Greek Mythology for Kids – A Lesson and a Story

A few weeks ago, I was asked by a Greek school teacher at the Toronto District School Board to come to her Saturday morning Greek language class to teach her kindergarten and grade one students about Greek Mythology.

At first I thought “Wow! Sure! That’ll be great.”

Then I started thinking about it. “Uh oh!”

I had no idea what I was going to talk about. The teacher knew I was an author and said she wanted me to tell a story.

Ok. But which story? Most of the stories in Greek Mythology, let’s face it, involve brutal killing, rapine, incest, and revenge.

Not really tales for the kiddies!

Oh dear…

I began flipping through some kids’ books from the public library and my own collection, serching for something that would work.

I knew I wanted to incorporate a little history lesson first. I mean, hey, I always try and get in the history! So, for that I thought I would try and get them to name the 12 Olympian Gods of ancient Greece. That would be fun.

When it came to the story, I decided on one that was clean, fun, and short. I also wanted one that involved names they might know.

I decided on the story of Athena and Poseidon’s contest for patronage of the city of Athens.

Phew. What a relief!

Now, I won’t lie. I was nervous. Yes, yes, I know. But their just kids!

True. But I’ve taught history to kids at museums and other places in previous jobs, and let me tell you, kids do not mince their words.

“This is BORING!” or “When’s snack time?” are common phrases that some kid in any given group will inevitably call out, no matter how exciting the subject.

Whether I still wanted to do it or not, Saturday arrived and I set off for the school. I had shaved, so as not to look scary, and I wore blue because it is soothing and chills people out. One hopes.

This was my strategy:

·      Do a small intro

·      Ask them to name ancient Greek gods they know until we hit all twelve

·      Tell them the story in animated fashion, using the chalk board to draw pictures

·      Have them work on the fantastic colouring sheets I had found of Athena and Poseidon

I’m happy to say, it all went well. At first the kids were like “Who is this stranger person standing at the back of the room?” But once I started talking about the gods and goddesses whose names were familiar, they began to warm to me. Referring to Disney’s Hercules certainly jogged their memories!

I was going to find my way! I was going to go the distance! Erm, sorry…

Anyway, if they didn’t know the names of a particular god, they certainly related to the trait of that god. Hestia may have been strange to them, but they could certainly understand her as Goddess of the Family (hearth).

So, we got through that, and because there were a couple kids in the audience who were named after Greek gods, they were quite chuffed.

Then I got a “When’s it snack time?” question which the teacher quickly stomped out.

When I told them it was time for a story, they hushed up and bent forward.

Ah, the power of storytelling!

I had written a retelling of the story of the contest for Athens beforehand, but reading from the paper would not have done it. I had memorized it, and told it loud and clear, with sound effects (if you grew up playing with Star Wars toys (as I did), there are always sound effects!).

Their little faces beamed with wonder and I knew I was doing all right. Thank you, Muses!

They even loved my rubbish drawings of the Acropolis, Poseidon’s trident, and Athena’s olive tree as I told the story.

Afterward, I passed around a book from the library on the Parthenon so that they could see the temple that was built on the Acropolis so very long after the events of that story, in honour of the winner of the contest, Athena Parthenos. They loved the visual!

When I mentioned colouring sheets, they all cheered, each wanting to colour both of the gods who were in the story.

I had to run down the hall to make more photocopies!

When the class was finished all the children smiled and thanked me, ‘Kyrios Adam Alexandros’, for coming and talking to them about Greek mythology. A few of the kids were indeed going to Greece this summer and said that they were going to tell their parents the story at dinner that day.

In my few experiences teaching children about history, whatever the period, it has always been a joy to have even a couple children leave the lesson happy, intrigued, and wanting more information. They’re small, but they’re like sponges, and if you teach it in an exciting way, you will reach them.

On this occasion, almost all the children, even the very quiet ones, left happy and excited, eager to show their parents their colouring sheets of Athena and Poseidon.

I needn’t have worried.

The tales of Greek mythology are indeed bloody and explicit, but there are some that can be related safely to a younger audience. There are also many kids’ books that contain tamed-down versions of the stories. One of my favourites is Atticus the Storyteller’s 100 Greek Myths by Lucy Coats and Anthony Lewis.

So, this summer, if you’re looking to entertain your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, with some stories from ancient Greece, don’t be afraid. Give it a go!

If you like, you can use my full retelling of the Contest for Athens story which I’ve put at the bottom of this post.

You’ll be amazed at how much these tales grab children’s attention. After all, they’ve done so for thousands of years!

Thank you for reading!

If you are interested in the ancient Greece colouring sheets, the best ones I found are at http://www.hellokids.com/r_1032/coloring-pages/countries-coloring-pages/greece-coloring-pages/greek-mythology-coloring-pages  They’re free!

Here are a few of the students' colouring pages that went up on the classroom wall:

Here is my retelling of The Contest for Athens:

The Contest for Athens (a story of Athena and Poseidon)

Once, a long, long time ago first king of Athens, King Cecrops (who was part man and part snake!) wanted to find a god who would be the protector of his beautiful city.

Two gods came forward to be the city’s protector: Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Poseidon, the God of the Sea.

They almost fought over it, and just as they were about to attack each other, Athena, being the Goddess of Wisdom, suggested that they should hold a contest for the city. With King Cecrops as the judge, they set up the contest and decided that whoever gave the best gift to the city would win.

A huge crowd of people gathered with King Cecrops as the judge, and they went up to the Acropolis to present their gifts to the city.

Poseidon went first. He lifted his massive trident (three pointed spear) and struck the earth with it. Where the spear struck the ground, a spring of water gushed out of the rock. The people loved it, but as they went closer to taste the water, they discovered that it was salty. Don’t forget that Poseidon was ruler of the sea and the water he controlled was salty, just like the seas he ruled.

Then it was Athena’s turn. She quietly knelt on the rocky ground and buried something. Everyone watched. Everyone was silent. Then, a brilliant green shoot began to grow out of the rock. It grew, and grew, and branches and leaves appeared. It was an olive tree, full of beautiful silver-green leaves, and plump purple olives. The crowd gasped.

This turned out to be a much more useful gift. It gave the people of the city, not only the olives themselves as food, but also the olive oil for their lamps and for cooking their food, as well as the wood from the olive tree to build their boats and houses.

King Cecrops declared Athena the winner of the contest, and the protector of the city which became known as Athens, or in Greek, Athina.

Many, many years later, a Temple of Athena was built on the Acropolis. It is called the Parthenon. This temple had statues of the contest as decoration, and showed Poseidon with his trident, and Athena with her olive tree.

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Queen of the Fairy Gully

This week I have something VERY different from the usual.

My family is moving, and for the last two weeks I’ve been trying to sift through, and eliminate, most of the detritus of years of academic study. That means lots of books (so difficult to cull books!) and papers that I feel pretty sure I will never ever look at.

One thing I did find, and had been looking for, was a binder of some of my early writing.

I found some pieces that I wrote when I was in my mid-teens and feeling particularly romantic about the past and Celtic mythology.

The image here is from one of my favourite books: Mythology of the British Isles, by Geoffrey Ashe.

The Fairy Glen
Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia, Wales

As you can see, it’s a simple black and white photo of a place known as The Fairy Glen which is located in Snowdonia, an unbelievably beautiful region in north Wales.

I don’t know why (nor do I remember), but I was very drawn to this photo. My imagination was really taken with it, and the result was this attempt at a sort of freestyle poem.

I made no conscious attempt at style. I just wrote.

It’s not fantastic. However, it is a glimpse at some of my early inspiration and attempts to express myself through writing. It was even published in my high school paper - my first 'publication'. 

The best part is that recently I read this to my own kids at bed time one night and they LOVED it.

It was one of the most quiet bed times ever and they were all smiles. It was worth writing this all those years ago, just for that one moment of joy.

So, I hope you enjoy this no-blood-or-guts piece inspired by a single photo.

And if you have your own kids or grandkids, perhaps they’ll get something out of it too.

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Queen of the Fairy Gully

There is a place

That man has not sullied,

Peace is always present

In the Fairy Gully.

A soft stream flows

Like sweet music to the ears,

The trees are emerald green

Their leaves shed dewy tears.

The moss-covered rocks

Protrude from the edge.

There the Fairy Queen sits,

The soft moss for her bed.

The fairy kingdom wakes

To see something afloat.

It is two young lovers

Asleep in a boat.

The young man and young woman

Had lately been wed.

The still fresh garlands

Under their tranquil heads.

Both are entwined

As pure as can be,

Love next to love

Ever so softly.

“Look,” said a fairy.

“The boat has hit ground.

We must send it down stream

Without making a sound.”

“Wait,” said the Queen.

“They pose us no threat.

I shall go see

What they dream in their heads.”

So down she went

To the lovers afloat.

Still laying asleep

In their small bridal boat.

The fairies watched

Their queen from up high,

As she placed her wee hands

On the lovers’ closed eyes.

“My dear Queen,” uttered one.

“Is something very wrong?”

“Yes sweet fairy.

They dream a sad song.”

“Their families spoke

And forbid them to wed.

Rather than obey

They picked up and then fled.”

“What do they wish for,” asked another,

“Within these sad dreams?”

“They wish for happiness, peace and love,

For the whole of eternity.”

“Help we will give

To this young couple,

By fulfilling their dreams

And freeing them of troubles.”

“Upon the morn,” declared the Queen,

“Take we them to the place,

To be alone under the Oak.

Untouched by all hate.”

The fairy Cordelia

Came forward to say,

“Dream dust shall I give them

To make sure they will stay.”

So the lovers dreamt dreams

And the fairies did too,

In this lush green world,

Glimmering moonlight and dew.

The early morning sun

Did thread its way down.

That orb shed its light

On the young lovers’ crowns.

The mist was thick

And the water calm,

As the fairies moved the boat

With their otherworld song.

“This deed shall we do,”

The Fairy Queen said.

“This couple will lie

In a warm bridal bed.”

The boat drifted up

To a white sandy shore,

Where a path led away

Through the Fairy world’s door.

Cordelia then spoke

With worry and haste,

“My Queen, how will we take them

To the ever-peaceful place?”

“Fear not, precious fairy.

I know what to do.

Behind that bush

There the stream flows through.”

“Spirits of the wood

Conduct this small boat,

Wherein lie these lovers

Who yet have some hope.”

The bush moved aside

And the boat moved along,

As the fairies sang again

Their ancient forest song.

Closer they came,

And the world all turned bright.

Water, rocks, moss and dew,

The gully flooded with light.

At long last there it was,

The life of this small folk.

Branching out to the sun

Was the old sacred Oak.

Its body was huge

And its limbs full of grace.

The leaves tell a story

Of countless lived days.

Down at the bottom

On the soft ground,

Grows a bed of bluebells

For the couple to sleep sound.

“Now,” said the Queen,

We must do what is best.

On bluebells lay we them

Before they wake from their rest.”

Once more the song came

With ever sweet delight.

The couple was lain

On flowers for that night.

“Fairies return to the wood.

We must not disturb,

These two that I wake.

We must be unheard.”

The fairies obeyed

The words of their Queen,

Who woke the fair couple

Upon the coming of eve.

The moon rose up

And the sun went down.

The couple awoke

To look all around.

“What beautiful place is this?”

Asked the young maid.

“I know not where we be,

But we must always stay.”

“Truly this is,” said the boy,

“A very peaceful place.

Never again shall we bear

Any anger or hate.”

Up above in the leaves

Sat the caring Queen.

A smile on her face,

A tear on her cheek.

“Live as one,” said the Queen.

“Be happy and free.

You will always be safe

In our green Fairy Gully.”

The maid and young man

Do dwell there all along.

At night, as they embrace,

They hear a comforting song.

And so the young lovers

Fulfill their life’s dream.

Due to the precious help

Of the loving Fairy Queen.

Here is the end

Of this ancient story.

New love and old song

In the green Fairy Gully.

END