The Marble Maiden: Pygmalion, Galatea, and the Art of Love

In the sun-bathed island of Cyprus, a young artist named Pygmalion sought a beauty so perfect, so flawless, it could not be found in any living woman. Driven by an obsession of his ideal, Pygmalion turned to the marble blocks of his studio. His skilled hands chiseled the cold stone, shaping curves and contours until a woman of unearthly beauty emerged. She was so lifelike that one could swear she would move if spoken to. He named his creation Galatea, and against all odds, fell passionately in love with her.

As strange as it sounds, Pygmalion's tale is more than a story of love; it is a tale of artistic devotion, obsession, and the blurred lines between the creator and creation. And now, you have the opportunity to bring this intriguing Greek myth to your classroom, through an engaging and comprehensive resource I've crafted especially for middle and high school students.

Educational igital downloads like
This One are Available from Stones of Erasmus.

Introducing Pygmalion and Galatea: An Exploration of Myth and Art

This resource, offered as a PDF, Google Slides, and an Easel Activity and Assessment (exclusive to TpT), centers around the captivating narrative of Pygmalion and Galatea. With a three-day lesson plan complete with teachers' notes, it provides a structured, in-depth look at this myth, setting the geographical context with a map activity that situates the tale in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Within this resource, reading cards offer two different versions of the Pygmalion and Galatea story, as well as an analysis of the myth through Clement of Alexandria's perspective. There are also art and literature connections which include a 16th-century artistic representation of the tale by Hendrick Goltzius, and a study of the myth's representation in various other forms of art.

To ensure your students' engagement, the resource offers a 14-count question bank for comprehension checks, and a custom note-taking template to encourage personal accountability. Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards offer students an effective way to visually understand the vocabulary related to the story. And just before wrapping up the class, a half-sheet exit ticket helps you gauge your students' understanding of the lesson.

Dig Deeper, Learn More

The learning doesn't stop here! I have included a further reading list, not just as a simple bibliography, but as a stepping stone to deeper exploration. By assigning different sources to students and organizing presentations, the learners can delve further into the story.

A unique aspect of this resource is the writing activity, which serves as a summative assessment. It asks students to analyze Pygmalion's character as either a "creator" or a "misogynist," stimulating thought-provoking discussions about gender, representation of women in literature and art, and more.

Answer keys are provided for all student-facing documents, giving you ample guidance on what to expect from students in their written and oral responses.

This resource can stand on its own, or can be paired with a larger unit on Graeco-Roman mythology or other popular texts like Ovid's Metamorphoses, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves's Greek Myths, or Edith Hamilton's Mythology.

If you found this resource compelling, you might also be interested in other lessons included in the Middle and High School Mythology Series, such as Cupid and Psyche, Zeus and Metis & The Birth of Athena, Apollo and Daphne, and the ever-popular Plato's Cave lesson.

Come, join me on my journey as we breathe life into ancient myths. Visit Stones of Erasmus on the web and together, let us make learning an adventure. © 2023

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Unveiling Ancient Stories with the "Leda and the Swan": Educational Resource for Middle and High School Students

One of the greatest charms of teaching is the opportunity to transport students back in time and space to explore the grand narratives that have shaped our civilization. With my latest educational resource - "Leda and the Swan," - we journey to ancient Greece, where gods, mortals, and mythical creatures intertwine in tales of love, power, and transformation.

Leda, the Swan, Zeus, and even the infamous Helen of Troy play critical roles in this captivating narrative. If these names spark your curiosity, this resource is your roadmap into their world.

Educational Digital Downloads Like This One are Available from Stones of Erasmus.

Multifaceted Learning Experience

This comprehensive digital download is designed to provide a robust, enriching learning experience. It includes a well-structured three-day lesson calendar with teacher's notes to help you smoothly navigate through the materials. A detailed anchor chart of key characters and locations sets the backdrop of the narrative, inviting students to visualize the surroundings of Sparta and the broader Mediterranean region through a map activity.

Engaging Content, Packed with Features

Dive deeper into the myth with our reading cards, focusing on different variations of the "Leda and the Swan" myth and its connections to art and literature. The student-friendly reading protocol simplifies the process, making the narrative more accessible to learners.

The resource includes a 15-count question bank and a custom note-taking template to enhance understanding and encourage active participation. This method encourages accountability and reinforces the lesson content.

Vocabulary Learning Made Fun

Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards are another highlight. Students can enrich their understanding of terms, geography, and challenging words that fit into the story context by visualizing vocabulary in a four-section square- for meaning, examples, non-examples, and a sketch.

Comprehension and Critical Analysis

A half-sheet exit ticket system allows you to measure student understanding towards the end of the lesson, providing valuable feedback. The resource also includes a writing activity and a summative assessment that involves students tracing the myth's variations and delivering a literary analysis, complete with a grading rubric and sample answer set.

In-Depth Exploration

The further reading list offers a wealth of additional resources for students who wish to explore the myth more comprehensively. Use these resources for additional assignments, independent studies, or group projects, encouraging a deeper dive into the narrative.

The resource provides answer keys for all student-facing documents for teacher convenience, offering guidance on expected student responses.

Integrating into the Curriculum

Designed with high school students in mind, the "Leda and the Swan" resource fits perfectly into an English Language Arts Mythology unit. It provides an opportunity to discuss animals in literature, metamorphoses, gender roles, relationships, and the syncretic nature of myths.

The resource can serve as a stand-alone lesson or pair nicely with a larger unit on early Greek myths, primordial stories, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves's Greek Myths, or Edith Hamilton's Mythology.

Explore More Myths

For more mythology-related resources, explore the stories of The 12 Olympians, Cupid and Psyche, Zeus and Metis & The Birth of Athena, Europa and the Bull, and many more lessons included in the Middle and High School Mythology Series.

In conclusion, I sincerely thank the New York Public Library Digital Collections for their immense contribution to public domain materials. Join me in this journey through the timeless narratives that have shaped human history and thought, only at Stones of Erasmus, © 2023 stonesoferasmus.com.

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The Importance of Academic Honesty: More Than Just Avoiding Plagiarism

Once upon a time, the academic world was synonymous with trust, respect, and integrity. Each scholar and student knew they were part of a community built on the exchange of ideas, original thought, and depth-filled debate. But over time, this commitment to honesty was eroded by shortcuts, temptations, and, sadly, plagiarism. In fact, the term "plagiarism" itself is derived from the Latin word "plagiarius," which means "kidnapper" or "thief."

I have developed worksheets educators can use
with students to promote academic honesty
and integrity in the classroom.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Academic-Honesty-Integrity-Activity-Guide-College-Prep-for-Grades-10-12-8484877
Educate. Set Expectations

As an educator, it's time to renew our commitment to academic integrity and end the cycle of plagiarism. Teaching our students about intellectual honesty isn't just about deterring them from theft—it's about preparing them for the challenge of creating academic work, both for college and while in high school, and equipping them with the tools to navigate complex intellectual landscapes.

The first step to overcoming plagiarism is understanding it. You'd be surprised to find out that your students have a lot of preconceived notions of what constitutes "original" work. Open up the conversation. And then set expectations. That's why I've developed a comprehensive guide on Academic Honesty and Integrity, designed especially for high school students (it also works for middle school students).

Comprehensive Guide on Academic Honesty and Integrity

This resource includes an Anchor Chart and a Student Worksheet, each geared towards engaging students in deep, meaningful discussions on plagiarism, academic honesty, intellectual freedom, and understanding opposing viewpoints. The included teacher's note offers guidance for implementing this resource effectively.

As a bonus, I've made our guide available in print and digital versions, with an editable Google Document to help you seamlessly fit this critical topic into your existing curriculum.

In teaching our students to be honest scholars, we discourage plagiarism and encourage intellectual growth, respect for others' ideas, and a stronger academic community. Reinforce the importance of academic honesty in your classroom with this resource, and let's start building a future of original thinkers and respectful scholars.

Learn More. Follow Stones of Erasmus

Browse more educational resources at Stones of Erasmus, and join us on our journey to inspire integrity in education. © 2023 stonesoferasmus.com.

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Teaching Peter and the Wolf: 2006 Oscar Winning Suzie Templeton Short Film

In this post, I talk about teaching the short film "Peter and the Wolf" in my Eighth Grade English Language Arts class in Queens.

A typical day of learning in Mr. Roselli's English Language Arts classroom.

I Needed to Teach Something Quickly; I Chose "Peter and the Wolf"

It's interesting how I come across content to teach. Usually, deciding what to teach is not a problem because I spend a good chunk of the weeks leading up to the new school year mapping out my courses. However, this past year, teaching my Eighth graders, there was a day that I needed to fill with an engaging lesson. We had just completed a forty-day mythology unit. I say "forty days" as if we were in the desert or something, but it was forty discrete lessons, each about forty-five minutes in length. So I had a "free day" before we started our new unit. So, hence, Peter and the Wolf!

Suzie Templeton Short Film "Peter and the Wolf"

Suzie Templeton is a gifted director, and her animated short film, "Peter and the Wolf," is based on Sergei Prokofiev's famous score. The movie is only about twenty-five minutes, perfect for my lesson. Also, because of its fairy tale elements, it fits nicely with a unit on mythology.

Do Now: Setting a Work of Literature to Music

I like to get my kids' gears turning, so as they entered the class during the passing period, I asked them if they were to set a story or play or myth that they had read to music what would it be. I was hoping for something like Orpheus and Eurydice set to "Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water," but I got Daphne and Apollo set to A$AP Ferg. I'll take what I can get. Also, I was keen to set my lesson to a reading standard that states students should analyze a representation of a subject or a pivotal scene in two different artistic mediums (Reading Literature Standard RL.9-10.7).

Watching the Movie and Answering Questions

We watched the movie in class -- and I was surprised by how quickly they got into the story. I think what works is that the animation is so unique. It's not the standard, glossy Pixar style my kids are familiar with. It's a quirky, stop-motion animation-style feature. And the kids noticed the exciting way the animators brought the story alive, zooming in on the setting, a small town nestled in a somewhat cold rural landscape. The character of Peter is sufficiently adolescent, and the Grandfather and the boy's big fat cat serve as comic relief. There also isn't a lot of dialogue, so you have to pay attention to the visuals to follow the story's narrative pacing.

While watching the movie, students had to complete a worksheet, which included sixteen "right-there" viewing comprehension questions. It's just a way to keep them focused, and later, they turn it in as part of their grade for the lesson. As a teacher, I learned long ago that doing activities where students have to write and show their thinking is valuable. Not only is it an excellent way to show what you are doing in your classroom, but it also serves as a snapshot of students' overall thinking. I also like to use the Adobe Scan app to capture their work. So I have an archive of sorts.

Discussing Foreshadowing, Visual Imagery, Identity, and Other Themes

After watching the film, we talked about the movie. The first big English Language Arts point I wanted to convey was foreshadowing. And the kids definitely picked up on that one. There are images and references to wolves from the beginning, opening shot, and end. And another interesting discussion we had was why Peter let the wolf go in the end. I received several answers, but I remember one of the boys in my class commenting on how Peter understood the wolf. And I agreed, which led to a discussion about identity. If I say so myself, very much in keeping with my students' socio-psycho development.

Writing Activity: What Message Does the Movie Convey? 

And finally, at the end of class, I told the students to pull out their notebooks, and they wrote independently about what they thought the film's message was, and I made them include details from the movie to support their answers. Having completed the viewing questions helped to jog their memories. As they left the classroom, they had to turn in all of their written work, and I had them each tell me orally the gist of their writing exercise.

You can purchase and download this educational digital resource from Stones of Erasmus.

Finally . . .

Do you teach short films in your classroom? How does it work for you? I'd love to hear your comments.

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Students Are Off for Summer But Teachers Are Busy Working (Am I Right?)

Dear Followers, Teachers, Lovers, Learners, and Philosophy Sprinkles Makers! Summertime Means Busy-time for Educators (Am I Right?)

Bird's Eyeview Selfie in the Backyard

During the Summer students go on vacation, but teachers do not. How many of you are taking an extra class, learning a new skill to keep you sharp for next year, or taking on a Summer side job? I am in school so I can add to my certification! So — yeah, there is a lot of activity going on for school teachers in the Summer (even though naysayers will scoff — "Oh, teachers get two months off for Summer!".

Summer Freebie: To show you my appreciation here are two FREE quote posters to share in a Language Arts or Humanities classroom. The first is "live life to the fullest" inspirational poster from Auntie Mame and the other is more of a muse — a quote poster from Terry Pratchett's novel The Hogfather.

I am holding a sale this week on TpT to show off some new products in my Stones of Erasmus TpT store. Here's a preview of some new resources I just created:

• Philosophy in the Classroom 16 Half-sheet "Freedom" Task Card Set: Engage high schoolers with topics ranging from extrinsic and intrinsic freedoms, positive and negative liberty, and conversation starters on fighting for the right to be free (relevant for today, for sure).

• A Serial Killer and a Hypocritical Grandmother: Conduct a short story discussion with High School students on Flannery O'Connor's explosive short fiction "A Good Man is Hard to Find"

• A Demon and a Madman: Illustrate a Philosophy Thought Experiment with Nietzsche's "The Greatest Weight" and "The Madman" in a 2-resource bundle that will get high school students thinking about the meaning of life and their conception of God.

• For Younger Adolescents: I created a new Mythology Resource exploring the ancient trickster hero Sisyphus who tricks Death and pays the price.

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What does Nietzsche Mean by God is Dead (and why German Romanticism is not Cool, Dude)

Kid: Dude, Nietzsche is cool.

Nietzsche: No, I'm not.

Kid: Dude, that's not cool.

Nietzsche: Hey, kid, watch out what you say about my will-to-power.

Kid: Uhhhh. OK.

Nietzsche: Damn kids.

    That's how the conversation would go. Is Nietzsche cool? Well, if you call a highly sophisticated philologist with a penchant for Ancient Greek Philosophy cool, then I guess Nietzsche is cool.

Is Nietzsche Misunderstood?

Nietzsche is highly misunderstood. I read Nietzsche's The Gay Science (no, not that "gay," but gay in the old-fashioned way meaning "happy") for the first time in a philosophy seminar back in my college days. We read the Walter Kaufmann translation (the one I still refer to). I remember at the start of the seminar one guy who was especially excited to be reading Nietzsche as if he were to embark upon an expedition in cow tipping while on acid. "Dude, Nietzsche is all about 'God is Dead.' I totally dig that, man." The guy wanted us all to know he was a nihilist: he cut his forearms for show and he wore stark black; which was OK with me, considering black was a decent choice of color to absorb heat in the Winter.

    The professor, who was a very quiet man, a little intimidating, and spoke in a low, almost condescending tone interrupted the guy. "Don't think you understand Nietzsche without reading him. Reading Nietzsche is not cool."

Nietzsche and Teen Angst

Dwayne (Paul Dano) reads Thus Spoke Zarathustra

    The professor did not like associating Nietzsche with teen angst, or smoking a doobie and talking about how much life sucks. Like in the quirky indie comedy, Little Miss Sunshine. Sporting a tee-shirt that says, "Jesus Was Wrong," a teenage boy takes a vow of silence as a tribute to his favorite philosopher, Mr. Nietzsche. Personally, if a disaffected adolescent is going to pout and rebel, he should read Schopenhauer before he reads Nietzsche. Just saying. Nietzsche is rosy in comparison...

The Madman

   It is true that Nietzsche mentions "God is dead" bit in the Gay Science. The book is written as a series of witty, short anecdotal chapters, with an appendix of verse at the end. "The God is dead" piece is paragraph 125, "The Mad Man." The story is simple. A man races through the streets of a city in broad daylight carrying a torch, proclaiming "I seek God! I seek God!" The atheists - "the many who do not believe in God" - stand around and laugh at the madman. "Is he lost?" they ask. The madman gets right up in the faces of the atheists and asks them, "Whither is god?" The atheist continues to laugh but the madman continues, "piercing them "with his glances." The madman makes a claim that the reason God is dead is that we've killed him. "I shall tell you. We have killed him--you and I. All of us are his murderers." The madman goes on for a few paragraphs about how we killed God.