It’s All Greek to Me!

Literary Lesson

Ms. Katia Calejo

Email: kcalejo@dadeschools.net
School: Westland Hialeah Senior High School
School Code: 7049
Phone: 305-818-3000
Fax: 305-818-3001

For information concerning IMPACT II opportunities, Adapter and Disseminator

grants, please contact:

The Education Fund

305-892-5099, Ext. 18
e-mail: Lvalle@educationfund.org
web site: www.educationfund.org
 Table of Contents

Goals & Objectives & Course Outline/Overview …. 1

Lesson Plans ………………………………... 2-7
Differentiated Instruction Activities …………… 8
A.B.C. Book Project Requirements ……………. 9-10
Resources …………………………………… 11
 Course Outline/Overview
The goal of this project is to enhance critical thinking and writing skills not only in
reading, but across the content areas in a creative yet educative manner.

Goals & Objectives

Sunshine State Standards
The student will be able to:

 apply critical thinking skills to a selection with evidence from the selection to
support an opinion.

 respond and interpret materials read in a variety of ways.

 use multiple strategies to develop grade appropriate vocabulary.

 use a variety of reading strategies to comprehend text.

 use prewriting strategies to generate ideas and formulate a plan.

 write a draft appropriate to the topic, audience, and purpose.

 revise and refine the draft for clarity and effectiveness.

 edit and correct the draft for standard language conventions.

 write a final product for the intended audience.

 develop and demonstrate persuasive writing that is used for the purpose of
influencing the reader.

 effectively apply listening and speaking strategies.

 use a systematic process for the collection, processing, and presentation of

information.
Week of: __________________________________ Grade: ________
Quarter: _______

Essential Question: What Influences How You Act? Theme: Choices & Consequences

Sunshine State Standard:

The student will be able to:

 apply critical thinking skills to a selection with evidence from the selection to support
an opinion.

 respond and interpret materials read in a variety of ways.

 use multiple strategies to develop grade appropriate vocabulary.

 use a variety of reading strategies to comprehend text.

 use prewriting strategies to generate ideas and formulate a plan.

 write a draft appropriate to the topic, audience, and purpose.

 revise and refine the draft for clarity and effectiveness.

 edit and correct the draft for standard language conventions.

 write a final product for the intended audience.

 develop and demonstrate persuasive writing that is used for the purpose of influencing
the reader.

 effectively apply listening and speaking strategies.

 use a systematic process for the collection, processing, and presentation of

information.
 Weekly Benchmark/s Assessed:

LA.A.1.4.2 – Word Analysis LA.A.2.4.4 – Information Evaluation

LA.A.2.4.2 – Author’s Purpose LA.A.2.4.7 - Information Analysis

LA.A.2.4.1 – Main Idea LA.A.2.4.8 – Information Synthesis

State Adopted Textbook/Materials: The Trojan War by Homer

Vocabulary Enrichment

Students will create a word map & short story with their vocabulary words to ensure
comprehension of the story.

Assessment/s

 Classwork  Participation  Reading/Writing Strategy/ies:

 Test  Oral Reading

 Homework  Project

Homework

 Monday – Vocabulary Puzzle.

 Tuesday - Add details to the Sequence of Events Chart.

 Wednesday – Students will create a short story using their vocabulary words.

 Thursday - Students will study for their vocabulary test.

 Friday - Complete final draft of persuasive essay.

Day 1

1.) The students will complete the K and W section of their KWL Charts and will create a
prediction on what they believe caused the Trojan War.

2.) Afterwards, the students will share their charts with the class.

3.) Students will analyze the following quote: All is fair in love and war. Who is to say it’s
unfair if a trick works to achieve its purpose ….
4.) The teacher will review key vocabulary words before reading the selection to aide in
the comprehension of the story.

Day 2

1.) Before students read the story, they will create a word map for each of their

vocabulary words. Students will then share the word maps with their class.

2) After completing their word maps, the class will begin reading the selection

(pages: 1-2) using jump-in -reading. As the students read, they will fill out their sequence
of events chart (During Reading Activity) and answer the comprehension questions found
in the selection. Students will underline key events in the story to aide in comprehension.

3.) Students will write a brief summary of what they read.

Day 3

1.) The teacher will review what was read and key vocabulary words before continuing the

story.

2) The class will continue reading the selection (Pages: 3-4) using jump-in-reading and

selective underlining. As the students read, they add details to their sequence of events

chart (During Reading Activity).

3.) The teacher will orally probe students, using the FCAT Task cards, to ensure

comprehension of the story.

4.) Students will write a brief summary of what they read in class.
Day 4

1.) The teacher will review what was read and key vocabulary words before continuing the

story.

2.) The class will continue reading the selection (Page 5) using jump-in-reading and

selective underlining. As the students read, they add details to their sequence of events

chart (During Reading Activity).

3.) After finishing the selection, students will complete the comprehension questions and

work on the planning sheet of their persuasive essay.

 Essay Topic: In your opinion, who caused The Trojan War. Use details and examples
from the story to support your opinion.

Day 5

1.) Students will take their vocabulary test.

2.) After the students take their test, they will work on the rough draft & editing stage
of their persuasive essay.

 Essay Topic: In your opinion, who caused The Trojan War. Use details and examples
from the story to support your opinion.


E.L.L /SPED Accommodations

 Visual Materials  Pre-reading Activity  Study Guides

 Cooperative Learning  Paraphrasing  Other:

 Small Group Work  Context Clues

 Buddy System  Jump in Reading

 Direct Language  Modeling

ABC Books - Students will create an A.B.C Book, either digital or hardcopy, on their
chosen god or goddess using details from their research to create their project. (see
attached instructions including rubric)

Biopoems by Vicki Worthing

After becoming somewhat familiar with the gods/goddesses and their relationships,
students write biopoems about each of them.

Format:

1) Greek Name.
2) Four Traits of the Character.
3) Relative of ____ (1-3 people).
4) Lover of _____ (1-3 things or people).
5) Who feels _____ (1-3 things).
6) Who needs ____ (1-3 things).
7) Who fears ____ (1-3 things).
8) Who gives _____ (1-3 things).
9) Who would like to see ____ (1-3 things).
10) Resident of ______.

Example:

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love! Beauty and Fertility. A daughter of Zeus and Dione; wife of
Hephaestus. Lover of sons Aeneas and Cupid and brother Ares. Who protects sailors. Who
needs a chariot. Who fears War, Athena and Hera. Who gives Helen to Paris, a magic
girdle to Hera, and Medea to Jason. Resident of Mt. Olympus. Venus.

 The students can further research the Trojan War and present it to the class using
any technological mode of their choice.

 Students will create a short story using their chosen god or goddess adapting it to
modern times. Gods attributes cannot be changed.

 Students can research famous: Greek authors, Greek wars, philosophers, scientists or
mathematicians and present it to the class.

 Students can research the gods and goddesses and the role they played in the Trojan
War & present it to the class in a creative manner.
 Computer with Power
Point Access.

Internet

List of gods/goddesses

Project Rubric

Education is the kindling of a

flame, not the filling of a vessel
Socrates

(Ancient Greek Philosopher,

470 BC-399 BC)

 “H” is for Hades … or Hera… or Heroes…

Objective: To create an alphabet book in a power point presentation using

characters, symbols, events, etc. from your god/goddess in order to gain deeper
insight and understanding of Greek Mythology.

Each Power Point presentation will include:

Decorated cover slide
Table of contents – What each letter stands for
A slide about your god/goddess – minimum 2 paragraphs
Decorated back slide
24 separate slides for each letter, with a picture included. (X and Z are excluded
unless you have Zeus)

Activity

 You will decide what each of the 24 letters of the alphabet will stand for etc.
 You will have some class time to plan your basic format and work on your project.
 You will work on your project at home as well.
 Each group will meet briefly to make final arrangements and assemble the power
point presentation.
 You are responsible for being on time; grades will be individual.

You have leeway for design and assembly; contents, however, must be true to text,
quoting if/when necessary, and each letter must be fully elaborated and skillfully
written. Although the format is simple, the elaboration of each letter and
corresponding visual are not. Your information should be error free and written in a
mature, educated style. Each letter should be at least three sentences. Paragraphs
should have a topic sentence and appropriate support.

This project is worth 3 letter grades:

1.) Overall Presentation

2.) Content (includes grammar and conventions)
3.) Creativity
The Trojan War by Homer adapted by Ms. Katia Calejo

Sequence of Events Chart – Best Practices in Reading

KWL Chart – CRISS Strategy - www.projectcriss.com

Selective Underlining - CRISS Strategy - www.projectcriss.com

FCAT Reading Task Cards – Miami Dade County district Division of Reading/ Language Arts

Vocabulary Map – www.readingquest.org

Clipart for project: http://www.fotosearch.com

Zeus clipart: www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/15971.html

Hades Clipart: http://clipart.disneysites.com

http://www.clker.com/clipart-13447.html
 All is fair in love and war. Who is to say it’s unfair if a trick works to
achieve its purpose …….

The Apple of Discord

The Trojan War has its roots in Paris chose Aphrodite, and she
the marriage between Peleus and promised him that Helen, wife of
Thetis, a sea-goddess. Peleus and Menelaus, would be his wife. Paris
Thetis had not invited Eris, the then prepared to set off for
goddess of discord, to their Sparta to capture Helen. Twin
marriage and the outraged goddess prophets Cassandra and Helenus
stormed into the wedding banquet tried to persuade him against such
and threw a golden apple onto the action, as did his mother, Hecuba.
table. The apple belonged to, Eris But Paris would not listen and he
said, whoever was the fairest. set off for Sparta.

Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each In Sparta, Menelaus, husband of

reached for the apple. Zeus Helen, treated Paris as a royal
proclaimed that Paris, prince of guest. However, when Menelaus
Troy and thought to be the most left Sparta to go to a funeral,
beautiful man alive, would act as Paris abducted Helen (who perhaps
the judge. went willingly) and also carried off
much of Menelaus' wealth. In Troy,
Hermes went to Paris, and Paris Helen and Paris were married. This
agreed to act as the judge. Hera occurred around 1200 B.C.
promised him power, Athena
promised him wealth, and
Aphrodite promised the most
beautiful woman in the world.

Think Aloud

Who do you think is responsible for starting the war? Be prepared to discuss
your answers with the class. Use examples from the text to support your
opinion.

Page 1
© K.Calejo
 The War Begins
Menelaus, however, was outraged first ship was commanded by his
to find that Paris had taken Helen. son. The other forty-nine,
Menelaus then called upon all of however, were toy clay ships, with
Helen's old suitors, as all of the tiny clay sailors. They dissembled
suitors had made an oath long ago soon after being placed in the
that they would all back Helen's ocean.
husband to defend her honor.
The Greek fleet assembled, under
Many of the suitors did not wish to Agamemnon's inspection, in Aulis.
go to war. Odysseus pretended to However, Agamemnon either killed
be insane but this trick was one of Diana's sacred stags or
uncovered by Palamedes. Achilles, made a careless boast. Either
though not one of the previous way, Diana was outraged and she
suitors, was sought after because caused the seas to become
the seer Calchas had stated that tumultuous that the fleet could not
Troy would not be taken unless take off.
Achilles would fight.
The seer Calchas proclaimed that
One of the most interesting Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon,
stories is of Cinyras, king of must be sacrificed before the
Paphos, in Cyprus, who had been a fleet could set sail. This was done,
suitor of Helen. He did not wish to and the Greek ships set off in
go to war, but promised search of Troy.
Agamemnon fifty ships for the
Greek fleet. True to his word,
Cinyras did send fifty ships. The

Think & Share

Do you think it was wise of the Greeks to put their trust in Calchas, the
seer? Why or Why not?

Page 2
© K.Calejo
 Finding Troy proved Odysseus, known for his eloquence,
difficult, however, and the Greek and Menelaus were sent as
fleet at first landed in Mysia. ambassadors to King Priam. They
According to Herodotus, the demanded Helen and the stolen
Greeks were under the impression treasure be returned. King Priam
that Helen had been taken by the refused, and Odysseus and
Teuthranians (Teucrians), and Menelaus returned to the Greek
though the Teuthranians denied ships with the announcement that
such allegations, the Greeks layed war was inevitable.
siege to the city. The Greeks
ultimately prevailed, but suffered The first nine years of the war

heavy casualties at the hands of consisted of both war in Troy and

Telephus, king of the war against the neighboring

Teuthranians, and, at the end, regions. The Greeks realized that

were still without Helen. Telephus, Troy was being supplied by its

in the course of the war, was neighboring kingdoms, so Greeks

wounded by Achilles. With no were sent to defeat these areas.

where else to turn, the Greeks

As well as destroying Trojan
returned home.
economy, these battles let the

The Trojan War might not have Greeks gather a large amount of

happened had not Telephus gone to resources and other spoils of war.

Greece in the hopes of having his

The Greeks won many important
wound cured. Telephus had been
battles and the Trojan hero
told by an oracle that only the
Hector fell, as did the Trojan ally
person who wounded him (in this
Penthesilea. However, the Greeks
case, Achilles) could cure him.
could not break down the walls of
Achilles assented and Telephus
Troy.
told the Greeks how to get to
Troy. Patroclus was killed and, soon
after, Achilles was felled by Paris.

Page 3
© K.Calejo
A prophet, Helenus told the Once the statue was built by the
Greeks that Troy would not fall artist Epeius, a number of the
unless: Greek warriors, along with
Odysseus, climbed inside. The rest
a) Pyrrhus, Achilles' son, fought in of the Greek fleet sailed away, so
the war, as to deceive the Trojans.
b) The bow and arrows of Hercules
were used by the Greeks against One man, Sinon, was left behind.
the Trojans, When the Trojans came to marvel
c) The remains of Pelops, the at the huge creation, Sinon
famous Eleian hero, were brought pretended to be angry with the
to Troy, and Greeks, stating that they had
d) The Palladium, a statue of deserted him. He assured the
Athena, was stolen from Troy. Trojans that the wooden horse was
safe and would bring luck to the
Phoenix persuaded Pyrrhus to join Trojans.
the war. Philoctetes had the bow
and arrows of Hercules, but had Only two people, Laocoon and
been left by the Greek fleet in Cassandra, spoke out against the
Lemnos because he had been horse, but they were ignored. The
bitten by a snake and his wound Trojans celebrated what they
had a horrendous smell. Philoctetes thought was their victory, and
was bitter, but was finally dragged the wooden horse into
persuaded to join the Greeks. The Troy.
remains of Pelops were gotten, and
Odysseus infiltrated Trojan
defenses and stole the Palladium.
Think, Pair, Share

Still seeking to gain entrance into

At this point of the story, think
Troy, clever Odysseus (some say
about what was the Trojan’s major
with the aid of Athena) ordered a
mistake/s? Would this mistake be
large wooden horse to be built. Its
the downfall of Troy? Why?
insides were to be hollow so that
soldiers could hide within it.

Page 4
© K.Calejo
That night, after most of Troy was After the war, Polyxena, daughter
asleep or in a drunken stupor, of King Priam, was sacrificed at
Sinon let the Greek warriors out the tomb of Achilles and Astyanax,
from the horse, and they son of Hector, was also sacrificed,
slaughtered the Trojans. signifying the end of the war.

Aeneas, a Trojan prince, managed

to escape the destruction of Troy.
Menelaus, who had been
determined to kill his faithless
wife, was soon taken by Helen's
beauty and seductiveness that he
allowed her to live.

The surviving Trojan women were

divided among the Greek men along
with the other plunder. The
Greeks then set sail for home,
King Priam was killed as he huddled
by Zeus' altar and Cassandra was which, for some, proved as
pulled from the statue of Athena. difficult and took as much time as
the Trojan War itself.

Out of the ashes of Troy, Rome arose.

Page 5
© K.Calejo
Student Name:

Period: Date:

Know Want to Know Learned

 ashes
1. United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United
States and English singles championships (1943-1993).
2. Convert into ashes.

boast
1. To brag and talk proudly about something to someone.
2. Speaking of yourself in superlatives.
3. Show off.
4. Wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner.

discord
1. Lack of agreement or harmony.
2. Be different from one another.
3. Disagreement among those expected to cooperate.

felled
1. Cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow.
2. Made to fall (as by striking or cutting or shooting or by illness or
exhaustion). "the felled boxer lay stretched on the canvas" "felled trees
covered the hillside"
3. Pass away rapidly.

inspection A formal or official examination. "we had to wait for the

inspection before we could use the elevator"

persuade
1. Win approval or support for.
2. Cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action;
twist somebody's arm. "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!"

plunder
1. Goods or money obtained illegally.
2. Take illegally; of intellectual property. "This writer plundered from
famous authors"
3. Plunder after capture, as of a town.

prophet
1. An authoritative person who divines the future.

Ms. Calejo © Page 1

2. Someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter
of the will of God.

sacrifice
1. The act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or
fault or failure to perform etc.
2. Endure the loss of.
3. Personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an
objective).

seer
1. A person with unusual powers of foresight.
2. An observer who perceives visually. "an incurable seer of movies"
3. An authoritative person who divines the future.

stupor
1. The feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad
happens accidentally.
2. Marginal consciousness. "someone stole his wallet while he was in a
drunken stupor"

suitor A man who courts a woman.

war
1. Debt incurred by European countries during WWI, much of it owed to the
U.S.
2. The waging of armed conflict against an enemy. "thousands of people
were killed in the war"

Ms. Calejo © Page 2

Student Name __________________________________________________ Date: ______________

"The Trojan Horse” by Homer

1. What is the main conflict in this selection?

The events that led to Troy’s downfall

Paris’s greediness
Zeus’s need to control Troy
Helen’s autobiography of her life in Troy

2. In this text, what does abducted mean?

Contemptuous laughter
Separate the limbs from the body.
to kidnap by force
Make believe.

3. Why was Paris chosen to do the judging?

Paris applied for the job and got it.

He was forced against his will by Hermes
Aphrodite thought he was the best man for the job
Because Zeus thought was the most beautiful man and should be judge

4. Why did Achilles have to fight the war?

a seer claimed Greeks would lose if Achilles did not fight.
Achilles was a good friend of Zeus and volunteered to fight
Calchas told him he’d be banished from Greece if he did not fight
His life was threatened by Menelaus if he did not bring Helen back

5. How many years did the war last?

20 years
15 years
10 years
5 years

6. Who initially started the conflict that eventually became a war?

Eris
Thetis
Helen
Paris
7. Whose idea was it to create a wooden horse to get into Troy ?

Menelaus
Odysseus
Achilles
Sinon

Ms. Calejo © Page 1

8. And finally, what was the outcome of the war?

The Greeks won and from the ashes of Troy Rome arose
The Trojans won and from the ashes of Greece Rome arose
A truce was called and the war ended
The Trojan women took over Troy

9. What would be another good name for this selection?

Troy’s Sadness
The War that Never Ended
The Greek’s Downfall
Troy’s Downfall

10. Explain to your reader lead to Troy’s destruction? Use examples from the story to support your
opinion.

11. In your opinion, what do you was the cause/s that sparked the Trojan War. Use examples from the
story to support your opinion.

Hadrian Answer Key

Ms. Calejo © Page 2

 The Trojan War by Homer
Answer Key

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10. Answers will vary

11. Answers will vary

Total 15 points

Grading Scale:

0 -1 - A 8 - 15 F
2 -3 - B
4 -5 - C
6 -7 - D

Ms. Calejo © Page 3