Elementary Education

Story-Telling and Games

Engaging Learning Activities for Young Children

Topic Description and Links

The first attempts among the Greeks at ordered thinking took the form of myths. Greek literature and history were embedded in the mythic tradition, and for centuries myth was the only material for poetic expression and for creative and speculative thought. The mythic tradition was recorded in poetry, which also gave permanent form to most of the geographical and other utilitarian knowledge of the race.

This lesson helps you begin to understand what myths were and in what way they were used in ancient Greece and how story-telling was used as an educational approach.

Throughout the whole classical era, mythology remained as a major ingredient of elementary education both because of the story content and the moral examples it provided. Myth also remained the predominant material for poetry.

Consider this myth as an example for which you can try to gather data and experiences (related to this or other myths) by visiting monuments and museums in Greece. Theseus and the minotaur is a good example of a myth. This myth trasnmits in story form, the customs, values, and event of ancient life on the island of Crete.

Theseus and Hercules were the two main heroes in ancient Greek mythology. Theseus was an Athenian hero, son of the King Aegeus. After his birth, his mother hid him from his father. He returned to Athens in his adolescence. His father recognized him from his sandals and his epee. At that time the Athenians were forced to pay a heavy tribute in the form of seven young boys and seven young girls to Minos, the king of Crete. These young people were used to feed Minotaur the son of Minos, a half man half bull monster, who lived in the labyrinth under the palace of Knossos.

Theseus went to Crete to confront the Minotaur and he managed to kill him. He found his way out of the labyrinth thanks to Ariadne the daughter of king Minos with whom he fell in love. After leaving Crete, he neglected to change his sails from black to white, as he promised his father Aegeus he would if he defeated Minotaur, as a sign of his salvation. Aegeus, believing his son dead, threw himself off a cliff into the sea. The sea was named after him (Aegean Sea) and it had preserved that name through the ages.

When you go to Greece ask the natives or try to find out yourself where is that sea. Remember that is in the east side of Greece. The cliff where Aegeus threw himself from is a place that you are going to visit. Try to find out what is the name of that place. It would be most helpful if you found out the name of the sea that was named after Aegeus first.

These are some key words that can help you: Sounio, Knossos, Aegean Pelagos, Ariadne, Minotaur, Minoic Civilization, King Minos.

Here is an example of how a myth could transmit ethical values such as virtue. It is known as Herakles’ (Hercules) choice. Herakles was the son of Zeus and the princess of Mykenae Alkmini. When Herakles grew up, he became a strong, handsome man. He reached the age where he had to choose the kind of road he was going to follow for the rest of his life. One day, when he was walking out of the town, he reached an intersection of two roads. He sat on a rock, trying to decide which road would be best to follow. Suddenly two women appeared. They looked very different from each other. One of them was very attractive, dressed in expensive clothes and wearing fancy jewelry. She talked first and asked Herakles to follow her road. That road was full of injustice, murder and vice. If Herakles decided to go with her he would become a rich man and he could have anything he desired. Her name was Vice. Then the other woman talked. She was humble and she dressed in simple clothes. She told him that her road was full of obstacles, pain and struggle. She could not promise him pleasures and richness but only the joy that honesty and righteousness bring. By choosing her road he would be able to help and benefit people and in that way he could acquire the goods of the world. Her name was Virtue. After taking a moment to think, Herakles chose the road of Virtue. This decision made him glorious throughout history.

Generative Questions and Hints

To help you reason through this case, answer these questions and record your responses to recall during the corresponding lesson activities in Greece and for the reports that you will make on what you have learned.

	Greek educators stressed the rich context of myths and story-telling to educate young children. Why do you think this was this so important in Greek culture? Is it as important today? Why?
	Whether in myths or in other stories, how did these cases stimulate reasoning in young children? What similar methods exist today? How are they used for learning and teaching?

Lesson Activity

After collecting data from your visits to museums and sites try to create a list of the articrafts you had seen regarding to the myth you have chosen.

Also consider what places relate to this particular myth and what do they teach us.

Topics for discussion:

After having the experience of the trip, your representations of knowledge will probably change becoming more specific and less abstract. The deeply situated knowledge you will experience will give more meaning and understanding to concepts and sites.

After your field trip, try to answer again the generative questions that were posed at the beginning of this presentation. Have your answers changed? In what way?

Gather data from your activity and record notes on your reasoning of this case for later analysis and reporting (and publishing on the QFK Web).

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