For eight Saturdays in January and February, members of the NCDS Classics Committee volunteered their mornings to lead a series of classes on Greek mythology. Each class was designed by the students to be an engaging, relevant, and inclusive introduction for elementary school students to the world of the ancient Greeks.
The classes connected Upper School students with 10 local children in order to expand access to the cultures and mythology of the ancient world. The force behind their work was Sacred Heart Goal III - committing themselves to educate to a social awareness which impels action - as well as a belief that everyone should have access to the classical tradition.
“Greek mythology is everywhere, from commercial branding such as Nike sneakers and the Honda Odyssey minivan, to everyday speech. If I describe the streets in downtown Boston as labyrinthian, understanding the mythology of the Greek labyrinth is key to grasping my reference,” explained Classics Committee co-head G. Ryan ’20.
Committee members brainstormed activities to present, determined who would lead each session, and reflected on the impact of each completed class during their weekly committee meeting time. Each student also utilized her Wise Freedom time in between the meetings and classes to dig deeper into the myths and thoughtfully consider the stories they wanted to share, in addition to preparing materials necessary for the lesson.
After preparing the scope and sequence of the lessons, NCDS girls became teachers armed with a curriculum that was focused on having fun and spreading the love of learning. The goals of the course were that, upon completion, their students would be able to capably discuss aspects of Greek culture and its influence on the present, as well as identify major characters and narratives from mythology.
“Early study of Greek mythology can help students understand these references in everyday speech and in their reading,” said Classic Committee co-head M. Hayes ’20. “Unfortunately, not all students learn about mythology in elementary school. Our program is designed to provide equal opportunities for students of all backgrounds.”
The course concluded with a celebration of student learning with various games that included decorating Medusa cupcakes with gummy snake hair and playing “Pin the Eye on the Cyclops.”
“It was a great experience,” said L. Winchenbaugh ’20. “We had fun teaching and really enjoyed watching the children hear these classic stories for the first time.”