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Learning Objectives 

Students will: 

• Identify forces that help shape and/or change cultural fabric, patterns, and tone.
• Describe the term syncretism. 
• Discuss the influence of ancient Greece on modern thought and culture. 
• Research and gather information about ancient Greek figures, culture, and thought. 
• Create a musical composition, travel episode, monologue, or podcast. 

Standards Alignment

National Core Arts StandardsNational Core Arts Standards

Common Core State StandardsCommon Core State Standards

Recommended Student Materials

Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.

Websites

• Deep Roots of Ancient Greece

Teacher Background

Teachers should be familiar with ancient Greek history and culture. This is the second lesson designed to accompany the Deep Roots of Ancient Greece lesson.

Student Prerequisites 

Students should be familiar with the lesson Deep Roots of Ancient Greece and have some knowledge of the history, culture, ethos, and art of ancient Greece. 

Accessibility Notes

Modify handouts, text, and utilize assistive technologies for the research and art-making process. Provide preferential seating for visual presentations and allow extra time for task completion.

Engage

1. Review the term “ethos” with students from the first lesson in this unit, Deep Roots of Ancient Greece. Have students define some specific ways the ethos (i.e.: cultural “spirit,” “character,” or “tone”) of a person, civilization, or system might be revealed. Possible responses may include prevailing behavioral patterns; rituals; design of government-strict control or individual freedom; nature of leadership; class structure or lack thereof; attitude toward education; fashions; concept of luxury; patterns in use of leisure time; interior design; technology; architecture, both design and materials used in construction; food; what is most valued; nature of indigenous fine and performing arts and crafts; materials used in arts and crafts; themes and forms of literature.

2. Introduce the words “syncretism” and “syncretize” to students. Share a dictionary definition, for example: 

“The reconciliation or union of conflicting beliefs or tenets.” 

“To fuse or harmonize conflicting principles and/or practices (for instance, rituals, forms of faith; fusion of languages).” 

“The process of growth through the coalescence of different beliefs, attitudes, and practices.”

3. Engage students in a discussion. What examples from history helped shape and sustain cultural attitudes, habits, values, institutional designs, concepts of morality, roles, and rituals? Possible responses may include ethnic bonds; religion; school; laws; nature of court system; formal documents such as a constitution; war; family outlook and practices; visual art; the oral tradition of storytelling; myths; legends; dance; enduring works of literature. 

Build

1. Explore examples of specific cultural realignments brought about through the infusion of a conflicting ideology, the cultural impact of conquering, or being conquered. Explain that ancient Greek culture, as we know it, grew out of such a synthesis process, made cohesive in our perception of it through the written manuscripts, the architectural wonders, the sculptures, and the rich, provocative discoveries of artifacts uncovered in generations of archeological digs. 

-The incredible range and intellectual richness of Greek philosophical thought recorded in writing.

-The compelling narratives of Greek myths.

-The aesthetic beauty of the architecture, vases, coins, and sculpture.

-The draw of formal patterns and imaginative and universal themes of ancient Greek literature.

-The haunting themes and forms of the three great Tragedians.

-Homer’s written narratives culled from oral tradition that read like history and speak to man’s desire to learn about the past.

2. Share historical background with students. Tell students that although segments of Western culture have been modified through such forces as syncretism and many surface aspects have changed throughout historical time, the incredibly wide and deep roots of ancient Greece still impact modern Western thought and culture.

3. Divide students into discussion groups. Have each group locate examples of the influence of ancient Greece on modern Western thought and culture.See the following topics:

-Concepts of government and law.

-Postures on such issues as morality, metaphysics, behavioral models, and social patterns.

-Theories of logic, science, medicine, math, education.

-The nature and value of sports; patterns of rhetoric, of the heroic and the well-lived life.

-Inspirational designs in architecture and the arts, a rich heritage of formal literature.

-Music theory and musical instruments.

-Inspiration for dance; and the origin and nature of the compelling narratives and provocative images of myths and legends threaded throughout all genres of modern arts expression.

4. Allow time for students to explore the topics and locate examples. Facilitate through the groups, providing feedback and suggestions for research resources. 

Apply

1. Tell students they will select an arts integration project to pursue. Students will choose from developing a musical composition, shooting a travel episode, writing and performing a monologue, or creating a podcast. Distribute the resource, , to all students. 

2. Have students research and gather information related to the project theme and art form. Students will need to acquire enough research to develop their musical composition, travel episode, monologue, or podcast. 

3. Allow time for students to develop their art form. Share the following planning suggestions for each art form with students. 

Musical Composition - determine the instrumentation and musical structure, define the melodies and techniques. 

Travel Episode - Create a storyboard and script to plan the travel story. Select appropriate music and narration for the episode. 

Monologue - Draft a script with a developed plot structure. Include necessary props for the monologue performance. 

Podcast - Determine the podcast style (interview, narrative, or multi-host). Plan the main elements of the podcast including an intro, main content, and an outro. Select appropriate music for the intro and outro of the episode. 

4. Confer with students as they create their musical composition, travel episode, monologue, or podcast. Provide necessary equipment and resources to each group. 

Reflect 

1. Introduce the musical compositions, travel episodes, monologues, or podcasts to an audience. Students should give the audience background about their topic and how their research supported them through the creation process.

2. Assess students’ knowledge of Greek influence through their art form and follow-up discussion with a reflection. Display the writing prompt: How do the musical compositions, travel episodes, monologues, or podcasts relate to modern thought, events, and culture? What connections did you make between ancient Greece and modern society?