Unlocking Greek Mythology: Fresh Vocabulary Lessons Your Students Will Love Before Spring Break!

I bet you are ready for Spring Break (or maybe it has already started)—especially if you teach middle and high school. I know I am. Whether you are teaching mythology to middle school students in an ELA class, or you are diving into Homer's epics with high school students—the weeks before spring break are an effective time to do something different with all those myths you are reading. Bernard Evslin, in his fantastic book of Greek myth, has a chapter on vocabulary called "When Myth Becomes Language". I have created a slew of resources to connect the murky, enigmatic myths we read with kids to how these stories are part of our everyday life and language. Check it out, and I guarantee your students will appreciate the fresh look (while helping them build academic vocabulary).

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Bring Greek Mythology into Everyday Life: Engaging Lessons on How Myth Becomes Language!

Are your students fascinated by Greek myths but wondering how these ancient stories relate to their lives today? Inspired by Bernard Evslin's insightful exploration of myth and language, these classroom-ready resources vividly demonstrate how mythology permeates our everyday vocabulary and expressions.

Perfectly suited for middle school ELA classes or high school students diving into Homer’s epics, this collection offers an exciting shift from traditional teaching—especially ideal for the energizing weeks leading up to Spring Break!

Your students will:

✓ Explore engaging vocabulary activities that directly link mythical stories to modern language.

✓ Discover how common words and expressions originated from the rich tapestry of Greek mythology.

✓ Participate in interactive exercises that build essential academic vocabulary skills aligned with Common Core Standards.

✓ Make meaningful connections between ancient texts and contemporary life, deepening their appreciation and understanding of literature.

Students love working with these myth-related vocabulary cards.
Buy them on the Stones of Erasmus TpT store.

Classroom-tested and designed for active engagement, these lessons turn mythology into accessible, intriguing, and highly relevant content your students will love. Boost student enthusiasm and vocabulary retention with this dynamic, practical resource set.

Digital Download: Comprehensive, easy-to-use materials guaranteed to add depth and excitement to your ELA and Humanities curriculum.

Free Mythology Resource

Not sure what to teach next? Here's a freebie to get you started. I compiled some of my most popular reading cards from units I have assembled for Stones of Erasmus.

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Energize Students with Quick Activity: Critical Thinking & Movement for Engagement

Revitalize your classroom dynamics with an interactive activity that boosts student engagement and fosters critical thinking. Discover how positioning students based on their opinions on controversial topics like myths and relationships not only energizes them but also prompts insightful discussions on peer influence and the Socratic method. Suitable for grades seven and up. Share your experiences!

If you’re looking for a quick method to energize your students, particularly if they appear sluggish or disinterested at the beginning or end of a class, set aside three to four minutes for this activity. Initially, they might groan, but then you present them with a scenario. 

 

You’ll ask a question and instruct students to position themselves in the classroom based on their response: those with an emphatic “yes” to one side, an emphatic “no” to the opposite side, and the undecided or “wishy-washy” in the middle. The closer a student stands to either side, the stronger their feelings about the topic. 

 

For instance, you could pose a question like, “Was Narcissus right to reject Echo’s love?” or “Does this myth accurately represent aspects of romantic relationships or unrequited love?” The more controversial or thought-provoking the question, the more engaged the students will become. As they move around the room, they not only physically activate but also engage in critical thinking, determining their stance on the issue. 

 

Observing students who are indecisive, watching where their friends go, and then following, provides an opportunity to address the influence of peer pressure in a gentle manner. This activity is not only a fun way to get students moving but also fosters critical thinking and encourages a Socratic method of engagement. 

I have implemented this strategy with students as young as seventh grade and with high schoolers. Have you tried this approach before? I’m eager to hear your thoughts and experiences.

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Unleashing Creativity: Crafting Engaging Digital Content for Humanities Education

Dive into the world of digital content creation for middle and high school humanities education. Discover how public domain resources are transformed into engaging and fun learning materials.

As a passionate educator, I've dedicated countless hours to crafting engaging digital content for middle and high school humanities teachers. The intricate process involves dozens of steps and takes up to six hours per listing. But the result? A treasure trove of resources that bring depth and engagement to the classroom.

My journey begins with sourcing public domain content from libraries such as the New York Public Library digital collections and public domain content I find on Google Books and from the Library of Congress. These timeless resources serve as the foundation upon which I build. I then add my original lesson plans, question banks, exit tickets, writing prompts, and activities. The aim? To create content that not only educates but also captivates.

Sometimes, the raw materials need a little sprucing up. An illustration from a nineteenth-century book might be old and dingy, or text from a public domain source might be outdated. That's where Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator come into play, helping me breathe new life into these resources. 

Revitalizing history: the top image showcases my restoration of a 19th-century lithograph, significantly enhancing its clarity compared to the original below. Retrieved from the NYPL digital collection.

My favorites? Mythology resources and philosophy activities. There's something incredibly rewarding about bringing these age-old disciplines to life for today's students. It's a labor of love, and I'm always excited about dreaming up what I should create next. Join me on this journey of making learning more engaging and fun, one digital resource at a time.

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