Welcome to "A Mythological Look into the Oceans!" Contained within the following unit of lesson plans you will find ideas and activities that will guide students to a greater understanding of ocean mythology in its various forms. From Greek and Roman gods to the Bermuda Triangle, this unit seeks to help students explore and appreciate the mythological wonders within the oceans of the world.
The core book of this unit, The Voyage of Odysseus by James Reeves, is a young adult version of Homer's epic poem that is accessible to middle school students and teachers. Through the adventures of Odysseus, students will encounter mythological gods, monsters, and locales that will become the focal point for this two-week excursion into the imagination.
The lessons found within this unit are merely a guide for teachers who choose to embark upon this journey with their students. Because of this, the plans are specifically designed to be flexible in all areas to allow teachers the freedom to amend them as necessary in order to meet the specific curricular and learning goals of their classrooms. In addition to adjustable lesson plans, the authors included an outline detailing their vision for the implementation of this unit; however, it is simply a suggestion and is intended only as a guide for those interested in utilizing the unit as a whole. Similarly, the rubrics created to assess and evaluate student performance on the various activities in this unit are subject to the differing needs of each classroom. They may be adjusted to conform to the standards of evaluation and self-assessment each teacher sets for his or her students.
The lesson plans in this unit were developed in accordance with the following long term goals:
(1) Over the course of the unit, students will gain an understanding of the relevance of content area integration.
(2) Students will come to appreciate the myths and legends of the oceans that have
encompassed mythological tradition for centuries.
(3) Through various pedagogical methods, students will discover a plethora of adolescent
literature that will allow them to take "a mythological look into the oceans."
Using these objectives as a guide, the authors designed a unit that integrates the content areas, incorporates different instructional methodologies, and fosters students' needs for quality young adult literature.
The following materials will capture the imagination of students and teachers alike, and the authors invite you to incorporate them in your classroom as you see fit. Please take a moment now to peruse the lesson plans and rubrics of this unit and allow yourself to be enchanted by a "mythological look into the oceans."
--The Authors
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