Activity Overview
Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes that pop up in multiple Greek myths, and support their choices with details from the text.
Themes to Look For and Discuss
Transformation
Apollo chased after the nymph Daphne, but she did not love him. Artemis turned her into a tree so Apollo could not have her. Daphne became the laurel tree, whose leaves are still used today for Olympic crowns and represent victory.
Arachne boasted about her weaving abilities, saying she was greater than even Athena. After losing in a weaving contest to make a beautiful tapestry, Athena turned her into a spider. Spiders are great weavers of webs.
After being rejected by Narcissus, Echo prayed to the gods. Artemis caused Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection and ignored all else. At his death by another spurned lover, Narcissus became a flower that turned down to water, always gazing at its own face.
Additional themes include
- Jealousy
- Boastfulness
- Anger/Retribution
- Temptation
- Natural Forces by Divine Will
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard depicting important themes in Greek Mythology
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- Identify important themes.
- Describe how the theme is important to the story.
- Illustrate each example with appropriate images, scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
- CCSS: RL.9-10.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
- CCSS: RL.9-10.3 - Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Theme(s) | All themes are correctly identified and described. | Some themes are correctly identified. | No themes are correctly identified. |
| Examples of Theme(s) | All examples support the identified theme(s). | Most examples fit the identified theme(s). | Most examples do not fit the theme(s). |
| Illustrate Theme | Images clearly show connection with the theme(s). | Some images help to show the theme. | Images do not help in understanding the theme. |
Activity Overview
Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes that pop up in multiple Greek myths, and support their choices with details from the text.
Themes to Look For and Discuss
Transformation
Apollo chased after the nymph Daphne, but she did not love him. Artemis turned her into a tree so Apollo could not have her. Daphne became the laurel tree, whose leaves are still used today for Olympic crowns and represent victory.
Arachne boasted about her weaving abilities, saying she was greater than even Athena. After losing in a weaving contest to make a beautiful tapestry, Athena turned her into a spider. Spiders are great weavers of webs.
After being rejected by Narcissus, Echo prayed to the gods. Artemis caused Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection and ignored all else. At his death by another spurned lover, Narcissus became a flower that turned down to water, always gazing at its own face.
Additional themes include
- Jealousy
- Boastfulness
- Anger/Retribution
- Temptation
- Natural Forces by Divine Will
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard depicting important themes in Greek Mythology
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- Identify important themes.
- Describe how the theme is important to the story.
- Illustrate each example with appropriate images, scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
- CCSS: RL.9-10.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
- CCSS: RL.9-10.3 - Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Theme(s) | All themes are correctly identified and described. | Some themes are correctly identified. | No themes are correctly identified. |
| Examples of Theme(s) | All examples support the identified theme(s). | Most examples fit the identified theme(s). | Most examples do not fit the theme(s). |
| Illustrate Theme | Images clearly show connection with the theme(s). | Some images help to show the theme. | Images do not help in understanding the theme. |
More Storyboard That Activities
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