Pfaff second graders recently brought Greek Mythology and culture to life, hosting their own Greek gods and goddess dress-up day, and their own Olympic games to culminate the lesson. Students learned about the traditions and history of ancient Greece, the gods and goddesses they worshipped, their supernatural powers, and the origins of the Olympics.
Students dressed up as:
Goddesses:
Artemis - Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, archery, and the moon
Demeter - Goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility
Aphrodite - Goddess of love and beauty
Pandora - Known for opening Pandora's box, releasing troubles into the world
Hera - Queen of the Gods, Goddess of marriage and family
Persephone - Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld
Athena - Goddess of wisdom, strategy, and warfare
Diana - Roman Goddess of the hunt and moon, similar to Artemis
Gods:
Zeus - King of the Gods, God of the sky, lightning, and thunder
Hades - God of the Underworld and the dead
Hermes - Messenger God, God of travel, speed, and thieves
Poseidon - God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses
Cupid - God of Love, who uses magical arrows to make people fall in love
Mythical Creature:
Minotaur - A mythical creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull, known for strength and living in the Labyrinth
The following week, students participated in a variety of Olympic events, such as javelin throwing (pool noodles), running races, the long jump, and discus throwing (frisbees).
It was a wonderful and interactive way for our students to turn a lesson into something they could experience, see and remember forever.