Greek mythology lesson (Poppins Book Nook)

We are reaching one of my favorite parts of Ancient history, Greek and Greek mythology.  I was blessed enough to go to Europe in high school, and while there I found the most awesome book about Greek mythology, and read it over and over again.

Since life has been a little screwy, we’re a bit behind in our history lessons for where I’d like to be, so this Greek mythology lesson served as our introduction to Ancient Greece.

Supplies needed: printout, a couple of good books about Greek gods and goddesses, OR a smart phone

I set the kids to doing this with our friends from the E family while I got groceries, so the pictures are all taken by the kids.

{as related to me by the kids}

They started off going through the books I’d set out to find the answers: D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, Greek Myths, and one other book I can’t find right now because the kids cleaned it up {these are all affiliate links}.

But they very quickly discovered the answers weren’t easy to find in the books.  You had to actually read and search through them, especially because the “Greek Myths” book was just stories told in comic format.  The D’Aulaires had all of the information, but it was in text format where you might have to read a page or two for each god.

I had also told them they could look the information up on S’s phone, so they took to researching the Greek mythology that way.

And working together they got the whole thing filled out.  So, why did I start them out with this for a Greek mythology lesson?

1. The Greek gods and goddesses are integral to who the Greeks were, and much of their life and philosophy.
2. I plan to read them Tales from the Odyssey, Part 1{affiliate link}, and it will be helpful to already have some knowledge of the gods. [Confession, I have never made it through the Odyssey because it’s poetry, I have read several summaries, but it’s POETRY, POETRY, I’m hoping to rectify that this year, I don’t hold much hope.  I’m gonna get a couple of bits in and give up again]
3. I also want them to have a background in mythology because many of our words come from Greek mythology (that’s a high school or junior high level activity, that I can’t wait to do with them)
4. I want them to be able to identify Greek gods and goddesses when they see them in statues [that’s today’s acitvity]

I’m taking this picture from the Parthenon in Tennessee and having them try to identify the figures on it (currently this is my Creation to Christ board cover)

If you want your own copy of the page they did click on the picture below:

I’ve got a few other posts I’d done on Greek mythology previously:

10 Books to Hook your kids on mythology

Hands on Minoan lessons

Minoan history

On Thursday I’m rounding up all the activities linked to the history/geography linkie from Thursday to put together into a giant resource for Ancient Greece.

Go to Memory Verse puzzles to download 10 memory verse puzzles to work on with your kids. Pick up your copy of iBlog, a 400 page resource on growing your blog.

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