Ancient Greece

National Curriculum Topics covered: arts and architecture; plays and the theatre; gods and goddesses, myths, legends, beliefs and customs; the building of the Parthenon. New Option: The Olympic Games

Main activities:

1. Learn about 12 gods using pictures and games or learn the differences between the ancient and modern Olympics

2. Learn about Greek architecture using pictures and games

3. Make a model of the Parthenon (as new)

4. Learn about Greek theatre using photos

5. Rehearse and perform a myth play, costumes and props provided

The playscripts: Gods of Olympus Theseus and the Minotaur

Odysseus and the Cyclops Perseus and Medusa

Background information on: Architecture Theatre Gods & Heroes

Subject Matter

Visuals and activities

Morning Session

Statue of Athena seen in the lesson

Discus thrower

INTRODUCTION

Statue of Zeus - one of the items on the 'name the god' game.

Boxer

Discuss the contributions made by the Greeks to our modern society

Focus of the workshop is on three contributions: architecture, plays & theatre, and gods & myths or the Olympics.

Gods: the 12 Olympian gods, their roles and symbols -

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Demeter, Apollo, Hermes, Ares, Aphrodite, Artemis.

Olympics - differences between the ancient and modern Olympics (events, location, purpose, prizes, etc.)

Time: 30 minutes

Gods: Pictures of Greek monsters in modern stories (e.g. film versions of Narnia and Harry Potter)

How many of the 12 Olympian gods can the children name, based on their roles? (e.g. Athena was goddess of wisdom and war)

Game - name the god from pictures and statues. See the game board

Photos of vase paintings and statues showing ancient Olympic athletes; the site of Olympia and the temple and statue of Zeus.

Olympics: pictures showing Olympia as it is now, artist's reconstructions of the town, the temple of Zeus and statue of Zeus. Photos of vase paintings and statues showing what the ancient events were.

Game: look at graphics of events and decide whether they are in the modern games, the ancient, or both

Game: look at graphics to decide whether a feature applied to the modern games, ancient, or both (e.g. lasted 5 days, were for men and women, took place for religious reasons.)

ARCHITECTURE

Greek architecture: focussing on temples. What was a temple? What was it used for? What features of the classical style do we see on modern buildings?

Features of a Doric temple: column, capital, entablature, metope, triglyph, pediment, cella. Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns.

Time: 25 minutes

Pictures of Parthenon and other temples. Pictures of 3 types of columns.

Magnetic board diagram showing parts of a temple.

Game: name the architectural features shown in pictures

Game: name Ionic, Doric or Corinthian columns from ancient buildings and modern

The Parthenon

MAKE A TEMPLE

The whole class will make a model of the Parthenon. The model is not to scale, having only 28 columns instead of 46, but will display many of the features of the original building, including the painted sculptures and a statue of Athena. Children make different parts of the temple in groups. Two architects oversee the project and fit all the parts together.

In larger classes some children will make a display about the Parthenon.

Time: 60-80 minutes, depending on age and time available

Pictures of temple making

Materials used:

Columns - wooden rods, plasticine, foam board and white paint

Entablature, roof and pediment, and cella - thick white card, glue and sellotape, paper photocopies of the sculptures which will be coloured in with felt-tips

Statue of Athena - painted gold and white

Architects will use a glue gun (if this is acceptable to you)

Afternoon Session

The afternoon session is based around the performance of a play based on Greek myths. Most classes will perform a play about the 12 Gods of Olympus, with one child acting as each god and another child reading a story about that god. (Click to see the script of the play)

Year 5, 6, and able year 4 classes may choose one of three plays based on a single story -Theseus and the Minotaur, Odysseus and the Cyclops, or Perseus and Medusa. The rest of the class will make scenery while the actors and readers rehearse. Another class (or several) will be invited to watch the final performance.

Choosing the Play

I will ask you to choose the play on booking so I can send you the right script. If you want to think about it and get back to me that's fine. However if I don't hear from you within a week I will choose a play for you and send that with the booking letter. If after that you decide to do a different play, just let me know so I can bring the right props.

Greek plays and theatres Lesson on how the Greeks invented plays; the first theatres; actors, masks; famous playwrights; scenery etc. Discuss the myth/s we have chosen to perform and how to rehearse and perform a short play.

The actors and narrators will put on costumes (which I will provide).

Time: 30 minutes

Pictures of ancient theatres (see below), play script, costumes, props.

Props include: helmet, shield, sword, spear, thunderbolt, trident, Hermes' wings, grapes for Dionysus, snake, lyre, hammer, bronze net, bow, Minotaur hat, reel of wool, Cyclops eyes, fireplace, wax cheese, dolls (for the Cyclops to eat, stake, Graeae eye and tooth, grey wigs, gorgon 'hats'.

REHEARSAL & SCENERY MAKING

We will go into the school hall to rehearse, going through the whole play twice. Props such as shield, sword, helmet, and the symbols of the 12 gods will be provided. Chairs/benches will be arranged in a semicircle as in a Greek theatre.

There are 30 costumes, so in larger classes some children will make scenery (painting a backdrop of a cave, temple, etc). Photos will be provided for inspiration but materials must be provided by the school. Alternatively you can get some children to bring in their own costumes.

Time: 60-80 minutes

The first theatre in history - the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens - above as it is now and below as it would have been

the theatre at Delphi

PERFORMANCE

The children will perform the play - some reading, some miming. The rest of the class will watch, with chairs and tables arranged in a semicircle like a Greek theatre. Another class will also come in to watch. Cameras are recommended!

The picture left shows costume and props. My nephew, Jack, is wearing a chiton and holding a helmet and shield of the 5th century BC.

Pictures of children in a play at Cams Lane Primary, Radcliffe

Jack with more props

Time: 15 minutes

Odysseus blinds the Cyclops