Greek Mythology Lesson Plans

Teaching Resources for Educators

Greek mythology is one of the most rewarding subjects to teach at any level. The stories naturally engage students with their drama, violence, romance, and moral complexity, while connecting to virtually every other subject in the curriculum.

For elementary students, start with creation myths and the Olympian gods. Have students create their own god or goddess with specific powers, symbols, and a domain. This teaches creative writing while introducing the mythological framework. For middle school, pair myth readings with modern retellings like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. Students can compare the original myths to Riordan's adaptations and analyze what he changed and why. This builds critical thinking and analytical skills. For high school, teach the Iliad and Odyssey alongside historical context about Bronze Age Greece and the Trojan War. Students can debate ethical questions: Was Achilles right to refuse to fight? Was Odysseus's treatment of the suitors justified? Cross-curricular connections are natural. In science class, discuss how planets got their names from mythology. In psychology, explore Freud and Jung's use of mythological concepts. In art, study how Renaissance painters interpreted classical myths. In philosophy, examine how Plato used myth as allegory.