Curriculum / ELA / 4th Grade / Unit 3: Interpreting Perspectives: Greek Myths / Lesson 13
ELA
Unit 3
4th Grade
Lesson 13 of 20
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Defend if Narcissus learns his lesson.
Book: I am Arachne: Fifteen Greek and Roman Myths by Elizabeth Spires pp. 36 – 42
Book: Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths by Marilyn Singer — "Narcissus and Echo"
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Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved
Does Narcissus learn his lesson? Use examples from the first person perspective and the poem to defend why or why not.
An example response to the Target Task at the level of detail expected of the students.
Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
Why does Narcissus say, "Thank goodness, I have my mirrors. I’d be bored stiff without them"? What does this mean? What does it reveal about Narcissus’s personality? (first person perspective)
According to Narcissus, what happens with Echo? (first person perspective)
Where does Narcissus end up and what punishment does Pluto give him? (first person perspective)
What point of view is this story told in? How does the point of view influence how events are described? (first person perspective)
Narcissus says that they are "fed up with his conceited ways." In what ways is Narcissus conceited? Does he change? (first person perspective)
How does the speaker's perspective change from one poem to the next? (poem)
How does the illustration help the reader better understand the poems? Why? (poem)
Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text
conceited
adj.
(p. 39)
to be full of yourself and your abilities
infatuation
n.
(p. 40)
a foolish or strong love for someone or something
Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson
This version of Echo and Narcissus hints at themes of adultery. Narcissus talks pretty nonchalantly about Zeus's secret girlfriends even though he is married to Hera, and alludes to Hera and Zeus having the "worst marriage in the universe" (38). This is not an important detail that drives the plot, but feel free to address in a manner that is appropriate for your class.
Bring your most engaging lessons to life with comprehensive instructional guidance, detailed pacing, supports to meet every student's needs, and resources to strengthen your lesson planning and delivery.
RL.4.2 — Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
RL.4.3 — Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).
Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit
L.4.4.b — Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
RF.4.3 — Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
RF.4.4 — Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
RL.4.1 — Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
RL.4.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
RL.4.10 — By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, in the grades 4—5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
SL.4.1 — Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
W.4.10 — Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Lesson 12
Lesson 14
Summarize what happens in "Pandora’s Box."
RL.4.2
Analyze how the speaker’s point of view in "Pandora" influences how events are described.
RL.4.3 RL.4.6
Explain how the speaker’s perspective of Pandora changes from one poem to the next.
RL.4.5 RL.4.6 RL.4.7
Describe how the author uses structural elements of drama to retell what happens in "Pandora’s Box."
RL.4.2 RL.4.5 RL.4.7
Discussion & Writing
Explain how comparing different forms of a literary text helps build a deeper understanding of the text and its major themes. Analyze which author’s craft decisions or structures have the greatest influence on how events are described.
RL.4.5 RL.4.6 RL.4.7 RL.4.9 SL.4.1 SL.4.1.c SL.4.1.d W.4.1
Narrative Writing
Rewrite the myth from Epimetheus's point of view.
L.4.1.d L.4.3.a W.4.3.d
Summarize what happened in "Arachne."
RL.4.2 RL.4.3 RL.4.6
Compare the lesson that Arachne learns and how she learns it in two different versions of the myth.
Explain how the author uses the structural elements of drama to retell the story of Arachne.
RL.4.5 RL.4.7
Explain how comparing different forms of a literary text helps build a deeper understanding of the text and which author’s craft decisions or structures have the greatest influence on how events are described.
RL.4.2 RL.4.5 RL.4.6 RL.4.7 RL.4.9 W.4.1
Rewrite the myth Arachne from Athena’s point of view.
RL.4.6 W.4.3.a W.4.3.b
Summarize "Echo and Narcissus."
RL.4.2 RL.4.3
Identify and explain which parts of the story are highlighted in the drama.
RL.4.3 RL.4.5 RL.4.7
RL.4.2 RL.4.5 RL.4.6 RL.4.9 SL.4.1 W.4.1
Rewrite the myth Echo and Narcissus from Narcissus’s point of view.
Discussion
Analyze how a theme or topic is treated in each of the myths from the unit by comparing and contrasting the treatment of similar themes and topics.
RL.4.2 RL.4.9 SL.4.1 SL.4.1.c SL.4.1.d SL.4.3 W.4.1
Opinion Writing – 4 days
Defend how the theme from one of the Greek Myths is still relevant today using examples from students’ lives and the world around them.
L.4.2 SL.4.1 W.4.1 W.4.1.a W.4.1.b W.4.5
Assessment
Narrative Writing – 3 days
Revise and edit a narrative from earlier in the unit.
L.4.3.a W.4.3.a W.4.3.b W.4.3.d W.4.3.e
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