Digitally Telling the Story of Greek Figures

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Collection of books on Greek figures
• Classroom with whiteboard, LCD projector, or interactive whiteboard, and Shockwave software on computer
• Computers with Internet access, microphones, and headphones
• Index cards
• Sandwich baggies or rubber bands

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   1 – 6  |  Student Interactive  |  Inquiry & Analysis

Fact Fragment Frenzy

Fact Fragment Frenzy provides elementary students with an online model for finding facts in nonfiction text, then invites students to find facts in five sample passages.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Greek Figures
• Digital Storytelling Project
• Taking Notes for a Research Project
• Storyboard
• Microsoft Photo Story Instructions
• Introductions and Conclusions
• Photo Story Rubric
• Greek Figures Booklist

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WEBSITES

• FactCite
  

  This is a subscription database that contains the Lincoln Library of Greek and Roman Mythology, which is an excellent resource available in print, too.  The reading level is appropriate for middle schoolers and students are allowed to use the images in their homework assignments.

   

• Mythweb
  

  This website is a good place for students to start their research as the articles are short and very basic; however, not all Greek figures on the print-out are at this site.

   

• Encyclopedia Mythica
  

  This website is a great resource for folklore, mythology, and religion from around the world.  Furthermore, it shows how to cite the articles.

   

• EasyBib
  

  This website can make creating a Works Cited page an easy task.

   

• Microsoft Photo Story 3
  

  This website is for the free software that needs to be installed on computers (without Windows 7) to produce digital stories.

   

• Voice Thread
  

  If using computers with Windows 7, this Web 2.0 tool can produce digital stories without background music.

   

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PREPARATION

1. This lesson is intended for classrooms in which an LCD projector is available so that the final project can be shared.  If the classroom does not have an LCD projector available, reserve a projector for the last two days of the project so that the final products can be shared.
2. Check with the school librarian for materials on Greek gods, heroes, and creatures.  Each student will need to have one print resource, so allow time for the school librarian to interlibrary loan materials if that is a possibility for your school.
3. Reserve time in your school computer lab.  You will need four class periods for researching and five for creating the digital story.  If you are using computers without Windows 7, Microsoft Photo Story 3 will need to be downloaded.  Check that microphones and headsets will be available.
4. Have the three websites listed for student research bookmarked on the school computers: FactCite, Mythweb, and Encyclopedia Mythica.
5. Print out the following resources for students:
   • Greek Figures (1 for each pair of students)
     
   • Digital Storytelling Project (1 for each student)
   • Taking Notes for a Research Project (1 for each student)
   • Storyboard (10 for each pair of students)
   • Photo Story Instructions (1 for each pair of students)
   • Introductions and Conclusions (1 for each student)
   • Photo Story Rubric (1 for each pair of students)

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