This week’s theme:
Mysterious Places – Ancient Greece
Fact of the day:
The Greeks believed their gods lived high above Mount Olympus, in a palace in the clouds.
Resources list:
Brown and green cloth, cotton wool; paper/card and pens; cardboard box, elastic bands; bucket of water, pebbles, rice.
Activity 1:
Make a Mount Olympus. On a tabletop, cover something tall with brown/green fabric to create an upright mountain shape. At the top, use cotton wool to create clouds and a palace for the gods to live in. Or, build a Mount Olympus from clay, plasticine, lego, or wet sand. Share them with us our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or send it to melanie@purplepatcharts.org and we’ll put it online for you!
Activity 2:
There are 12 main Greek Gods and Goddesses. Each of them had responsibilities and functions. Come up with actions for each of them, to act out what they were like, and what they were in charge of. For example, as Poseidon, act out the motion of the sea’s waves, and the power and energy of a wild storm. As Artemis practice your archery and pull back your imaginary bow and arrow. As Hermes, run around your house delivering messages or notes to different people. As Hera, act out a wedding ceremony – make yourself a veil! As Ares, show us your muscles!
Activity 3:
Each of the 12 main Greek Gods and Goddesses have a symbol that is associated with them (doves, lightning bolts, bunch of grapes, etc). Create a big Greek doodle by drawing all of the symbols on a sheet of paper. Share your doodles with us on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or send it to melanie@purplepatcharts.org and we’ll put it online for you!
Activity 4:
Ancient Greeks believed that the gods and goddesses gave humans different talents and skills. If you were good at playing music, you would give thanks to the god of music. If you were good at sports, cooking, or learning, you would thank the gods responsible for that. What are your talents and skills? Can you find the God or Goddess that matches? Make and write a thank you card to the God or Goddess!
Activity 5:
One of Apollo’s symbols is the Lyre. The Lyre was a popular instrument at many Ancient Greek festivals, it’s a bit like a small harp and musicians play it by strumming or plucking it. Hear it being played here or here. It was sometimes used to accompany singing or poetry readings. Make a cardboard and elastic band version of a Lyre like here or here.
Activity 6:
Zeus was god of lightning and thunder and Poseidon was God of the seas, water, storms, and hurricanes. Make a soundscape to capture the power of these two Gods. You could:
Slosh water in a bottle, bucket or washing up bowl to make the splashing, pouring and swishing noise of the storm waves; howl like the stormy wind; put some rice/lentils/peas in a Tupperware box and rattle it to sound like the persistent rain crashing down; try wobbling cardboard to sound like thunder, or crashing some pans together and flicking a torch on and off for lightning; drop pebbles in a washing up bowl of water to make the sound of heavy droplets; hold onto your hat and act out getting blown away, or stand in front of a fan; make pattering rain sounds with your hands on your thighs; drop rice onto paper to make rain sounds.