Title of the resource
Title of the resource in english
Publisher
Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
According to the publisher, "the webpage for the Curricular Resources of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute allows users to search for thousands of curriculum units in STEM and the humanities. These units were written by Institute Fellows in local seminars in New Haven led by Yale University faculty members between 1978, the year the Institute was founded, and 2019. These units are readily adaptable for use throughout pre-college grades.
Users can browse and search for these units using keywords, our topical index, and our listings of units by year and by volume. The topical index might be especially useful to audiences of your project interested in curriculum units about mythology, Ancient Greece, and other subjects related to Antiquity.
URL: https://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/
For similar content, see also the Yale National Initiative
URL: https://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/search/start"
Original language
Target and Age Group
Middle school and High school, 7th, 8th class
Link to resource
Accessed on 25 June, 2020
Author of the Entry:
Ayelet Peer, Bar- Ilan University, ayelet.peer@biu.ac.il
Peer-reviewer of the Entry:
Lisa Maurice, Bar-Ilan University, lisa.maurice@biu.ac.il
Second Peer-reviewer of the Entry:
Susan Deacy, University of Roehampton, s.deacy@roehampton.ac.uk
Kelley O’Rourke
Kelley O’Rourke is part of a group of seventy-nine teachers from New Haven, who organised seminars on topics related to curriculum developments between March and August 1983, including one on The seminar entitled “Greek and Roman Mythology”, led by William G. Thalmann, Associate Professor of Classics from USC.
Contents & Purpose
This unit focuses on the character of the Titan Prometheus and his heroism towards humankind. The creator aims to use the myths of Prometheus as part of a theatre curriculum and study of the Greek theatre. The activities involve: reading assignments, listening skills, creative writing (playwriting Exercise) dramatic speaking, dramatization of the myth, making a mask, creating original playsets and study of the Greek theatre, creative movement (game of statues).
The creator emphasizes the importance of storytelling, in reference to the ancient oral tradition. The lessons begin with the stories followed by the various activities. The students work in groups and in pairs.
The mythological themes explored in this unit are: the creation of the world, the Titanomachy, the reign of Zeus, the creation of humankind by Prometheus, the gift of fire, Prometheus bound, Pandora.
The unit provides sample lessons as well as recommended reading for teachers and students. The creator notes the use of various ancient sources on mythology as well as ancient texts for example. Hesiod’s Theogony, Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green, Prometheus Creates Man by Barbara Drake, D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths.
Further comments
This unit emphasizes storytelling as well as creative writing and performance. The teacher and the students read different myths on Prometheus and their dramatization is aimed to bring the stories to life. This approach is meant to entertain the students as well as educate them on dramatic structure, Greek mythology and theatre, ancient and modern. Furthermore, the creator believes the students can relate to Prometheus as a rebel and as someone who stood up for his beliefs. He is a positive role model who suffered for humankind but did not regret his actions. The activities explore the “dramatic conflict” in the myths, as the creator notes, “his unit is intended to explore this dramatic conflict and the character of the creature who was pivotal in not only saving man but in giving him the means to live his life, “blind hope,” and not to know of his ultimate end. Prometheus, the Firebringer, will ask students to challenge the world around them as they dramatize his myths, accept his gifts, and enter the world of theatre.” The unit hence bridges between the ancient myth to modern interstation of it and its performance. The symbolic gift of Prometheus is explored and materializes via the dramatic presentation of his myths.
