Theme: Communication
Unit of Study: Greek Mythology
The first semester unit is called ODYSSEY. A description of the unit is as follows:
In a simulated ascent of Mount Olympus, students read eight
classical myths and enhance their reading and writing skills
by completing exercises associated with each myth.
Organized into 4 teams, they cooperate with one another
in order to overcome “obstacles” (critical or creative thinking
activities). After three rounds of reading myths, completing
exercises on these myths, and meeting the obstacles’
challenges, the teams face their final big cooperative task:
that of working in an activity group to produce some sort of
class presentation ranging from a Chart of Gods to a Trial of
Prometheus.
At the conclusion of ODYSSEY, all participants receive an
ODYSSEY ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE while the three
teams who accumulated the most points receive a gold, a
silver, or a bronze ODYSSEY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
In a simulated ascent of Mount Olympus, students read eight
classical myths and enhance their reading and writing skills
by completing exercises associated with each myth.
Organized into 4 teams, they cooperate with one another
in order to overcome “obstacles” (critical or creative thinking
activities). After three rounds of reading myths, completing
exercises on these myths, and meeting the obstacles’
challenges, the teams face their final big cooperative task:
that of working in an activity group to produce some sort of
class presentation ranging from a Chart of Gods to a Trial of
Prometheus.
At the conclusion of ODYSSEY, all participants receive an
ODYSSEY ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE while the three
teams who accumulated the most points receive a gold, a
silver, or a bronze ODYSSEY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
Update: Third graders have been studying the Greek Mythological world of many god and goddess, creatures, heroes and heroines. We have gone though 3 rounds and headed into the 4th and final round. The teams are working very hard to complete all activities and obstacles. Of course the focus has been on teamwork. I have seen much success this semester with students listening and supporting each other in this endeavor. All individual products will be sent home at the end of this semester.