Inspired by: Greek Myths - Week 3

In an engaging lesson inspired by Greek myths, students explore the character of Arion through the lens of his actions and motivations. They are tasked with delving into the story to draw inferences about whether Arion's nature is selfish or kind. By examining the narrative closely, they must gather evidence to support their views on Arion's character, particularly focusing on whether he would be capable of forgiving the thieves who intended to murder him. This activity not only encourages critical thinking but also helps students justify their inferences with concrete evidence from the text. Furthermore, the students are given a creative writing task to compose a character statement for Arion, as if he were applying to join the boy band Jason and the Argonauts, which requires them to reflect on Arion's trustworthiness and reliability.

Another aspect of the lesson involves teaching students about persuasive language. They explore how Arion might have used persuasive techniques to convince King Periander to allow him to visit a music festival in Sicily, despite the king's initial reluctance. Role-play activities are incorporated to bring this scenario to life, with speaking frames provided to support students in articulating their reasoning. Additionally, students are prompted to consider how Arion might have persuaded the sailors to spare his life, further practicing their persuasive speaking skills. The lesson also introduces the Perfect Prefix Game, where students score points by using words with prefixes like dis-, de-, mis-, and re-, in the context of Arion's adventures. Finally, they evaluate the impact of language through Marcia Williams' comic book retelling of Greek myths, discussing how her choice of words and sentences, alongside the illustrations, succinctly conveys the story's essence and affects the reader's experience.