https://sbt-www-us-east-v3.azurewebsites.net/lesson-plans/greek-mythology-theseus/plan-a-video
Activity Overview
Template and Class Instructions
Activity Overview
Activity Overview
Like Hercules, Theseus is a hero of many adventures. Have students retell one (or more) of his heroic encounters in the style of a TV episode, or perhaps a skit that will actually be filmed in class. For this activity, students need to move beyond the words on the page and reimagine the myth as a television episode or video. Students need to consider setting, theme, characters, point of view, and more when devising a movie storyboard!
Some of Theseus' Adventures
Theseus encountered quite a few villains in his day:
- Periphetes the Club-Bearer
- Sinis the Pine-Bender
- Phaia (Crommyonian Sow)
- Sceiron
- Cercyon
- Procrustes
- Medea
- Minotaur
- Marathon Bull
- Amazons
- Centaurs and Lapiths
Filming Aspects to Consider
- Setting and props
- Character costumes
- Actions and emotions of characters
- Character dialogue
- Narrator/voiceover
- Camera point of view
- Camera shot distance
- Camera movement within a shot
- Background audio, sound effects, music
- Lighting and/or filters
- Camera Focus
Check out our film resources like Camera Shots.
Example Theseus Heroic Episode
| SHOT # | CAMERA | DIALOGUE | ACTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Establish the shot | Narrator: When we last left Theseus, he had discovered his true identity and set off for Athens. | Theseus walks toward the camera from a distance. |
| 2 | Zoom in on Periphetes | Narrator: Periphetes the Club-Bearer. He is the son of Hephaestus and Anticleia. His favorite pastimes include whacking people on the head with a bronze club and robbing their corpses. | |
| 3 | Cut to full shot | Periphetes: Halt, Traveler! I am Periphetes. Don't worry, you won't need to remember my name for much longer. I shall beat you with my bronze club! | Periphetes jumps out from behind a tree. Theseus is startled. |
| 4 | Cut to mid shot | Theseus: Wait... is your club REALLY made out of bronze? I've heard the stories, but I just can't believe it. | Theseus shows disbelief and disinterest. |
| 4 | Mid shot | Periphetes: What?! How dare you! I am the mightiest! Take a look for yourself and see my great bronze club! Narrator: He's got him now! | Periphetes gives Theseus the club. |
| 5 | Cut to full shot; slow zoom in and focus on Periphetes | Narrator: Our mighty adventurer gave Periphetes exactly what he deserved: a knock on the noggin! Next time on the Adventures of Theseus: Sinis the Pine-Bender! | Periphetes lies on the ground. Theseus walks away |
Template and Class Instructions
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective:
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment” and give your storyboard a name.
- Complete the title for each cell, using the appropriate filming aspects.
- Explain the scene in each description.
- Illustrate each cell using scenes, characters, items, and dialogue.
- Save and exit when you are done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Common Core Standards
Switch to: Common Core
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Utah
- 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: SL.9-10.1 - Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively
- CCSS: SL.9-10.5 - Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest
Activity Overview
Like Hercules, Theseus is a hero of many adventures. Have students retell one (or more) of his heroic encounters in the style of a TV episode, or perhaps a skit that will actually be filmed in class. For this activity, students need to move beyond the words on the page and reimagine the myth as a television episode or video. Students need to consider setting, theme, characters, point of view, and more when devising a movie storyboard!
Some of Theseus' Adventures
Theseus encountered quite a few villains in his day:
- Periphetes the Club-Bearer
- Sinis the Pine-Bender
- Phaia (Crommyonian Sow)
- Sceiron
- Cercyon
- Procrustes
- Medea
- Minotaur
- Marathon Bull
- Amazons
- Centaurs and Lapiths
Filming Aspects to Consider
- Setting and props
- Character costumes
- Actions and emotions of characters
- Character dialogue
- Narrator/voiceover
- Camera point of view
- Camera shot distance
- Camera movement within a shot
- Background audio, sound effects, music
- Lighting and/or filters
- Camera Focus
Check out our film resources like Camera Shots.
Example Theseus Heroic Episode
| SHOT # | CAMERA | DIALOGUE | ACTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Establish the shot | Narrator: When we last left Theseus, he had discovered his true identity and set off for Athens. | Theseus walks toward the camera from a distance. |
| 2 | Zoom in on Periphetes | Narrator: Periphetes the Club-Bearer. He is the son of Hephaestus and Anticleia. His favorite pastimes include whacking people on the head with a bronze club and robbing their corpses. | |
| 3 | Cut to full shot | Periphetes: Halt, Traveler! I am Periphetes. Don't worry, you won't need to remember my name for much longer. I shall beat you with my bronze club! | Periphetes jumps out from behind a tree. Theseus is startled. |
| 4 | Cut to mid shot | Theseus: Wait... is your club REALLY made out of bronze? I've heard the stories, but I just can't believe it. | Theseus shows disbelief and disinterest. |
| 4 | Mid shot | Periphetes: What?! How dare you! I am the mightiest! Take a look for yourself and see my great bronze club! Narrator: He's got him now! | Periphetes gives Theseus the club. |
| 5 | Cut to full shot; slow zoom in and focus on Periphetes | Narrator: Our mighty adventurer gave Periphetes exactly what he deserved: a knock on the noggin! Next time on the Adventures of Theseus: Sinis the Pine-Bender! | Periphetes lies on the ground. Theseus walks away |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective:
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment” and give your storyboard a name.
- Complete the title for each cell, using the appropriate filming aspects.
- Explain the scene in each description.
- Illustrate each cell using scenes, characters, items, and dialogue.
- Save and exit when you are done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Common Core Standards
Switch to: Common Core
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Utah
- 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: SL.9-10.1 - Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively
- CCSS: SL.9-10.5 - Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest
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Greek Mythology: Theseus
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© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
