics.

This resource is optimized for distance learning. It includes an editable Google Docs link so you can adapt it for Google Classroom or any LMS.

What’s Inside

Essential Question: How do I know what is really real?

• Complete text of the story
  • Retold in student-friendly English—ideal for read-alouds or paired reading.
• 15 Reading Comprehension Questions
  • Perfect for homework or a flipped-classroom assignment.
• 6 Discussion Questions
  • Great for group work or a carousel activity—get students moving!
• Two-World Theory Chart
  • Graphic organizer to visualize Plato’s worldview.
• 3 Google Forms Assessments (with answer keys)
• Suggested Lesson Plan—step-by-step guidance
• Annotated Bibliography for extension and research projects

Suggested Uses

1. Humanities: Ancient Greece
2. World History: History of Ideas
3. Literature Studies
4. Ethics — see it in action with 8th-graders here
5. Introduction to Philosophy
6. Advisory or SEL: Truth, Appearance vs. Reality

© 2025 Stones of Erasmus

Launch of Stones of Erasmus Store: Free Greek Myth Genealogy Charts & $3 Tyche/Nemesis Lesson Plan – 300th Digital Download

🎉 New Storefront + 300th Digital Download!

Since 2015 I’ve been running Stones of Erasmus, a home for education, art, literature, and creative sparks. Today I’m thrilled to unveil my brand-new storefront and celebrate my 300th digital resource with two featured downloads.

Free Greek-Mythology Genealogy Charts (15 pages)

Tyche and Nemesis Lesson Activity ($3)

What's Inside?

• Tyche & Nemesis Lesson Plan – explores Fortune, fate, and moral balance; Common Core, VA SOL, and TEKS aligned; includes question banks, writing tasks, and flexible pacing (only $3).
• Greek-Mythology Genealogy Charts – 15 beautifully designed family trees clarifying divine and heroic lineages. Ideal for anchor charts, posters, or LMS uploads – free for life.

Why Download?

These resources save prep time, deepen myth comprehension, and look great on classroom walls or digital slides. Add them to your toolkit now—future you (and your students) will thank you!

▶ Visit Stones of Erasmus for TpT, Made By Teachers, and The Stones of Erasmus Storefront

PDF Copy for Printing 

The Wheel of Fortune, Tyche & Fortuna: Why Luck Still Spins Our Lives

The Real Meaning Behind The Wheel of Fortune

Hey, y’all! Ever blurt out “the wheel of fortune” or tune in as Pat Sajak and Vanna White stand beside that squeaky, nerve-racking game-show wheel? That cliff-hanger moment—big prize or Bankrupt—isn’t just television drama. It’s pure mythology.

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Meet Tyche & Fortuna: Goddesses of Chance

Tyche (Greek) and her Roman twin Fortuna personify luck, fate, and glorious randomness. Artists usually show them brandishing …

• 🌽 Cornucopia – overflowing abundance
• 🛶 Rudder – steering the course of life
• 🌍 Globe or Wheel – the dizzy spin of destiny

Unlike the three Fates, who measure and clip fixed life-threads, Tyche and Fortuna swoop in as the wild cards. One spin can shower you with gifts—or toss you into chaos.

Quick art history dive: Tyche & Fortuna through the ages ↑

Modern Spin: Job Hunts & Game Shows

I’m currently pitching résumés for next school year. Every application feels like a wager on Tyche’s wheel—talent ✔️, timing ✔️, and a dash of sheer luck. Sound familiar?

Spot the Goddess IRL

Next time you see a statue or painting of a woman with a cornucopia, rudder, or spinning wheel, remember: she’s the original spinner of fortune, quietly shaping the idioms we toss around today.

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Classroom Bonus: Buy Me a Coffee and Get a Two-Day Lesson Plan

Ready to let students spin their own wheel of fate? Download my Tyche & Nemesis lesson — complete with illustrated reading cards, discussion prompts, exit tickets, and an anchor chart that’s both print-and-digital-ready.

⬇️ Grab the Lesson on Tyche & Nemesis

P.S. If this resource saves you planning time, consider buying me a much-needed bodega coffee ☕️—and may Tyche steer both of us toward good fortune!

— Greig @ Stones of Erasmus

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Kathleen Ryan’s Spring Art Blooms at 5th Ave–53rd St Subway Newsstand

Kathleen Ryan revives a defunct 5th Av–53rd St subway newsstand with vivid spring art, giving weary commuters an unexpected burst of color and wonder.

I love public art displays in the subway system, and New York City’s art initiatives never disappoint. There’s something quietly uplifting about heading to your dull Midtown job, hobnobbing among the listless, only to discover that a familiar niche—once home to day-old newspapers and lukewarm sodas—has become a paean to spring, transforming a tired space into an endless array of aesthetic possibilities. I’m not sure if it makes me sad or happy—and that’s okay.

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@mta #nyctransit #art #kathleenmarieryan #publicart #display

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