Time:
10-15 days. Several activities may affect the length of The Odyssey
unit
Materials:
TV/VCR, overhead projector and tape recorder
A Classroom set of the McDougall-Litell Textbook.
The students will also have one to take home Complete text of The Odyssey
The movie version of The Odyssey Chalk
A Class copy of The Odyssey packets
Transparencies Copies of various handouts that will aid the student
during the unit (i.e. background info, research guidelines, unit projects,
journal topics, and etc.) The media center reserved for two days for
technology days On-line References to pass out
Each day that we read the students will be expected to keep a journal
response of what they learned. This will be check periodically throughout
the unit to find out what themes or concepts need to be revisited.
________________________________________________________________________
Day 1
There will be an introduction to Greek Literature (customs, society,
Greek gods, and mythology). The students will be handed the unit syllabus.
We will briefly discuss all the items listed and I will answer any questions.
However, I will not spend a lot of time on the research paper. I will
dedicate another day for that.
We will also talk about what little is known about Homer and his poem
The Odyssey.
By the time we finish with the handouts and the discussion class will
be ready to end.
Homework:
Make a journal entry regarding what they expect to happen in The Odyssey.
Day 2
Read, discuss and take notes on books 9 and of The Odyssey. "We
will also briefly review books 1 through 8 for background information.
Homework: The students will make an entry in their journals regarding
their impression of book 9. They should also write any confusing ideas
they may have. They are also required to write down the list of characters
that are present in this book.
Day 3
Review previous day's reading. Read and discuss and take notes on books
10 and 12.
Homework: The students are required to make an entry into their journals.
They are also asked to answer the critical analysis questions at the
end of book and 10.
Day 4
Review previous day's reading. Explain what took place in book 11.
Read and discuss book 12.
Homework: The students are required to write a response to the assigned
topic in their journals. There was also given a comprehension worksheet
that they were given the remaining class period to finish or take home
for those who do not finish in class.
Day 5
Collected the homework and reviewed book 12. We also watch a bit of
the movie version of The Odyssey. There will be movie review questions
that they will be expected to complete during the viewing of the film.
Homework: The students are required to write in their journals based
on the provided journal topic.
Day 6 -Technology Day
Today the students will go to the media center and begin their research
papers. They are asked to find at least one source and to write notes
regarding their findings. I will provide the students will web sites
to they can use as well how to use the Internet do conduct research.
Homework: The students are asked to organize the materials they gathered
from their research.
Day 7-Technology Day
The students are giving another day to conduct research via the computer
or reference materials. They will be asked to provide the teacher with
two resources and notes by the end of class for the 1st grade toward
the research paper.
Homework: Work on the research paper:
Day 8
Today we will discuss the mechanics of a research paper. This will include:
quotes, works cited page, title page, parenthetical documentation, length,
etc. The students will be given several handouts as a model as well
as instruction from the overhead. The entire class will be dedicated
to the research paper and all questions that come up.
The students will also be given the research paper rubric so they are
aware of how they will be graded.
Homework: The student will be asked to continue working on their research
paper.
Day 9
Watch part of the movie version of The Odyssey.
Homework: Continue working on the research papers.
Day 10
Rough-drafts will be due. We will spend the class doing peer editing
and I will conduct mini-writing conferences with the students as well.
Homework: Work of the final version of their papers.
Day 11
The final papers will be due. The class will start book 21. I will
give the class a brief description of what took place between books
12 and 20.
Homework: Respond to the journal topic provided.
Day 12
Review previous day's readings
Read and discuss books 22 and 23.
Homework: Respond to the journal topic and complete the responding
questions. Also review and prepare for the first unit test. The students
are advised that The Odyssey packets will be due with all journal entries
and notes taken during the unit.
Days 13, 14, 15
Test days
All materials are due for a grade: journals responses, responding questions,
Odyssey packets, and late research papers.
If time permits we will watch the rest of the movie.
End of Unit