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The Gods of Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome

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Subjects Arts & Humanities Language Arts, Literature, Visual Arts Educational Technology Social Studies History, World History, Regions/Cultures

Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Advanced

Brief Description

Objectives

• use library or online resources to learn about one of the gods or goddesses of ancient Egypt, Greece, or Rome.
• assume the role of a god or goddess and write a first-person diary, report, or postcard.

Keywords

Materials Needed

• library and/or Internet resources about gods and goddesses
• paper, pencils, and art supplies
• computers with photo editing software (optional)

Lesson Plan

Students use online or print resources to learn about the gods or goddesses of ancient Egypt, Greece, or Rome. Each student researches one god or goddess and uses what is learned to

• create a diary written by that god/goddess.
• write a first-person report revealing important facts about that god/goddess. The student also might dress as the god/goddess to present the report. (See Book of the Gods for an example of one class's efforts.)
• use technology to superimpose his or her own image over a background scene of a pyramid (Egypt), the Acropolis (Greece), or the Coliseum (Rome). The student can then create a postcard and write a message on the back that might have been written by the god/goddess. (See Greek Postcards from the Fifth Grade.)
• write a Reader's Theater play script that presents one of the most important events in the life of that god/goddess.

Students share the completed work with their classmates. Classmates take notes as the students present their findings and then use their notes to complete the final assessment.

Lesson resources: Students use library and/or online resources for this activity. If they have computer access, the following resources are good starting points for their online exploration:

• MythWeb.com
• Table of Egyptian Gods and Associates
• Table of Greek Gods and Associates
• Roman Gods and Associates
• Brief Biographies of Egyptian Gods
• Theoi Project: A Guide to Greek Gods, Spirits, and Monsters
• Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Index
• Illustrated Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology
• The Gods of Ancient Egypt
• Mythography: Roman Gods and Goddesses
• Gods of Ancient Egypt
• Social Science Data Lab: Egyptian Gods Theme
• Directory of Ancient Egyptian Gods

Assessment

After listening to their peers' reports about the gods and goddesses, students respond to statements such as "I am the Egyptian god that is the protector of children." (The correct answer is Isis.) Students use notes they have taken during the presentations to answer the questions.
Alternative activity: Create a matching activity; students match ten of the gods' names in one column with their descriptions in the other column. Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

FINE ARTS: Theatre

• GRADES K - 4
  NA-T.K-4.1 Script Writing by Planning and Recording Improvisations Based on Personal Experience and Heritage, Imagination, Literature, and History
  NA-T.K-4.2 Acting By Assuming Roles and Interacting In Improvisations
  NA-T.K-4.5 Researching By Finding Information to Support Classroom Dramatizations

• GRADES 5 - 8
  NA-T.5-8.1 Script Writing by Planning and Recording Improvisations Based on Personal Experience and Heritage, Imagination, Literature, and History
  NA-T.5-8.2 Acting By Assuming Roles and Interacting In Improvisations
  NA-T.5-8.5 Researching By Finding Information to Support Classroom Dramatizations

• GRADES 9 - 12
  NA-T.9-12.1 Script Writing by Planning and Recording Improvisations Based on Personal Experience and Heritage, Imagination, Literature, and History
  NA-T.9-12.2 Acting By Assuming Roles and Interacting In Improvisations
  NA-T.9-12.5 Researching By Finding Information to Support Classroom Dramatizations
  

• GRADES K - 4
  NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
  NA-VA.K-4.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
  NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

• GRADES 5 - 8
  NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
  NA-VA.5-8.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
  NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

• GRADES 9 - 12
  NA-VA.9-12.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
  NA-VA.9-12.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
  NA-VA.9-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

• GRADES K - 12
  NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
  NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
  NL-ENG.K-12.5 Communication Strategies
  NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills
  NL-ENG.K-12.9 Multicultural Understanding
  NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills

SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography

• GRADES K - 12
  NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms
  NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and Regions

SOCIAL SCIENCES: World History

• GRADES 5 - 12
  NSS-WH.5-12.2 Early Civilizations and the Rise of Pastoral Peoples
  NSS-WH.5-12.3 Classical Traditions, Major Religions, and Giant Empires

TECHNOLOGY

• GRADES K - 12
  NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts
  NT.K-12.5 Technology Research tools

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