Greek Myths and Heroes
CONCEPTUALRetell at least one Greek myth involving a hero and a monster — such as Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth, Heracles (Hercules) and the lion, or Perseus and Medusa — and understand that these were stories ancient Greeks told to explain the world and teach lessons
Mastery Evidence
- Retell a Greek myth naming the hero, the monster, and what happened
- Explain that myths were stories the ancient Greeks told to make sense of the world
- Describe what made a Greek hero brave or clever in the story
Assessment Prompt
“Could [child] tell you the story of a Greek hero like Theseus fighting the Minotaur or Heracles fighting the lion, and explain why the Greeks told these stories?”
Prerequisites1
- Greek gods & Mount OlympushardAges 5—7
Show full prerequisite tree
- Greek gods & Mount Olympus hard
Hero myths reference the gods (Heracles is Zeus's son, Athena helps Perseus)
- Egyptian Gods and the Afterlife soft
Greek gods build on prior understanding that ancient civilisations believed in many gods (Egyptian polytheism)
- Vocabulary: ancient egypt hard
Knowing about pharaohs requires the term 'pharaoh' and associated vocabulary
- 3-D shapes soft
Recognising pyramids as a named 3D geometric shape makes study of the Great Pyramid's physical structure more concrete
- Vocabulary: ancient egypt hard
Describing the pyramids and Sphinx requires 'pyramid', 'sphinx', and related vocabulary
- Vocabulary: ancient egypt hard
Describing the afterlife and burial beliefs requires 'mummy', 'sarcophagus', 'tomb' vocabulary
- Egypt, the Nile, and the Desert soft
Greece & Rome geography builds on Ancient Egypt geography — both Mediterranean civilisations, Egypt came first chronologically
Unlocks1
- Troy: Myth or History?hardAges 11—13