Tuesday, September 1st, 2015

Dear Mythology Kids,
1. We completed the Creation myth associated with the Greeks. It is the most significant story, as it explains how the gods came into existence. Please make sure you communicate with someone that you know who is taking Mythology.

2. Even if you missed class, I still expect you to be prepared for class on Thursday Please communicate with someone else in class! Go to the Internet and look up "Greek Creation Myth," in order to obtain assistance!

HOMEWORK:
1. Prepare for your quiz covering the "history lesson" (map), "tell me a story," and the flow chart illustrating the Creation myth.
2. Please read "Rule of Uranus" and "Rule of Cronus" for Thursday

3. Create flashcards (if you complete them, then you can use a 1/4 on the "quest")

4. Complete the practice quiz (for each question that you answer correctly, you receive 1/2 of point of credit added to the actual quiz score)

We completed the following today in class:

1. Creation Myth (the back side of your yellow handout)
2. FLASHCARD TOPICS:

• 1. polytheistic
• 2. pagan
• 3. city-state
• 4. Homer
• 5. Aesthetic myth/Explanatory myth
• 6. Mythology and why?
• 7. Gaea
• 8. Uranus
• 9. Nyx
• 10. Erebus
• 11. Eros
• 12. Pontus
• 13. Aphrodite
• 14. Furies
• 15. Cyclopes
• 16.100 handed ones
• 17. Titans
• 18. Atlas/
• 19.Prometheus/
• 20. Epimetheus
• 21. Typhon
• 22. Iaeptus
• 23. Cronus
• 24. Rhea
• 25. Hestia
• 26. Hera
• 27. Demeter
• 28. Poseidon
• 29. Hades
• 30. Zeus

The Key to Success....PREPARATION!

"The Creation Myth"

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I When I see you on Thursday., we will review, and then take your quiz. Remember to use the practice quiz as a pre-test. You should put all of your information away while you take the quiz. THIS IS CLEARLY AN INTEGRITY ISSUE ON YOUR PART, my fine young friends. In addition, you should print a copy of the quiz as a word document, and be prepared to bring it with you to class on Wed.. We will review for the quiz by discussing the questions on the practice quiz. If you choose to use flashcards on the quiz , you can use a 1/4 of the ones that you complete. DON'T FORGET to review the information concerning your "history lesson." In addition, you will receive questions from "Tell me a Story" (Front of your yellow handout).

PRACTICE QUIZ for "THE CREATION" Myth
1. According to the ancient Greeks, how did formed matter begin?

2. Three "beings" were initially created, please identify them for 2-4.

2._______________ 3.______________ 4.________________

5. Who was Uranus, and what was his greatest fear?

6. Identify his first two "groups" of children and why his wife was so angry with him concerning these children.

7. What characters are created from Uranus' death (in any order)?

7._____________________ 8._________________

9. Describe the Titans to me.............

10. Why is Cronus so willing to destroy his father?

11. Cronus marries his sister, Rhea, who in turn gives him six children. Explain what he does with the children and why.

12. Refer to the image at the top of this post. The two characters on this Greek vase are married. The female is offering the male something of significance. Explain to me what is taking place here.

13. Refer to the second image at the top of this post. Identify the three female characters in the drawing. What was their purpose in Greek mythology? Explain their symbolism.

14. Refer to the third image. Why was Uranus so afraid of of "these" (I know there is only one here) children?

15. Refer to the fourth image...... Explain the symbolism behind the death of the character lying on his back.

16. Who is this? Explain her "birth" and its symbolic meaning?

I hope you did well! I will see you soon.

Cheers,

Crampton

Friday, Auguast 28th, 2015

Dear Mythology Kids,
If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. We discussed the value in studying Mythology. Make sure you communicate with someone in class so that you can obtain the response that each of us received.

2. We then continued with our introduction to "The Creation Myth. "We did not finish this in class, but we will on Tuesday. If you missed class, PLEASE make sure you communicate with a friend, as the myth is extremely symbolic and highly convoluted. Have your chosen friend EXPLAIN it to you., don't just take their flow chart and copy it.

HOMEWORK:
1. You will have a "QUEST" covering all the information we have discussed up to this point on THURSDAY.! Start reviewing now, guys !
2. Create flashcards for characters associated with the Creation Myth, and any other aspects that you believe you might have a hard time remembering. You are welcome to use a 1/4 of the number of the cards your create. So, if you make 20 cards, you can use 5 cards. Make sense?

Wednesday, August 26th, 2015

Dear Mythology Kids,
If you missed class, I hope to see you on Friday! Do your best to make it back, but stay home and rest if you are feeling ill. We did cover a significant amount today. Please visit with a friend from class.

HOMEWORK:
1. Please read "Why are the Greek myths still relevant today?," included below, and include 7-10 annotations on each page. If you were not in class, then copy this to a Word document and then print it off. Please place it in the "Vocab/Mechanics section of your notebook.
NOTE:  You were introduced to the color coding regarding your annotating and notating. Each type of notation correlates to a specific color. Please see the color key below.
PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE BELOW and ANNOTATE/NOTATE it for FRIDAY! Stop by and visit me if you have any questions.
 

• If you  find a section of text confusing then you would underline it using BROWN.
• If you are able to make a connection to your own life then you would underline that section of text using your PURPLE.
• Another way to annotate is by asking QUESTIONS about the text. RED is the color you will use for this annotation.
• If you come across a VOCABULARY word that you don't know use YELLOW!
• If a piece of text touches you emotionally, then BLUE is the color for that annotation.
• If a piece of writing is poetic to you, then use BLACK!
• If text gives you a different perspective then GREEN is your annotation color.
• ORANGE is the color you will use if you come across text that you find interesting. 
• 
  
• 
  
• Why Classical Myths are still relevant Today
  If there is one subject that is still widely taught today, it has to be the subject of Classical mythology. It isn’t just taught as part of a literature curriculum at school but is also part of most history lessons. Some people might wonder why the world is still so hung up on these myths when they are nothing but stories and they came from thousands of years ago. However, one look at the vast amount of ancient Greek-themed movies and literature today, people will quickly come to the conclusion that the world is still fascinated with Classical Mythology though they might not always be able to say why.
  For those who think that ancient Greek mythology stories are nothing more than a bunch of outdated tales, they just happen to be wrong. For sure, these stories may have been written hundreds if not thousands of years ago, but it is good to remember they were written by wise men who had a hand in helping shape modern thinking. These great men, Aristotle and Sophocles to name a few, were not mere story-tellers; they didn’t spend their days weaving tales just because they wanted to and had nothing to do. They were too good for that and this is why their Greek myths have withstood the test of time and are relevant until today. In fact, they might even still be relevant a hundred years from now.
  
  What are Greek Myths?
  To some people, Greek myths are these epic tales of gods and goddesses gallivanting about the earth, achieving all sorts of impossible tasks. They are stories of people dealing with the gods and either they come out triumphant or they end up bloody and charred or turned into animals and plants. Indeed, a person who doesn’t look beyond the surface will think these tales are nothing more than flights of fancy by old story-tellers from the past but a deeper look at the stories will tell you more than that. These myths aren’t just legends and while they are “just stories” they are stories with a purpose and reason. A deeper look at Greek myths should reveal morals, philosophies, and even warnings.
  
  
  These tales rarely have the happily-ever-after endings people are so used to these days but remember, they weren’t written for entertainment—they were written with a higher purpose. One wouldn’t expect such great minds to waste their time telling a story for the sake of telling a story; they had to have purpose and they had to impart knowledge. In truth, these myths give people a chance to glimpse at the way the Greeks lived and how they thought back then. It might seem hopelessly outdated and unimportant but the exact opposite of that is true.
  
  What is the Importance of the Greeks?
  Most people will not really notice it unless they are told to do so, but there are so many Greek influences around the world today. In fact, it is impossible to go around to completely understand the basics of things like fine arts, literature, and performing arts without touching on some Greek myth.
  These myths were an integral part of ancient Greek culture because this was how they passed down lessons from one generation to the next without things getting boring and dull. Anyone who has ever picked up a book on Greek myths or seen a movie inspired by one can attest to its action-packed nature. Some might wonder what the point is to just passing down stories—stories that were made up and were in no way true but that was the beauty of Greek mythology in ancient times. They became the perfect way to impart lessons without being dull or boring.
  What Did These Myths Do?
  These myths were told to people and it helped them realize the difference between right and wrong. It helped them come to terms with how they should be humble and never think themselves immortal or they might just be proven wrong in the most horrible and inopportune of ways. Also, these tales tell people of heroes and how true greatness was achieved by those who dared while at the same breath, showing the flaws of these heroes.
  
  Any modern person who reads or hears of Greek myths will be hard-pressed to stay unaffected. They are simply that good and this proves just how relevant they still are. Anyone can pick up a book of Greek myths. For sure, they will get something from it. 
  
  
  
  
  What did we do in class today?
  1. We completed our "history lesson" on Athens and Sparta, and then watched a clip from 300 to illustrate the Spartan way of life.
  
  2. We then discussed "WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY?"
  3. THE two different types of myths.
  4. Homer
  5. Then we began with The Creation myth!
   
  
  It was a busy day!
  
  I look forward to seeing you on Friday!
  Cheers,
  Crampton

Welcome to Mythology! 2015-2016

"Organized Chaos"

Dear Mythology Students,

I welcome you to the land of gods and goddesses, where logic does not exist, only the idea that some where in the slime of cosmic confusion order becomes real. Was that poetic? TRANSLATION: Prepare yourself to learn ancient ideas and concepts that are bizarre; yet still relevant and valid in modern times. I welcome you to Mythology.

HOMEWORK for Monday, August 24th, 2015
1. Supplies with five dividers ( assignments, notes, handouts, vocab./mechanics, journal)

HOMEWORK for Monday, August 24th, 2015
2. "What is a Classic? " 

What is a Classic? DUE DATE: Monday, August 24th

Explanation: If something is referred to as "classic," what does that mean? Many times when individuals hear the world "classic," they naturally think of pieces of literature or art, which, of course apply and make sense; however, in addition to literature and art, there are a myriad of other aspects to our culture that could be considered "classic."

Prior to explaining your assignment, allow me to give you some insight into the word "classic." It has been suggested that the Latin root classicus, relates to the "first or highest class or division" in which the Roman people were anciently divided.  These individuals were often spoken of as "classici." So, the word "CLASSIC" could be interpreted to mean "of the first class" or of the highest order. " The meaning is probably best captured by our slang expression, "classy."

So, knowing this little bit of information, what do you consider to be "classic?" 

Assignment: For your assignment, you are to consider the word "classic," and then locate an image of what you to be "classic." There is no "right" or "wrong" answer, as long as you can justify your choice as being "of the highest order." In addition, you need to further justify your choice in writinb by answering the following questions in your response.

1. Identify your "classic " choice.
2. In your words, what does the term "classic" mean to you?
3. In a brief paragraph, explain why you consider your choice to be "classic?" Please be specific. A response such as, "Because I like it," is not sufficient!

Finally, in another paragraph , tell me why you thihk we call the myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans "Classical Mythology?" Why not just call the "myths of Greece and Rome? Or even better, Grecian and Roman Mythology? " We call the myths of China "Chinese Mythology." So, why do you suppose we call the myths of Greece and Rome, "Classical Mythology?"

Requirements: 

1. Please type, double space your response, using 12 ptt font, Times New Roman print
2. Include an image of your chosen "classic example."
3. Follow the example offered on the explanation handout given to you on Thursday.
4. Include your first and last name, my name, period, and date in the upper left corner of your assignment (MLA format)    

HERE ARE SOME PREVIOUS STUDENT EXAMPLES. Please do not repeat these.

 Disney Characters and what they represent to children

 Warm apple pie and vanilla ice cream

 

Solitaire Diamond Ring

 Pearls

 First Kiss

I look forward to working with you this year.
Cheers,
Crampton

Posted by Crampton at 9:39 AM