DoE Curriculum Unit: The Gods and the Heroes of the Odyssey
Standards and Frameworks: Massachusetts Foreign Language Curriculum Foreign Language Learning Standards
Presentation Communication Strand
Connections Strand
Interdisciplinary Connections
Goals and Learning Objectives
Overview of Unit and Big Picture
Procedure: Clay Slab/Greek Mythology
Presentational Communication Strand
3.1 students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through their study of classical languages
Connections Strand
*7 Students of Classical Languages will obtain information and knowledge related to other disciplines from sources in the target language
*Teachers of Modern and Classical Languages collaborate with teachers of other subjects in the design and teaching of units in which knowledge of language and culture plays a key role.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
10.4 Students will apply their knowledge of the arts to the study of English, Language Arts, Foreign Languages, Health, History and Social Science, Math and Science, Technology and Engineering.
Goals and Learning Objectives
- to have students create clay slab tiles representing the gods and heroes of the Odyssey
- to have students understand art buy making a clay slab tile with a carved mythological representation
I Overview of Unit and ‘Big Picture’:
This unit will focus on the hero and mythology of the Odyssey through visual media. Students at this level study the concept of the hero in Classical Mythology as a major theme of the curriculum at the second year level. They view the movie “The Odyssey” and we discuss the role of the gods and the hero as a theme in the movie via critical essays. Students are also introduced to the gods, creatures and characters of the epic via word derivations and definitions. They also translate some of the major stories told in the Odyssey. A variety of artistic means for students to demonstrate mastery via Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences will be included. By integrating the arts into this curriculum, students will understand the role of the hero and the machinations of the gods in Classical Mythology based on the Odyssey.
II Procedure: Clay Slab/Greek Mythology
Day 1
Students will role out a slab of clay slightly larger than the template provided. They will wrap the clay in newspaper and plastic overnight to allow it to stiffen. The Latin teacher will provide images of Greek mythological creatures. Students are to select one image and trace that image onto tracing paper. They will then create a border design based on the mythological designs on tracing paper.
Day 2
Student swill cut the slab down to template size. And then transfer the tracing paper images to the slab. The Art teacher will demonstrate carving in clay as the students begin.
Day 3
Students will complete their carvings on the slabs. The Art teacher will demonstrate an underglaze and color choices based on Greek color. Students will then glaze their slabs and complete the project.
The completed student tiles will be mounted on wallboard and then attached to the wall of the classroom as a mural.
