Greek Myths - Learning Sequence

The Greek Myths learning sequence is a comprehensive unit designed to immerse Year 6 students in the rich tapestry of Greek mythology. The unit is structured over six weeks and integrates the exploration of myths with a variety of literacy skills. In the first week, students become word detectives, using a grid to decipher unfamiliar terms, and begin to discuss their prior knowledge of myths. They read the foreword from the Orchard Book of Greek Myths to identify key features of a myth and locate Greece on a map, filling in a Knowledge and Understanding (KW) grid. Research into Greek gods and goddesses follows, with students recording their findings and practising sentence extension with conjunctions. They explore the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur through Marcia Williams' comic strip illustrations and the Orchard Book, comparing the two versions and discussing the effectiveness of the storytelling.

As the unit progresses, students delve deeper into the myth, examining character motivations and emotions, such as Ariadne's assistance to Theseus and his subsequent abandonment of her. They engage in role-play, develop descriptive language skills by annotating illustrations, and construct complex sentences using conjunctions. In the final weeks, students create their own version of the Theseus myth with an invented creature, applying their developed toolkit of literary devices. The unit also includes the study of related poems, such as "The Minotaur" by Rachel M Nicholas, and encourages discussion on the influence of ancient Greeks on modern life. Additionally, students explore other myths like Arachne and Athene, evaluating characters' actions and attitudes, and comparing different versions of the myths. The sequence concludes with students expressing their preferences for the stories and characters they have encountered.