A trip to the Mythological Zoo!!!Attached is a word document full of factual blurbs and images about some prominent creatures in Mythology that still show up in literature and conversation today. Each creature has a description and two pictures, one traditional Greek image and one image of a modern adaptation. Print out these information sheets and post them around the room like zoo exhibits and give the students time to explore the zoo! (Adaptation: prepare a voice recording of the written information to make this activity appropriate for nonreaders.) These fact sheets can be supplemented with videos (displayed on I-pads at each station, or by models of the creatures. (Some, like Pegasus are easy to come by and would greatly benefit the tactile learners.)

After the students have had sufficient time to explore the exhibits gather the students around the smart board for a Matching Activity.

-Students will be prompted to match them picture/name of the animal to one of its characteristics. (Details about how this will actually work.)

If students are having trouble with the matching activity, prompt them to use their resources and return to the exhibit to read or listen to the information again.

Cerbeus Sounds like: Sir-be-us

Cerbeus is a three headed dog with a spiked tail like a dragon. His job is to guard the gate to the underworld. He allows souls in, but no souls shall leave.

CentaursSounds like: Cin-tars

These creatures are half men and half horses. They have the body of a horse with the upper body of a man. And they got the worst parts of a man’s and a horses’ personality. Centaurs were savage beasts, all but Chiron.

PegasusSounds like: Peg-a-sis

Pegasus is a beautiful winged horse that was created when Medusa’s head was cut off. Pegasus was wild and swift. Zeus made him the carrier of his thunderbolts.

CyclopsSounds like: Si-clops

Cyclops means wheel-eyed, this is their name because they only have one eye. Cyclops were the giant sized children of Mother Earth.

HarpiesSounds like: Har-pees

Harpies are scary birds with the heads of women, they have sharp beaks and claws and they smell terrible! They eat any food they see and leave a nasty mess behind them.

SphinxSounds like: S-fi-nks

A clever monster with the body of a lion and the head of a woman, sometimes portrayed as having wings. She would lay in the middle of the road and give a riddle to anyone who wanted to pass.

NymphsSounds like: ne-m-ph-s

Female sprits of nature, there are many of them.