Lesson 15 | The Lightning Thief & Greek Mythology (2020) | 6th Grade English

Objective

Explain author’s purpose in describing the setting in such detail.

Explain how hubris can have consequences in Greek mythology.

Readings and Materials

Book: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan — Ch. 11
Myth: The Story of Medusa and Athena
Resource: The Lightning Thief: A Teacher’s Guide

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Target Task

Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved

Why does Rick Riordan describe the setting so vividly at Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium? What is he trying to help the reader figure out? Explain using details from the text.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

p. 169: We have learned so far that Percy is motivated by his love of his mother, and Grover is motivated by his desire to attain a searcher’s license. But what motivates Annabeth to go on this dangerous quest? What details support your answer?
pp. 171–173: What does the description of the setting reveal about the Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium?
Did you figure out Aunty Em’s true identity before Percy? What clues does the author leave for the reader in Chapter 11?
Why do you think Percy sends Medusa’s head to Mount Olympus? Do you think this is a good idea? What does this reveal about his character?

Questions for Myth: "The Story of Medusa and Athena":

Many Greek myths warn about the danger of hubris. Describe how Medusa’s “hubris” ultimately destroys her. Make sure to use details from the text.

Vocabulary

Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text

marred (176)
menace (181)
petrify (184)
boast ("The Story of Medusa and Athena")

Notes

Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson

This lesson connects to a unit test and essential question.
Optional Writing Prompt: Medusa’s obituary. Study some obituaries from your local newspaper, then write an obituary for Medusa. Make it funny if you wish. Be sure to use facts about her life (from the myths) and her death (from The Lightning Thief). What will her funeral arrangements be? Where should people send flowers or charitable donations? If your dress code allows, encourage students to wear black armbands for mourning!

References

Resource: The Lightning Thief: A Teacher’s Guide (Rick Riordan, 2005) — p. 46

Common Core Standards

RL.6.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

Reading Standards for Literature

RL.6.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
RL.6.5 — Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

Reading Standards for Literature

RL.6.5 — Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

Lesson 14

Lesson 16

Lesson Map

Greek Myths pp. 12 – 23 — "The Titans" and "Zeus and His Family"
Teacher's Guide — p. 4

Complete a family tree of the Greek gods based on the myths "The Titans" and "Zeus and His Family."

Explain the purpose of mythology in Ancient Greece.

RL.6.3

Project

Teacher's Guide

Connect to prior knowledge about the Greek Gods.

Research details about the Greek Gods.

RI.6.7 W.6.7 W.6.8

Project – 3 days

Use research to write a narrative from first-person point of view from the perspective of a god or goddess.

Present narratives aloud to class, focusing on tone and volume.

SL.6.4 W.6.3

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 1

Make inferences about Percy as a character.

Analyze how the author develops the narrator’s point of view.

RL.6.3 RL.6.6

“The Three Fates”
The Lightning Thief — Ch. 2

Make inferences about Percy as a character.

Determine the meaning of an unknown word using context clues.

L.6.4 RL.6.6

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 3

Make inferences about Percy based on his inner thoughts.

Analyze how the author uses first person point of view and dialogue to characterize Percy.

RL.6.6

Theseus and the Minotaur
The Lightning Thief — Ch. 4

Make inferences based on character’s response to challenge.

RL.6.3

“The Hero’s Journey”
“The Hero's Journey video”

Build background information on the archetypal hero.

Explain the relationship between Percy Jackson and The Hero’s Journey.

RI.6.2 RL.6.9

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 5

Make inferences on Percy’s character based on his interactions with other characters, response to challenges and inner thoughts.

RL.6.3

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 6

Explain that Percy is on the hero’s journey based on evidence from The Lightning Thief and "The Hero’s Journey."

RL.6.9

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 7

Determine the meaning of an unknown word using contextual clues.

L.6.4

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 8

Explain the clues Rick Riordan gives the readers to determine Percy’s father before he does.

RL.6.5

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 9
“The Oracle at Delphi”

Identify and explain the main external conflict in chapter 9.

RL.6.3

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 10
Heroes, Gods... pp. 647 – 651
Prometheus

Identify and explain character motivation.

RL.6.3

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 11
The Story of...
Teacher's Guide

Explain author’s purpose in describing the setting in such detail.

Explain how hubris can have consequences in Greek mythology.

RL.6.2 RL.6.5

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 12
Teacher's Guide

Explain the author’s use of italics when depicting the evil use.

L.6.2

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 13

Analyze how characters are motivated by their relationships with their fathers.

RL.6.3

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 14

Identify and analyze the mood when Percy is underwater in the river.

RL.6.4

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 15

Analyze how the mood in Waterland contributes to the plot.

RL.6.3 RL.6.4

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 16
Greek Myths — Athena, Arachne, and the Weaving Contest

Analyze the impact of words on mood.

RL.6.4

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 17
Greek Myths — Orpheus and Eurydice

Explain the meaning of an unknown word using contextual clues.

L.6.4

Greek Myths pp. 132 – 142 — Heracles

Analyze how the Greek gods use violence to maintain their power.

RL.6.3

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 18
Teacher's Guide

Explain how the setting helps to create the mood.

RL.6.4

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 19
Greek Myths pp. 58 – 62 — Persephone

Explain how particular sentences contribute to the plot.

Explain how the ancient Greeks understood the origin of winter.

RL.6.2 RL.6.5

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 20

Analyze how the author slows down time and stretches out the story’s conflict
using small, pressure-filled moments.

RL.6.5

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 21

Analyze how Percy’s relationship with his father has changed over time.

RL.6.3

The Lightning Thief — Ch. 22
Teacher's Guide

Explain Luke’s motivation for stealing the master bolt.

RL.6.3

Assessment

The Lightning Thief & Greek Mythology (2020)

Objective

Readings and Materials

Target Task

Key Questions

Vocabulary

Notes

References

Common Core Standards

Reading Standards for Literature

Reading Standards for Literature

Lesson Map

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