5 Greek Myths

Common Core

Close Reading ELA Unit Myths Set 1 With Text Coding Guides, Extension Activities, Text Dependent Questions 5 Week Unit w/ HW Dear Teachers, This is your one stop Myth shop! It has everything you need and more! Each question relies completely on text evidence. I have seen teachers in dozens of classrooms implement procedures and techniques to help their students get closer to the author of text. Each teacher has their own style. We are all unique and interpret our professional learning experiences differently. From the ways we read with a pen to annotating in the margins. Teachers everywhere implement different procedures--- all of which have the same result--- creating students who are reading closely and are text dependent. Each passage is also at the end of the unit free of borders. I did this so that you can have students write notes in the margin and code the text.

Find an error? Have a suggestion? Want to ask a question? Please help maintain the integrity of TpT and contact the seller first. Use the contact form at http://www.247teacher.us/contact/ I love making new friends and would love to hear about your success. I truly welcome communication regarding success and joys with my material. A lot of hard work goes into developing these units. Feel free to send any communication at any time. Text Complexity Bands and Associated Lexile Ranges Text Complexity Old Lexile Lexile Ranges DRA Fountas & Grade Band in Ranges Aligned to CCR Pinnell the Standards Expectations K-1 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2-3 450-725 450-790 18-40 J-Q 4-5 645-845 770-980 40-50 Q-W 6-8 960-1115 1080-1305 N/A N/A 11-CCR 1070-1220 1215-1355 N/A N/A

www.247teacher.us ©24/7 Teacher Answer Key for Text Evidence Passages

King Midas and the Golden Touch 1. Counted his coins/ Greed 2. Money made King Midas happy. 3. King Midas learned that money can bring sadness. The Mighty Hercules and the Stables

1. The problem in the story was that Hercules had to clean a very dirty stable in just one day. 2. In the story Hercules responded to the problem by gathering his thoughts and studying the area to make a plan with the water. 3. The message in this myth is to not give up. Pandora’s Box 1. The lesson of the story is that you should always follow directions. 2. Her actions help you understand because you can see that she felt bad because she wept so loud that she woke up her husband. 3. 1.e 2.d 3.c 4.b 5.a

Trojan Horse 1. The problem was that Helen was kidnapped by the Trojans. The Greeks rescued Helen by making a wooden horse and getting into the city. 2. It was difficult to get into the city because of the high walls that were impenetrable. 3. The connection of Athena helping from the beginning was when Poseidon and Apollo helped build the walls. Hermes and Apollo 1. Hermes ventured out running faster than lightning means that he ran very fast. 2. The problem in the story was that Hermes took Apollo’s cows and when Apollo found out he took him to Mount Olympus. 3. Zeus declared Hermes to be messenger of the gods because Hermes was fast and efficient at communicating.

24/7 Teacher© Code the Text CC= Character Change C= Cause E= Effect P= Problem S=Solution PC= Plot Climax R= Resolution MI= Much Impact SI= Some Impact

24/7 TeacherLI=© Little Impact King Midas

24/7 Teacher© Lexile 750 Word Count 271 Name: ______King Midas and the Golden Touch Midas was the King of Phyrgia, who had everything he could have wished for. He lived in a luxurious castle and shared his riches with his lovely daughter. He thought that his gold brought him happiness. Money was his obsession! He always had a smile when counting his gold coins. He was so greedy, he even slept with his gold coins.

One day, Dionyssus, the god of celebration, and his tutor Silenus, traveled through Phyrgia. When they became tired, they asked King Midas if they could spend the night rather than continue traveling. King Midas graciously accommodated them in the palace.

The next day, Dionyssus was so grateful to Midas for his kindness that he offered him a wish. Midas did not think long when he said, “I want everything I touch to turn to gold.” Dionyssus knew this was not a good idea and warned the king to think about what a wish like that could do. Acting impulsively and without hesitation, Midas reconfirmed this is what he wanted.

Midas extended his arm to touch his desk and it turned to gold. Midas jumped with joy and touched his chair, then the door, his bathtub, and the carpet. He ran all over the palace touching everything until he got hungry. He touched his food and it turned to gold. Fear filled his heart and tears filled his eyes. He was hungry but couldn’t eat! When his daughter entered, Midas hugged her. She turned to gold! Midas yelled so loud that Dionyssys heard his cries and took back the wish. Midas spent the remainder of his days giving gold coins away. Directions: Answer the questions in complete sentences citing evidence from the text. RL.3 1. Characters have traits and motivations. Traits are how characters define personality and tell what the character is doing. Motivations are the reasons characters do things. List traits and motivations of King Midas. Traits Motivations

RL.1 2. What made King Midas happy?

RL.2 3. What did King Midas learn from this experience?

Did You R-A-C-E? • Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your answer choice.

24/7 Teacher© Directions: Answer the questions in complete sentences citing evidence from the text.

RL.2 King Midas 1. What was the lesson of the story?

RL.3 2. Cite evidence to show how the King’s actions affected his personality change?

RL.1 3. The author said, “He was hungry but couldn’t eat.” Why couldn’t King Midas eat?

Did You R-A-C-E? • Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your answer choice.

24/7 Teacher©

Vocabulary Cards for King Midas

Antonym Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: Anxious: The active of not nervous orfearful overly concerned. Impulsive: To be uneasy and/or thinking an through. idea thinking thoughtless,reckless, hasty

is true. true. is Antonyms: Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: affirm or verify or affirm stayor continue Remained: To keep someone or To restate that a fact Reconfirmed: something in one place.

24/7 Teacher©

Vocabulary Cards for King Midas

Antonyms: Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: adjust or adapt or adjust kindlyor politely pleasant attitude. Graciously: Graciously: the needs of another. of needs the The process of meeting Accommodated: Accommodated: To act with givinga and

Antonyms: Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: Luxurious: Luxurious: Obsession: Obsession: crazeor fascination Anything extremely lavish or extravagant extravagant or lavish preoccupies time. ones An idea that is fixedand is that idea An expensive and elaborate.

24/7 Teacher© Prefix and Suffix Cards for King Midas ex- -tion Out of or from The act or condition of being. expose exceed action export attention explain construction excuse contraction extend celebration

-ness -ful A state of being full of or filled with and/or having helpful something. useful kindness careful happiness joyful sadness grateful sickness beautiful

24/7 Teacher© Directions: Write the answers in complete sentences. Name ______

What was Midas like at the beginning?

What was Midas like at the end? How did this happen?

You can use the following when citing textual evidence. - For example… - The author stated… RL.3 - On page___ , it said… - According to the text…

24/7 Teacher© Name ______

Directions: Write the answers in complete sentences. RL.2 1. What was the major event in this myth?

RL.3 2. How did the character respond?

RL.3 3. How are the supporting characters related to the problem in the story?

24/7 Teacher© RL.3 Name ______King Midas Split Personalities Throughout this myth the author used descriptive words to show the King’s personality, motivations and traits. Go back into the story to search for words. Think about how you can sort the words onto each side of the King. Write the words on the lines below. Positive Negative

shared greed

RL.3

24/7 Teacher© RL.4 Name ______King Midas Directions: Complete the sentences below using the vocabulary words in the box below.

luxurious greedy remainder accommodated obsession offered reconfirmed impulsively

8. The King ______his gold to everyone.

7. The fancy hotel was ______.

1. The girl always played with her new toy! It was her ______.

6. The boy ______raised his hand before the teacher finished talking. 5. The hotel ______all of the unexpected guests. 4. The ______of the money was given away. 3. The ______queen did not share the potato chips. 2. It was ______or asked again to th e RL.4 man that he had a wife.

24/7 Teacher© The Mighty Hercules and the Stables

24/7 Teacher© Name: ______The Mighty Hercules and the Stables

Hercules was a demigod. He was half god and half human. He was raised by his beautiful mother Alcmene, while his father was Zeus the king of the gods. The goddess Hera was always causing trouble for Hercules. The story of “Hercules and the Stables” is one myth of many precipitated by Hera and her son, Eurystheus.

King Augeas was the largest land owner in all of Greece. He had many herds of cattle. His herds of animals were so large, that his stables became very polluted and difficult to clean. Hercules was forced by Hera to clean King Augeas’ stables in just one day. When Hercules first looked at the stables, he thought it could take a year to clean it. Hercules was not only strong, but very smart. Feelings of despair and doubt filled his heart as he looked around. He contemplated, “How can anyone clean this in one day?”

Hercules was not the type to give in and quit, so he gathered his thoughts and studied the area. He saw a river close to where the stables were. He examined the land very carefully to make a plan to flood the stables to get them clean. Hercules dug a trench from the river to the stables. Because Hercules had the strength of a god, he was able to do the digging with ease. King Augeas' polluted stables were flooded and the Herculean task of cleaning the stables was a success! Hercules was overjoyed! Directions: Answer and write in complete sentences using text evidence where appropriate. RL.2 1. What was the problem in the story?

RL.3 2. How did Hercules respond to the problem?

RL.2 3. What was the message in this myth?

RL.4 4. The author ended the story with “The Herculean task of cleaning the stables in less than a day was a success!” What does Herculean mean?

Did You R-A-C-E?

• Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain each part of the question.

24/7 Teacher© Directions: Answer and write in complete sentences using text evidence where appropriate.

RL.3 1. The author stated, “Feelings of despair and doubt filled his heart as he looked around.” How did Hercules overcome his emotions?

RL.5 2. How did this text open? How did the opening help the reader to understand the myth?

Did You R-A-C-E?

• Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your thinking and your answer choice.

24/7 Teacher© RL.3

Hercules Character Detail Detail

Name ______

Web Detail Detail

24/7 Teacher© Detect the Central Name______Message and prove it with text evidence. RL.2 Prove It!

Central Message

Cite the Evidence

You can use the following when citing textual evidence. - For example… - The author stated… - On page___ , it said… - According to the text…

24/7 Teacher© Hercules Cause Cause Name C ause & ______Effect E ffect Web

Cause Cause

24/7 Teacher© Name ______Hercules Directions: Complete the sentences below using the vocabulary words in the box below.

doubt cattle polluted precipitated despair stables examined contemplate

8. The doctor ______her patient.

5. The water was brown, dirty and ______.

6. The girl looked around her messy room in ______because she had to clean it.

7. The man had to get all the ______into the stables. 4. I ______that anyone can clean the mess. 3. We had too many horses for the ______because there was space for 10 and we had 12. 2. The teacher had to think and ______about the situation. 1. The clothes were not ironed which ______a last minute crisis of being to school on time.

24/7 Teacher©

Vocabulary Cards for Hercules

story

Antonyms: Homonym: Synonyms: Stables: effect or result effect or Firmor steady; triggered orcaused A building for farm farm for building A animals with hooves. Precipitated: Precipitated: Definition from from Definition Causing to bring forth. forth. bring to Causing

livestock Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: Cattle: Cattle: clean orpure Contaminated

Polluted: Polluted: or meat products. dirty, uncleanorimpure Animals raised for dairy raisedfor Animals

24/7 Teacher© Vocabulary Cards for Hercules

: : : : :

believe believe hopeful hopeless hopeless Antonym Antonym disbelieve Synonym Synonym Doubt: Doubt: Despair: To regard unlikelyas To lose or give up hope

: : : : :

carefully and study at length Antonym Antonym Synonym Synonym inattentive thoughtful Examined: Examined: To observe carefully observe To To think Contemplated:

24/7 Teacher© Pandora’s Box

24/7 Teacher© Lexile 760 Word Count 329 Name: ______Pandora’s Box Zeus, the king of the gods, would watch men from Mount Olympus. One day Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of sculpting, to make him a daughter. Hephaestus obeyed the order and made a beautiful woman. Her name became Pandora.

Zeus sent Pandora down to Earth so that she could marry the lonely Epimetheus. You may think Zeus was being kind, but he was not. Zeus had a plan to get even. You see, Epimetheus had a brother named Prometheus. Prometheus gave people fire without asking permission from Zeus. This angered Zeus!

Before Pandora went to earth, Zeus gave her a petite box with a colossal lock on it. He made her promise never to open the box. He gave the key to Pandora’s husband and repeated the direction to him as well, never open the box. Zeus was sure that Epimetheus’ curiosity would get the best of him, and that he or his brother would open Pandora’s box.

Pandora was very inquisitive. She wanted to see what was in that box, but Epimetheus restrained her back and reminded her of Zeus’ directions. Later on, when Epimetheus was asleep, Pandora stole the key and opened the box. Out flew every kind of disease, crime, hate, envy and all the bad things people had never experienced before. Pandora slammed it shut, but it was too late. All the horrible things were out of the box and spreading across the world.

Pandora began to sob until her weeping woke up Epimetheus. Through the sobbing, she explained to him that she opened the box and all these wicked things quickly flew out before she could slam it shut. Pandora opened the box again to show Epimetheus how empty it was. A miniscule bug flew out beating its tiny wings.

RL.3 2. In the story, Pandora opened the box with all the bad things in it. How do her actions help you understand the lesson?

Did You R-A-C-E? • Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your thinking and your answer choice.

RL.4 When a prefix or suffix is added to a root word, the meaning of the word changes. The prefix re- means “again”. Find and underline the words in the text with the prefix re-.

Draw a line from the word to the meaning. 1. return a. to find another location 2. resume b. to hold back 3. remind c. to remember again 4. restrain d. to begin again 5. relocate e. to go back to the same place

24/7 Teacher© Directions: Answer and write in complete sentences using text evidence where appropriate. Pandora’s Box RL.1 1. Why did the author start the story talking about Zeus?

RL.3 2. Did Zeus accomplish his intentions? Cite evidence from the text to prove your point.

Did You R-A-C-E? • Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your thinking and your answer choice.

24/7 Teacher© RL.5 Name ______Relate It, Investigate it Write a detail from the myth. Then tell how the detail and story are related. Detail

Tell how the detail relates to the story.

24/7 Teacher© RL.2 Name ______Mythical Explanations

A Myth story that looks at and explains nature, how things naturally happen and has supernatural characters.

Directions: Tell how the story explains how all the immoral things came about in the world.

You can use the following when citing textual evidence. - For example… - The author stated… - On page , it said… - According to the text…

24/7 Teacher© Draw a line to match the vocabulary word Name ______to the definition. Vocabulary Match 1. sculpting a. to mold or shape

2. permission b. cry or weep

3. petite c. to stop or hold back

4. colossal d. delicate and small

5. curiosity e. large or gigantic

6. restrained f. to allow or consented

7. inquisitive g. to be nosy

8. envy h. to ask questions

9. sob i. to cry loud

10. wicked j. extremely tiny

11.miniscule k. evil or bad

12.weeping l. to desire to be like

24/7 Teacher©

Pandora’s Box

break Antonyms: Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: shape or mold prohibitor stop Sculpting: Permission: Permission: To create an object The act of permitting consent, approve or allow

large and delicate Huge dainty Antonym: Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: Petite: Petite: tinyor miniscule Small Colossal: Gigantic or Large or Gigantic

24/7 Teacher©

Pandora’s Box

Continue Antonym: inquisitive Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: control orresist To hold or stop. Curiosity: orregular normal To ask questions. Restrained:

normal

jealousy confident Antonym: Antonyms: Synonyms: Synonyms: Envy: Envy: regular orregular To ask questions curiousor inquire

To long for another’s longTo for Inquisitive: Inquisitive: possessions orpossessions qualities.

24/7 Teacher©

Pandora’s Box

: : :

weep laugh sobbing Sob: laughing Antonym Antonym: Synonym Synonym: Crying loudly To cry noisily Weeping: Weeping:

: : :

good nonyms Gigantic Gigantic Antonym evil or bad or evil Antonyms: Synonyms: Sy Wicked: Morally wrong extremely small miniature ortiny Miniscule:

24/7 Teacher© The Trojan Horse

24/7 Teacher© Lexile 760 Word Count 292 Name: ______The Trojan Horse Long ago, one of the greatest cities was Troy. Its walls were built by Apollo, the god of light and Poseidon, the god of the sea. Archers stood at the uppermost part of the impenetrable walls to fire arrows down at attacking enemies. One day Paris, the son of the king of Troy, kidnapped a beautiful Greek woman named Helen. She was the wife of the king of Greece, Menelaus. King Menelaus requested her rescue from the most noted military leader, Odysseus. Oysseus and the Greek army could not get through the impenetrable walls of Troy. They attacked the city for ten years to try to free Helen. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, was known for his Herculean strength and wits. He came up with a plan. They were to pretend they had given up the war and left Troy alone. A peace offering gift, in the form of a large wooden horse, would be left to announce the end of the war. His idea was to have Greek soldiers hide inside the wooden horse. The Greeks would wait inside until it was taken into the city. When the time was right, they would climb out and open the gates. The Greek army, also in hiding, would attack. The idea became a reality. Sculptors worked with Athena, the goddess of war, to build the horse. The soldiers hid inside and the wooden horse was pushed to the gates of Troy. The Trojans welcomed the peace offering into the city. They celebrated what they believed was the end of the war. Soon, everyone in Troy was sound asleep. Odysseus and the soldiers climbed out and opened the gates. The Greek army marched in, rescued Helen, and put an end to the city of Troy! Directions: Answer and write in complete sentences using text evidence where appropriate. RL.1 1. What was the problem? How was it solved?

RL.2 2. Why was it difficult to get into the city of troy?

RL.5 3. what happened in the first paragraph of the story that is connected to Athena, the goddess of war, helping the greek build the horse?

Did You R-A-C-E?

• Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your thinking and your answer choice.

24/7 Teacher© Directions: Answer and write in complete sentences using text evidence where appropriate. RL.3 1. The author stated that odysseus had Herculean strength and wit. How does odysseus demonstrate wit?

RL.5 2. How does the first paragraph open the story?

RL.2 3. What is the lesson of the story?

(Check One Box)

Description o Did the author describe a person, place, thing or idea? Problem and Solution o Was there a problem and solution? Compare and Contrast o Was something compared? Ideas? Objects? Places? People? Cause and Effect o Did something happen and why did it happen? Was there a cause? Sequence o Was there an event that took place over time?

Cite evidence to prove your choice.

You can use the following when citing textual evidence. - For example… - The author stated… - On page , it said… - According to the text…

24/7 Teacher©

: :

bowman through through passable Antonym: Synonym Synonym: impassable Archers: Impossible to pass A person who shoots personA shoots who with a bow and arrows. and bow a with Impenetrable:

: :

: renowned

nonyms demand Antonym Antonyms: Synonyms: Sy Noted: Noted: known orrecorded - inquire orinquire solicit To formally ask Requested: Something that has been Something that recorded or is recorded or well unknown or unrecorded unknown

24/7 Teacher©

: : :

weak strong refrain proclaim Antonym Antonym: Synonym Synonym: Great strength Great Announce: Herculean: A formal declaration formal A

none Antonyms: Antonyms: Antonym Synonyms: Synonyms: withdrawal ofkindness.

Synonyms: that build,carve or Gift orGift present sculptstatues. creator or artist Offering: Sculptors: Something presented as an act act an as presented Something Artists

1. requested a. great (ex. great strength)

2. archer b. a formal declaration

3. noted c. to formally ask

4. impenetrable d. impossible to pass

5. sculptors e. a bowman

6. herculean f. recorded or well-known

7. offering g. a type of artist

8. announce h. something presented as an act of kindness

24/7 Teacher© Lexile 770 Name: ______Word Count 263 Hermes & Apollo Zeus was the king of the gods and lived on Mount Olympus with his many sons. Two of his sons were Hermes and Apollo. Hermes was the god of travel and a messenger between worlds. Apollo was the eldest of the two. He was the god of music and the sun. As an infant, Hermes clambered out of his crib and ventured out running faster than lightning. While out on his adventure, Hermes came across Apollo’s cows. Hermes hid the cows in a cave and decided to return home. While returning home, Hermes spied a turtle shell and picked it up. He reshaped the shell and attached string, turning it into a musical instrument called a lyre. Apollo discovered that his cows were gone. A nearby shepherd saw Hermes take the cows and he told Apollo about the baby. Apollo was furious and took Hermes to Mount Olympus. At first, Hermes pretended to act like a normal infant. Then, he admitted to his wrong doing, talking just as fast as he could run. Zeus was so amazed with his speaking that he entrusted Hermes to be the messenger of the gods. Hermes could communicate and travel efficiently. Hermes was delighted and started playing the lyre. His brother Apollo the loved music from the lyre. With a tolerant heart, he forgave Hermes for the cow situation. He offered Hermes a golden rod in exchange for the lyre. Apollo mastered the lyre and this became his signature instrument. The golden staff became a signature for Hermes as he took it everywhere he went. Directions: Answer and write in complete sentences using text evidence where appropriate. Hermes & ApollO RL.4 1. In the sentence …Hermes ventured out running faster than lightning. What does this mean?

RL.2 2. What was the problem in this passage? How was it solved?

RL.1 3. Why did Zeus declare Hermes to be messenger of the gods?

Did You R-A-C-E? • Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your thinking and your answer choice.

24/7 Teacher© Directions: Answer and write in complete sentences using text evidence where appropriate. Hermes & Apollo RL.3 1. Cite evidence to show that Apollo’s feelings towards hermes changed.

RL.2 2. Summarize the key points of the text.

Did You R-A-C-E? • Reword or restate the question or prompt. • Answer in a complete sentence. • Cite evidence to prove the answer. • Explain your thinking and your answer choice.

Detail Detail

Character Detail Detail

N ame ______Hermes Detail Web Detail Detail Detail RL.3

2. lyre b. To assign responsibility

3. entrusted c. To go on a risky journey

4. situation d. A form of identification

5. efficiently e. A set of circumstances

6. signature f. To climb to get in or out

7. spied g. To work well

8. clambered h. A musical instrument with a string Write one complete sentence for any two words. 1.

24/7 Teacher©

: : : :

seenor spot fall ignore scramble Antonym Antonym: Synonym Synonyms: Spied To climb or in out Clambered To look at something observed, observed,

: :

: : :

none Effective Synonym Antonyms: Antonyms: Antonym

Synonyms: unproductive signor mark ignature wastedeffort. S Efficiently To work well with little little with well work To A formof identification

24/7 Teacher©

: : :

expedition

harp none avoided Antonym Antonym: Synonym Synonym: Lyre Ventured mission or or mission A stringedinstrument A To go on a risky journey.

: :

normalcy normalcy Antonyms: Antonyms: Antonym Synonyms: Synonyms:

Synonyms: Gift orGift present Situation Entrusted assigned or appoint or appoint assigned A set of circumstances or of A set locationand surroundings. To To assignresponsibility. unassigned or unappoint unappoint or unassigned

Hercules was not the type to give in and quit, so he gathered his thoughts and studied the area. He saw a river close to where the stables were. He examined the land very carefully to make a plan to flood the stables to get them clean. Hercules dug a trench from the river to the stables. Because Hercules had the strength of a god, he was able to do the digging with ease. King Augeas' polluted stables were flooded and the Herculean task of cleaning the stables was a success! Hercules was overjoyed! Lexile 760 Word Count 329 Name: ______Pandora’s Box Zeus, the king of the gods, would watch men from Mount Olympus. One day Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of sculpting, to make him a daughter. Hephaestus obeyed the order and made a beautiful woman. Her name became Pandora.

The bug landed and said, “Hi there, my name is Hope. Thank you for setting me free!” Hope zoomed out into the world. The world was now filled with curiosity, disease, crime, hate, envy and Hope. Lexile 760 Word Count 292 Name: ______The Trojan Horse Long ago, one of the greatest cities was Troy. Its walls were built by Apollo, the god of light and Poseidon, the god of the sea. Archers stood at the uppermost part of the impenetrable walls to fire arrows down at attacking enemies. One day Paris, the son of the king of Troy, kidnapped a beautiful Greek woman named Helen. She was the wife of the king of Greece, Menelaus. King Menelaus requested her rescue from the most noted military leader, Odysseus. Oysseus and the Greek army could not get through the impenetrable walls of Troy. They attacked the city for ten years to try to free Helen. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, was known for his Herculean strength and wits. He came up with a plan. They were to pretend they had given up the war and left Troy alone. A peace offering gift, in the form of a large wooden horse, would be left to announce the end of the war. His idea was to have Greek soldiers hide inside the wooden horse. The Greeks would wait inside until it was taken into the city. When the time was right, they would climb out and open the gates. The Greek army, also in hiding, would attack. The idea became a reality. Sculptors worked with Athena, the goddess of war, to build the horse. The soldiers hid inside and the wooden horse was pushed to the gates of Troy. The Trojans welcomed the peace offering into the city. They celebrated what they believed was the end of the war. Soon, everyone in Troy was sound asleep. Odysseus and the soldiers climbed out and opened the gates. The Greek army marched in, rescued Helen, and put an end to the city of Troy! Lexile 770 Name: ______Word Count 263 Hermes & Apollo Zeus was the king of the gods and lived on Mount Olympus with his many sons. Two of his sons were Hermes and Apollo. Hermes was the god of travel and a messenger between worlds. Apollo was the eldest of the two. He was the god of music and the sun. As an infant, Hermes clambered out of his crib and ventured out running faster than lightning. While out on his adventure, Hermes came across Apollo’s cows. Hermes hid the cows in a cave and decided to return home. While returning home, Hermes spied a turtle shell and picked it up. He reshaped the shell and attached string, turning it into a musical instrument called a lyre. Apollo discovered that his cows were gone. A nearby shepherd saw Hermes take the cows and he told Apollo about the baby. Apollo was furious and took Hermes to Mount Olympus. At first, Hermes pretended to act like a normal infant. Then, he admitted to his wrong doing, talking just as fast as he could run. Zeus was so amazed with his speaking that he entrusted Hermes to be the messenger of the gods. Hermes could communicate and travel efficiently. Hermes was delighted and started playing the lyre. His brother Apollo the loved music from the lyre. With a tolerant heart, he forgave Hermes for the cow situation. He offered Hermes a golden rod in exchange for the lyre. Apollo mastered the lyre and this became his signature instrument. The golden staff became a signature for Hermes as he took it everywhere he went. graphics by: http://the3amteacher.blogspot.com www.scrappindoodles.com www.phillipmartin.com http://thelibraryfox.blogspot.com

Do you like giveaways? Click here to follow me on Facebook.

If you want to learn more about Close Reading check out the following unit.