GREEKGODS

The Ancient Greeks believed in a complex, detailed set of stories--called

myths--that featured a large cast of gods and goddesses, each with different
powers. These myths had a large impact on the way the Greeks behaved in their
daily lives and guided their decisions. In this assignment, you will examine several
websites to learn about Greek mythology and and answer The Big Question
(below).

LearningStandards

Thisassignmentmeetsthe6thGrade
WritingStandard#7:Conductshort
researchprojectstoansweraquestion,
drawingonseveralsourcesand
refocusingtheinquirywhenappropriate.

TheBigQuestion

HowdidthemythologyoftheAncientGreeksinfluence
theirdailylife?

SmallerQuestions

1. AccordingtotheAncientGreeks,howwasEarthcreated?
2. WhoisZeus,andwhatarehispowers?Howdidbelieversfeelabouthim?
3. WhichGreekcitywasnamedaftertheGoddessofWisdom?
4. Whataresomedetailsyoufoundaboutgodsandgoddessthatvary
dependingonthemyth?
5. Howdidtheseancientbeliefsaffectfarmingpractices?
6. WhichplanetsinoursolarsystemarenamedafterGreekgods?
(Hint:theyareactuallynamedafterthegodsRomancounterparts)
7. WhatdidtheAncientGreeksbelieveaboutdeathandtheafterlife?
8. Whichgodhadatasteforwar?Was(s)hepraised,orwas(s)hedisliked?
9. WhowouldAncientGreekspraytoforhealing?
10. Whattypeoffoodwastypicallysavedasanofferingforthegods?

OnlineResources

HistoryforKids:AncientGreekGods
NationalGeographic:ReligionAccordingtoAncientGreeks
TheHistoryChannel:GreekMythology
EncyclopediaMythica:GreekCreationMyths
InternationalWorldHistoryProject:AncientGreece
Olympia,Greece:AncientDailyLife

Directions
1. VisiteachofthewebsiteslistedunderOnlineResourcesandresearchthe10
questionslistedunderSmallerQuestions.
2. AnswereachSmallerQuestion,fortogethertheyhelpyouanswerTheBig
Question.Writeyouranswerisaworddocumentincompletesentences--a
minimumof2sentencesperresponse!
3. Makesureyouarequotingthewebsitesandgivingthemcreditwhenyouuse
theirexactwords.However,mostofeachresponsemustbewritteninyourown
words.
4. Havefun!