Who were the Ancient Greeks? Explore more about the Ancient Greeks and what they valued as a society in this Interactive Exploration.

This resource consists of two different types of looking, thinking and learning activities. These activities call on students' observation and critical thinking skills as they closely examine selected objects from Ancient Greece. The activities explore the themes of mythology, religion, sport, and trade.

The "Look at This" activities provide close-up views with guiding questions and background information. Students will learn more about what the ancient Greeks valued as a society.

The "Surprise Me" activities offer pop-up hot spots on selected objects to reveal intriguing information about Greek religion, gods, goddesses, trade, sport and mythology. Students will investigate how these objects relate to Greek religion and human need for protection from harm and healing from disease and injury.

This lesson will help students understand that Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic religion that was integral to culture, politics, and art in ancient Greece.  Students will see examples  of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images which come from ancient Greek mythology.  The students will search for the names and area of influence for Greek gods and goddesses, and they will create a project which illustrates their understanding of the role of a Greek god or goddess.  Students will need Chromebooks, Ipads or other devices by which they can access the Internet.  

Students are introduced to the mythological creatures featured in the myth of Hercules (Roman name for the Greek hero "Herakles"). They learn new vocabulary related to the creatures' body parts (e.g., talons, hooves, etc.), and plan and create a drawing of an original mythological creature. Students then name their creature and write a descriptive sentence about it.

Students will compare propagandistic strategies in artworks to modern-day examples of persuasive techniques and create a propaganda poster for a current political leader.

Students will compare propagandistic strategies in artworks to modern-day examples of persuasive techniques and create a propaganda poster for a current political leader.

Students will examine the influence of Greek and Roman mythology on art, discuss strategies of propaganda in an ancient portrait and a 17th-century cabinet, and create a campaign poster for a classroom candidate that uses Greek or Roman iconography.

Students will examine the influence of Greek and Roman mythology on art, discuss strategies of propaganda in an ancient portrait and a 17th-century cabinet, and create a campaign poster for a classroom candidate that uses Greek or Roman iconography.

Students will examine a scene depicting Herakles (known as Hercules to the Romans) and the Hydra on the face of a black-figure "hydria". They will then read Greek myths and choose one to depict in the style of the vase painter, known as the Eagle Painter.

Students collaborate to compose a short piece of creative writing based on a painting depicting a mythological narrative. They then learn more about the mythological scene in the painting and adapt their original stories into tales from the life of the Greek hero Perseus.