Stones of Erasmus | English Language Arts and Humanities Resources for the Middle and High School Classroom | Grades 6–12

The Tragic Genius of Daedalus: Greek Myth for Teens

I’ve always had a conflicted relationship with stories about fathers and sons, which is why the myth of Daedalus has always spoken to me. On the surface, Daedalus is a hero—sometimes even described as a demigod. But look deeper and you'll find a darker tale. Daedalus, the legendary Athenian inventor, is a prototype for the scientist-artist: brilliant, creative, but deeply flawed.

Growing up, my own father worked in an oil plant as a mechanic—far from a Daedalus figure. Yet, I always admired the idea of the accomplished, technically-skilled dad, full of techne. In the Greek myth, Daedalus becomes jealous of his gifted nephew, Talos, and pushes him from the heights of the Acropolis. Some versions say Talos dies; others that he’s transformed into a partridge. Either way, Daedalus is convicted and exiled.

In Crete, Daedalus is caught up in King Minos’s political games, building the labyrinth to contain the monstrous Minotaur. The web of myths—Minos, Pasiphaë, the bull, Theseus, and Ariadne—all spiral around Daedalus. But at the heart is a theme that feels painfully modern: the unintended consequences of genius and ambition.

Eventually, Daedalus and his son Icarus attempt their escape from Crete on wings fashioned from wax and feathers. Despite his father's warnings, Icarus flies too close to the sun; the wax melts and he falls into the sea. The story is a cautionary tale—about invention, about parenting, and about the tragic cost of overreaching. Talos and Icarus are both sacrifices, consumed by Daedalus's drive and flaws.

This myth still resonates today: human innovation can bring light—or unleash disaster. Whether it's fossil fuels, AI, or air conditioning, our inventions often have unintended consequences. We, like Daedalus, are both brilliant and blind to the costs.

After Athens and Crete, Daedalus ends up on the island of King Cocalus, still inventing, still being hunted by Minos. His cleverness solves the riddle of the spiral shell, but it also gives him away. Even at the end, he cannot stop inventing—no matter the danger.

So are we the inheritors of our fathers’ mistakes, or do we forge our own paths? Teaching the myth of Daedalus to teenagers is challenging but rewarding. The themes—creativity, jealousy, consequence—are universal and deeply relevant.

I’ve created a classroom-ready lesson plan on Daedalus for middle and high school ELA teachers. It’s perfect for units on Greek mythology, invention, or even modern novels like Percy Jackson. Bring this compelling story to your students—and add it to your teaching toolbox!

PDF Copy for Printing

Download the Daedalus & Icarus Lesson Plan

Explore the full resource—discussion prompts, activities, visuals, and more for the Daedalus myth:

Gorgeous Lesson Activity for The Vatican Apostolic Palace — Perfect for Art History, Humanities, and English Language Arts (Grades 10-12)

Explore the Vatican Apostolic Palace After Pope Leo XIV’s Election

Bring the renewed buzz surrounding the Vatican Apostolic Palace straight into your classroom! Our print-and-digital lesson lets students in grades 10-12 investigate how papal power, art, and architecture intersect, using maps, primary sources, and CCSS-aligned analysis tasks.

Why You’ll Love This Resource

• Interdisciplinary power: Perfect for Art History, Social Studies, and ELA crossover units.
• Primary-source rich: Includes Mary W. Arms’s 1909 account of an audience with Pope Pius X, plus two lavishly illustrated cards on the Sala Regia and Sala Ducal.
• Two vintage maps: A 1929 Vatican City plan and a 1914 floor map of the palace help students visualize the popes’ world.
• Ready-to-teach supports: Teacher notes, Cornell and illustrated notetakers, Frayer vocabulary model, 23-question bank, exit tickets, and a two-point rubric keep planning time low.

Inside the Download

Formats: PDF • Google Slides

Student-facing materials — anchor charts of key figures and places, guided overview text, map activities, primary-source reading card, supplemental art cards, notecatchers, vocabulary practice, and exit tickets.
Teacher-facing materials — answer keys, rubric, and extension ideas that invite students to research figures like Bernini, Bramante, and Pope Sixtus V.

Classroom Ideas

1. Map Race: Assign small groups a list of palace rooms—first team to locate them on the 1914 plan wins candy.
2. Socratic Seminar: Use the question bank to debate whether modern popes should still live in the Apostolic Palace.
3. Art + Lit Connection: Pair Vasari’s frescoes of papal triumphs with passages from Dante or Petrarch for a thematic collage.

Ready to Dive In?

Download the free resource and add it to your teacher toolkit, and let your students traverse centuries of Vatican history without leaving their seats.

© 2025 Stones of Erasmus. Public-domain images courtesy of Google Books and The New York Public Library.

Launch of Stones of Erasmus Store: Free Greek Myth Genealogy Charts & $3 Tyche/Nemesis Lesson Plan – 300th Digital Download

🎉 New Storefront + 300th Digital Download!

Since 2015 I’ve been running Stones of Erasmus, a home for education, art, literature, and creative sparks. Today I’m thrilled to unveil my brand-new storefront and celebrate my 300th digital resource with two featured downloads.

Free Greek-Mythology Genealogy Charts (15 pages)

Tyche and Nemesis Lesson Activity ($3)

What's Inside?

• Tyche & Nemesis Lesson Plan – explores Fortune, fate, and moral balance; Common Core, VA SOL, and TEKS aligned; includes question banks, writing tasks, and flexible pacing (only $3).
• Greek-Mythology Genealogy Charts – 15 beautifully designed family trees clarifying divine and heroic lineages. Ideal for anchor charts, posters, or LMS uploads – free for life.

Why Download?

These resources save prep time, deepen myth comprehension, and look great on classroom walls or digital slides. Add them to your toolkit now—future you (and your students) will thank you!

▶ Visit Stones of Erasmus for TpT, Made By Teachers, and The Stones of Erasmus Storefront

PDF Copy for Printing 

From Zero to 2,036: My Slow Burn Journey as a TpT Seller

I'm eager to share more about my side endeavor where I craft and vend educational digital content. My process involves considering what educators might need—be it customizable digital worksheets, interactive games featuring mythological characters, or innovative lesson plans that incorporate philosophy into the classroom. I'm dedicated to creating these resources with a special focus on enriching the teaching experience for middle and high school English and humanities instructors.

The chart shows visually how my store has grown bit by bit.

    Hello, fellow educators and creators! I want to share my personal journey as a TpT (Teachers Pay Teachers) seller to offer encouragement to those just starting out and connect with my fellow middle and high school humanities and English content creators.

My Timeline on TpT

• 2017: Took the plunge and opened my TpT store. However, I didn't manage to sell any units.
• 2018: Still dipping my toes in, I sold a meager 4 units.
• 2019: Finally began to take things a bit more seriously midway through the year, resulting in 107 units sold.
• 2020 & 2021: This was when I really decided to commit, and it paid off. I sold 188 units in 2020 and a whopping 541 units in 2021.
• 2022: Continued my upward trajectory with 603 units sold.
• 2023 (as of November 1st): Already close to last year's total with 588 units sold.
• All-Time Units Sold: 2,036 and counting!

A Closer Look

As I posted (see figure above), my TpT journey is visually a slow burn (maybe burning a wild campfire, who knows?!). The quick snapshot of my journey is from the online tool TpT has created for sellers to see stats and stuff. 

My Style

I'd be the first to admit I'm not what you'd call a "serious" seller. My store doesn't follow traditional marketing techniques, and my cover designs are beautiful pieces of chaos. But the numbers speak for themselves — buyers, especially those in the middle and high school humanities and English sectors, appreciate what I bring to the table.

So, whether you're a newbie struggling to make your first sale or a veteran looking for some inspiration, remember that there's room for everyone in this marketplace. Just find your niche and stick with it!

Cheers to more learning and sharing ahead!

PDF for Printing

Celebrating 1,000 Posts: Reflecting on My Blogging Journey on Stones of Erasmus (Is it a Milestone Worth Celebrating? Yes! I Think it Is.)

Celebrating 1,000 posts on Stones of Erasmus! From poetry to lesson plans, join me in reflecting on my journey as a writer and educator.

1,000 Blog Posts Later

Writing my 1,000th post for my blog, Stones of Erasmus, is a milestone that I find challenging to write about. I started this blog when I was still a Benedictine monk, and it has stayed with me through various life changes, including my stint as a high school English teacher in New Orleans, my time at the New School for Social Research, and my New York City sojourn.

Initially, my blog was a mishmash of embarrassing pieces of poetry and ersatz literary criticism, sprinkled in with some theology and movie reviews. Over time, my blog has evolved and become more focused. Although it still includes some of those early elements, such as movie reviews and records of my visits to random art museums, it now features a lot of educational content related to my teaching career.

One of my earliest obsessions was making things up, and my journey as a teacher has allowed me to indulge that passion. I create digital educational resources such as clip art and lesson plans that I share on my blog. I also write about my creations, sharing my experiences with my readers.

A Writer's Blog As An Excuse To Journal

Writing on my blog has also allowed me to indulge in another childhood obsession: keeping a journal. I still have my first spiral notebook, which contains my first journal entries from the end of my fifth-grade year through the monotony of sixth grade. As an adult, I have only read it once. However, I am considering adding it to my blog, which would be a fun and nostalgic experience.

Answering Questions from My Students

Some of my high school students have asked me about my blog, such as whether I make any money. The answer is yes and no. I used to use AdWords from Google, but I stopped using it. My blog does make money, but it is minimal, around one hundred dollars a year. The income comes from people clicking on a link to one of the digital educational resources I sell, such as my popular lesson plan on teaching Plato's Allegory of the Cave to middle and high school kids.

The Future of Blogging
Another student asked me why I continue to write my blog when long-form writing appears dead. My blog is more permanent than other forms of social media, and I enjoy the idea that more people are likely to stumble upon it, whether through a Google search or a link somewhere. I am always surprised when old posts receive a resurgence, such as a post I wrote years ago about words from Greek mythology or a post I wrote about The Iliad, which has remained popular for some reason. The difference between long-form blogging and other types of content on the internet is that blog writers offer a unique perspective on things. I enjoy reading other blogs, such as those written by nannies or teachers, because they share their personal experiences, which is powerful.

As my blog has evolved, I have also learned some important lessons about writing. One of the most important lessons is to keep writing, even when I do not like it. I easily get discouraged when I get few views or comments on my blog. However, I have learned that if I keep writing, eventually, people will discover my work, and it will find an audience.

Another lesson I have learned is the importance of editing. Writing is a process that takes time to craft a well-written post. I often write several drafts before I am happy with the final version. It is also essential to proofread my work carefully, looking for spelling and grammatical errors. Reading my work out loud is helpful, as this helps me catch mistakes I might have missed otherwise.

Finally, I have learned that blogging is a community activity. Blogging is not just about writing for myself but also about connecting with others with similar interests.

Drum roll, please.

Here are my favorite selections from Stones of Erasmus (in no particular order):

• Grandson and Grandfather: Birthday Portrait
• Story from the Classroom: A Severe Whooshing Sound
• Top Ten Movies in Black & White
• Blaise Pascal On The Contradictory Nature of Human Beings
• Repost from Kurt Vonnegut: Liberal Crap I Don't Want to Hear Anymore
• Book Review: Repulsion as Metaphor
• Travel Postcard: That Time I Visited a Public Library in Saltillo, Mexico
• On Writer's Block — A Journal & Rant
• Thinking About the Roman God Janus On New Year’s Eve
• On St. Ann and Bourbon: A Story of a Mardi Gras Day

PDF Copy for Printing