Spin the Wheel of Fortune: A 2-Day Tyche & Nemesis Mythology Lesson for Grades 6-10 (Print + Google Ready)

Engage grades 6-10 with a two-day ELA myth lesson on Tyche & Nemesis—printable, Google-friendly, CCSS-aligned, and packed with visuals.

Why Teach Tyche & Nemesis Now?

In every literature class, recurring themes—tropes—spark student curiosity. Few are richer than the paired figures of Tyche (Fortuna), goddess of fortune and chance, and Nemesis, guardian of justice and conscience. Their stories echo from Wheel of Fortune to modern fantasy novels, giving your middle and high schoolers an instant real-world hook.

Lesson Snapshot

• Grade Bands 6–10 (easily adapted up or down)
• Duration Two 50-minute class periods, plus extensions
• Formats PDF for print • Google Workspace™ for digital • Easel™ activities on TpT
• Standards Fully aligned to CCSS RL/L/W/SL, TEKS, and Virginia SOL

What’s Inside the Resource?

• 🔖 6 Illustrated Reading Cards—public-domain art, succinct text, perfect for carousel or gallery walks
• 🗺 2 Map Activities—locate temples at Praeneste & Pompeii to ground myth in place
• 🗂 Anchor Chart + Vocabulary Frayer Models—visual tools for quick reference and retention
• ✍️ 20-Question Bank & Exit Tickets—ready-to-use for quizzes or bell-ringers
• 📝 Note-Taking Sheets—three-box Cornell format fosters evidence collection
• ✅ Answer Keys & 2-Point Writing Rubric—transparent grading and sample responses

How Students Benefit

1. Compare Versions: Analyze Tyche and Nemesis across Hamilton, Apollodorus, and pop culture.
2. Build Vocabulary: Master terms like nemesis, fortune, and fate in context.
3. Think Critically: Debate whether chance or conscience drives human action.
4. Collaborate: Engage in “speed-dating” discussions and trivia showdowns.
5. Write Analytically: Respond to prompts with textual evidence—CCSS W.9-10.9 ready!

Teacher-Friendly Features

• Print or Digital: Seamless in-person, hybrid, or remote.
• No Prep Needed: Download, assign, teach.
• Extendable: Connect to my other mythology sets—Furies, Fates, Titans, Iliad.
• Assessment Ready: Exit tickets + rubric give you instant data.

Classroom Idea: Spin Your Own Wheel

Create a cardboard “Wheel of Fortune” with pockets labeled Reward or Rebuke. After reading, students spin and justify—using evidence—whether Tyche’s gift or Nemesis’s judgment fits a mythic scenario. Instant engagement!

Grab the Lesson

➡️ Download on Stones of Erasmus @ TpT

Let’s Keep the Conversation Rolling

Have a classroom story or a question? Drop a comment below or email me at support@stonesoferasmus.com. I love hearing how teachers spin mythology into gold!

Portfolio: Mr. Roselli's Teaching Career in a Visually Appealing Presentation

Teaching Statement

Everything I do revolves around Arts and Letters. As a kid, I haunted my local public library and connected with teachers and coaches. As an adult, I’ve worked with learners aged ten to eighteen and thrive when students share stories, thoughts, writing, drawings, and future ambitions.

I teach ethical thinking within Humanities and ELA, adapting instruction to engage each class and collaborating with colleagues when units align. Instruction evolves to meet students’ needs, hooking and sustaining their curiosity through co-planning and shared resources.

I design learning spaces with maps, anchor charts, and reading materials that spark inquiry. I love when students exclaim, “Mr. Roselli—look what I read!” because they see me as a fellow learner in our shared journey.

Active Teacher: Celebrating Diversity, Values, Clubs & Student Groups

I engage in school life by celebrating our community’s diversity, upholding traditions, facilitating after-school clubs, and helping students find affinity groups. My commitment extends beyond the classroom into every corner of school culture.

Collaboration in the High School English Language Arts Classroom

I spearheaded an empathy initiative, bringing lower- and upper-school students together in planned enrichment activities. I also debriefed with students afterward and emphasized empathy not as an academic concept but as something we practice through action. When I saw one of my teens interact with a first-grader with patience and kindness, it opened up a later conversation that year when they were struggling with a peer. I said, “Do you remember when you were so patient with that first-grader? I’m trying to help you get out of your head and think of every interaction as an opportunity to grow—not an easy task, I know.”

Bringing Octavia Butler’s Kindred to life, my eleventh graders dramatized profiles of social justice, historical resistance, and time travel between modern Los Angeles and antebellum Maryland.

Writing Strategies

Sixth Graders in My Humanities Class Create a Mind Map—a useful brainstorming technique for Writing and Idea Sharing.

Independent Reading Initiatives

Are you tired of Netflix? Every summer, I spearhead a themed reading initiative featuring voices like Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. During the year, students select books, read in class, and share reviews to foster lifelong reading habits.

Field Trips

I took my Sixth grade class to the Brooklyn Museum to see Egyptian artifacts as part of our unit on Egyptian mythology. I have taken students to many different places—including the Tenement Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Nantucket, China, and France and the United Kingdom.

Community Involvement

I invite my class to participate in volunteering; I have taken students to the Brooklyn Book Bodega, a non-profit that has as its mission to provide one hundred books for every New Yorker. I have also partnered with Street Lab and other organizations.

I am in search of a community of high-achieving students. I work best with students from eighth to tenth grade; however, I have experience teaching students as young as fifth grade and as old as college-aged. I consider myself an all-around teacher with one foot in English Language Arts and the other in the Humanities.

If you are seeking a dynamic, warm, witty, and engaging teacher, one whom students often praise by saying, 'We love Mr. Roselli. He does make us do a lot of work, but he has a way of making it fun,' then look no further.

Contact me. I'd love to hear from you.

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The Power of Sustained Reading in an Age of Distraction

In today's digital world, we are bombarded with information from all sides. A tweet here, a blog post there, or perhaps a quick audio snippet from a podcast. But when was the last time you truly committed to an author's work, something that demanded more than a mere few minutes of your attention? This is what I pondered upon recently in a conversation with a former student. 

Concept Art "Reading is Essential, Children,"
made by one of my Tenth Graders.

The Definition of 'Book'

One of my former students said to me, when I told them what they had been reading. "Why does it have to be a book?" He meant that he did a lot of reading, he thought. Just not "books." When we talk about books, what often comes to mind is a traditional, bound, printed matter that you purchase or borrow. However, a book can be so much more. A book can be an ebook, an audiobook, a text message series, or even a PDF. It doesn't have to be a lengthy piece; it just needs to offer a sustained treatment of a subject or a narrative, with a beginning, middle, and end. 

The Digital Era and Sustained Reading

The digital age has unquestionably expanded our avenues for consuming content. From TikTok videos and YouTube shorts to tweets and social media posts, we live in a fast-paced, internet-driven world. While these platforms offer unique and engaging content, they often don't require long-term engagement from the audience.

Research indicates that reading for pleasure has declined among young people. Studies by the National Center for Education Statistics support the notion that not only are kids reading less for enjoyment, but this trend extends to individuals under the age of 55 as well. However, it's not entirely fair to place the blame solely on technology and mass media.

One contributing factor could be the way reading is taught in schools, particularly over the last few decades. English and Reading teachers are frequently under pressure to adhere to standardized curricula that focus heavily on skill development, often at the expense of fostering a love for reading.

Unlocking Success: A Guide to Building Strong Parent-Teacher Connections with Our First-Day Surveys

Hi, teachers! Are you putting together the resources you need for your classroom? Don't forget to set yourself up for success by communicating with the parents and guardians of your students on day one of the school year. Enhance parent-teacher communication with comprehensive surveys from Stones of Erasmus. Tailored for English Language Arts, these surveys foster meaningful relationships.

Download a Suite of Print and Digital Tools on TpT.

Connecting with your students' parents or guardians is vital for a successful school year. Our specially designed parent surveys, tailored for the first day of school, are here to help. Created with secondary students in mind, these surveys include sections on general information, student learning attitudes, and additional insights. Whether you choose to send the survey home via email, print it out, or make it available at your school's first parent-teacher conference, it's good to know you have a tool to make a positive impression (and all of the forms are editable to suit your community's needs).

Engaging ELA Lessons: Exploring the Greek Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with Middle and High School Students

Dive into the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with a comprehensive, interactive, and distance-learning-optimized ELA resource.

Stones of Erasmus offers an Educational Download designed to teach the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice

In the realm of English Language Arts (ELA), the ancient, tragic tale of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice offers a rich tapestry of themes and lessons for middle and high school students. Stones of Erasmus has created a comprehensive educational resource that provides an engaging, interactive, and distance-learning optimized approach to this timeless tale.

Orpheus enters the underworld.
Image Credit: NYPL Digital Collections

Orpheus stands at the precipice of the underworld, known as Orcus in Roman mythology — and, as Hades in Greek mythology. This signifies the moment in the enduring myth of Orpheus when the gifted musician, driven by desperate love and profound grief, dares to venture into the realm of the dead. His aim, to retrieve his beloved Eurydice, would become one of the most poignant tales of love, loss, and the power of art in ancient myth.

The story of Orpheus, the divine musician who loses his wife Eurydice twice, is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the creative power of music and art. Our resource brings this myth to life in the classroom, whether virtual or physical, through a variety of activities and discussion prompts.

Over a three-day lesson plan, students will delve into the myth, analyze its characters and themes, and engage in critical thinking. The resource includes:

• 1. Art + Literature Connections: Students compare the myth with artwork by renowned artists like Auguste Rodin, fostering a deeper understanding of the story.

• 2. Reading Cards: This lesson is most effective when supplemented with diverse texts from Edith Hamilton's Mythology, Bulfinch's Mythology, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. However, the resource also includes an introductory dictionary entry on classic Greek and Roman mythology for a comprehensive start.

• 3. Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking Questions: These questions encourage students to delve deeper into the text, promoting comprehension and critical thinking.

• 4. Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards: This visual approach to vocabulary helps students understand terms, geography, and challenging words in the context of the story.

• 5. Exit Tickets: These provide immediate feedback on students' understanding of the lesson, helping teachers adjust future instruction as needed.

• 6. Essay Writing Activity: This activity caps off the lesson, allowing students to express their understanding of the myth in a creative way.

Our resource aligns well with the Common Core Standards, particularly the reading literature standard that encourages the analysis of a subject or key scene in two different artistic mediums.

Whether used as a stand-alone lesson or paired with a larger unit on Myth, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves’s Greek Myths, or Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, or Parallel Myths by J.F. Bierlein, this resource offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice.

For more resources like this, visit the Stones of Erasmus TpT store, and join us on our journey to make ELA education more engaging and interactive.

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Writing a Movie Review: Writer's Workshop for Middle and High School Grades 8-10

Incorporating Movies into English Language Arts and Writing Instruction

Unlock English mastery! Transform your classroom with
engaging movie reviews that boost language skills, critical thinking,
and student participation.

Movies are more than just an engaging way to pass the time. They are an amalgamation of storytelling, characterization, themes, and visual representation, which offer a vibrant medium to teach English language arts and writing instruction. Imagine this — your class of young, energetic middle or high schoolers analyzing, discussing, and reviewing movies while learning and honing their English skills. Not only is it fun and engaging, but it also provides an interactive way to understand complex language structures, themes, and concepts.

What's Included?

1. Teacher's Note for Using this Resource in the English and Writing Classroom: A helpful guide to ensure you get the most out of the resources provided.

2. Do's and Don'ts Anchor Chart: A visual guide to direct students on what to include and what to avoid in their movie review.

3. Fillable Movie Information Sheet for Before, During, and After Viewing: This allows students to track key information and impressions throughout the viewing experience, which helps build their review later.

4. Extended Written Response, Movie Quotes Double Entry Journal, Parts of a Movie Review Graphic Organizer: These tools support and scaffold students' writing, thinking, and reflection processes.

5. 3 Exit Ticket Strategies for Formative Assessment: These will help you gauge student understanding and progress at the end of each lesson.

6. Movie Review Skills Assessment, 4-Point Grading Rubric, Student-Facing Checklist, and Grading Sheet: These tools help students self-assess their work and aid teachers in providing clear, fair, and consistent grading.

7. 5-Star Rating and Rough Draft Starter: This provides students a starting point for their review and a simple, familiar way to give their overall rating.

Incorporating movie analysis into your curriculum can be a dynamic way to inspire student engagement and improve their English language and writing skills. By combining entertainment and education, you're teaching them language and skills like critical thinking, analysis, and self-expression.

Related Products

To further extend your resources, consider other products from Stones of Erasmus:

✰ Growing Humanities Bundle for Middle and High School 

✰ Myth Unit for Middle and High School (40+ Days of Content!) 

✰ "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor: Short Story Discussion 

✰ Diagnostic English Language Learner Exams and Essay for Middle and High School

✰ Making Timelines and Recalling Events for Writing in English Language Arts

✰ Integrating Quotations: Writing Activity for the English Language Arts Classroom

Join me on this educational journey. Your feedback, comments, and insights are always welcome. Visit my website at stonesoferasmus.com for more resources and ideas.

© 2022-2023 Stones of Erasmus.

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Rediscovering Ancient Myths with "Narcissus and Echo" Teaching Resource and Educational Digital Download

In Greek mythology's vast and enthralling realm, two tragic characters stand out, captivating the hearts of students and teachers alike: Narcissus and Echo. These emblematic figures, embodying love, beauty, and vanity, have permeated our culture and language, leaving indelible imprints. To immerse ourselves and our students in their dramatic tale, I have created an educational resource, a comprehensive teaching kit that explores their narrative in engaging and thought-provoking ways.

This resource is not just a static, lifeless document. It is an interactive, vibrant educational tool designed to spark interest and facilitate discussion. With a target audience of middle and high school students, the kit is available as a PDF, Google Slides, and as an Easel Activity and Assessment (exclusive to TpT), offering multiple avenues for engagement.

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

Feature-Rich Learning Experience

The resource features a meticulously curated three-day lesson calendar with helpful teacher's notes. An intuitive anchor chart detailing key characters and places provides learners with context and geographical understanding of where these tragic Greek youths lived. A map activity brings this historical context to life, setting the stage for the narratives of Narcissus and Echo.

For the heart of the lesson, there are two-story versions of the Narcissus and Echo myth, each provided with a student-friendly reading protocol. The narratives, followed by a 9-count question bank, aid comprehension and promote discussion. A custom note-taking template ensures students actively engage with the material.

To further enrich the lesson, Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards are included. This innovative technique encourages students to explore vocabulary visually, diving deeper into the terms and contextual entries that fit the story.

Active Understanding and Summative Assessment

The learning process doesn't stop there. Half-sheet exit tickets offer a quick way to gauge student understanding at the end of the lesson. Simultaneously, a writing activity serving as a summative assessment challenges students to write a detailed five-paragraph essay exploring the characters of Echo and Narcissus.

A further reading list, often mistaken as merely a bibliography, provides a wealth of additional resources for those wanting to delve deeper into the myth. Whether for additional assignments or individual exploration, these resources facilitate a more profound understanding and engagement with the tragic tale of Echo and Narcissus.

Teachers will appreciate the included answer keys for all student-facing documents. These keys guide students on what to expect in their written and oral responses.

Integrating the Old with the New

This resource, created with high school students in mind, is an excellent addition to any English Language Arts Mythology unit. It encourages students to discuss beauty, vanity, unrequited love, anthropomorphic personification, and more.

Moreover, this resource can easily be paired with a larger unit on Ovid's Metamorphoses, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves's Greek Myths, or Edith Hamilton's Mythology. It supplements a unit on Graeco-Roman Mythology, offering links to full-text primary resources online.

To explore more myths and legends, check out similar resources on the stories of Cupid and Psyche, Zeus and Metis & The Birth of Athena, Apollo and Daphne, and many more lessons included in the Middle and High School Mythology Series.

A Gift of Knowledge

Lastly, I'd like to thank the New York Public Library Digital Collections. They have made a wealth of public domain material available to the public, a generous gift to educators and learners alike.

Discover a new world of ancient tales with this resource, and join me on a journey through the enthralling stories that have shaped human culture and thought. Embark on the path of knowledge at Stones of Erasmus, © 2023 stonesoferasmus.com.

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