Gods and Goddesses of the Greek and Roman Pantheon A Web Quest for 7th Grade World History by Ms. Collison
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Introduction This semester, we’ve begun learning about Ancient Rome. We’ve discovered elements that made Rome a successful civilization, as well as elements that eventually led to its demise. Now, we’re going to delve a bit deeper into the focus of the Romans’ spiritual practices: the worship of the Gods and Goddesses of the Roman Pantheon. These deities (Gods and Goddesses) were “borrowed” from the Greeks and assigned new names. (Zeus becomes Jupiter, Hera becomes Juno, Poseidon becomes Neptune, etc.) A common idea in psychology tells us that all people contain within them God and Goddess “archetypes” (patterns or symbols) that guide their personalities and actions. This idea leads us to our “Big Question”…
If you were one of the Greek/Roman Gods or Goddesses, which one do you think you’d be?
The Task
Throughout the course of this project you will have the opportunity to: ● Explore the many deities of Greece and Rome, including their origins and personal attributes; ● Identify and Research a God or Goddess that sounds of particular interest; ● Create a Google Slides presentation on your God or Goddess; and ● Present this information to your table group. NOTE: You will not be graded your oral presentation. Your final graded product will be a Google Slides presentation uploaded though our Google Classroom.
The Process
For this WebQuest, you will individually: 1. Watch the first video “The Greek Gods” listed in the “Sources to Use as You Research” to gain an initial understanding of the major Gods and Goddesses. 2. Read about all of the Gods, Goddesses, and other major deities listed in the chart below by visiting one of the remaining sites. Then, pick ONE deity, one God or Goddess that interests you most. (Perhaps you could choose one that you think you are most similar to!) NOTE: Some of the lesser deities (Persephone, Prometheus, etc.) will note have information on all sites. The “Encyclopedia Mythica” will probably be your greatest resource for these deities. Consider this option if you’re looking for an extra challenge! 3. Visit all of the remaining sites in “Sources to Use as You Research” below and take notes on your God or Goddess of choice. 4. You will then create a Google Slides presentation focusing on this one God or Goddess 5. Your five body slides must answer five questions: What is your God/Goddess’ name in Greek? In Roman? Who are your God/Goddess’ parents? What is your God/Goddess’ primary concern? What does he/she control? What attributes does your God/Goddess’ possess? What are his/her symbols? What do you find most interesting about this God/Goddess, and/or how are you most like this God/Goddess? 6. Once your Google Slides presentation is complete, use the link at the top of our Google Classroom page to submit your project.
Goddesses and Other Female Deities Gods and Other Male Deities Hera/Juno Zeus/Jupiter Aphrodite/Venus Poseidon/Neptune Artemis/Diana Hades/Pluto Athena/Minerva Ares/Mars Demeter/Ceres Apollo Hestia/Vesta Hephaestus/Vulcan Persephone/Proserpina Hermes/Mercury Dionysus/Bacchus Prometheus
Sources to Use as You Research: “The Greek Gods” Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCm8W5RZes The British Museum: http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/gods/explore/exp_set.html “The Encyclopedia Mythica”: http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/roman_vs_greek.html “Greek Gods and Goddesses”: http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/
Evaluation You will be graded for the overall final product of your Google Slides presentation. Please review this rubric carefully before submitting your project on Google Classroom.
Beginning 1 Developing 2 Accomplished 3 Exemplary 4 Score
The student’s The student’s The student’s The student’s Ideas presentation understanding of understanding of understanding of does reflect an his/her God or his/her God or his/her God or understanding of Goddess is Goddess is Goddess is well his/her God or underdeveloped underdeveloped developed and Goddess. It because the in one or two thoughtfully misses many or student misses a places but address the all key points in few key points in addresses the required addressing the addressing the required questions. required required questions. questions. questions.
Ideas are not Ideas are cited Ideas are Ideas are cited OR cited on a References correctly cited correctly cited are improperly slide, but may on a References on a References cited. contain one or slide. slide. two errors.
Organization Logical Google Slides Google Slides Google Slides and organization is presentation is presentations i presentation is not used in confusing at logical effective and Appearance Google Slides times and throughout. All logical presentation, doesn’t follow a slides follow the throughout. All and information logical sequence sequence of slides are clearly is given at OR slides are questions asked, labeled and random. poorly labeled. but could be follow the better labeled. sequence of questions asked.
The overall More effort The presentation The presentation appearance of could be put is thoughtfully looks the presentation into the visual designed. Each professionally is distracting. presentation. slide contains designed. Each Most slides or all Most slides one picture. slide contains slides are missing contain a more than a picture. picture. picture.
Conclusion As we complete this project, we’ll have the opportunity to reflect on what the identities of these Gods and Goddesses tells us about the lives of the Roman people. What do you think the Roman people valued most? Why do you think they prayed to certain deities for guidance in certain area? Keep these values in mind as we move forward into our study of Medieval Europe and other civilizations to see how they may compare.
Credits & References
The British Museum. Ancient Greece - Gods and Goddesses. Retrieved February 29, 2016, from http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/gods/explore/exp_set.html
Cirla, A. (2013, April 11). "The Greek Gods" Retrieved February 28, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCm8W5RZes
Greek Gods and Goddesses • Facts and Information. Retrieved February 29, 2016, from http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/
Roman vs Greek. Retrieved February 29, 2016, from http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/roman_vs_greek.html
Singleton Copley, J. (1754). The Return of Neptune [Painting found in American Paintings and Sculpture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York]. Retrieved February 28, 2016, from http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10534