Syllabus
Mythology
Week 1 
  • Familiarize yourself with the rules, policies and expectations of this course 
  • Get comfortable with course navigation and explore the different technical aspects of this course 
  • Get to know your teacher and classmates 
  • Work as a group to create a "Social Contract" for this class to insure a safe, respectful, supportive and productive community of learners 
Week 2 
  • Read stories of creation online. 
  • Discuss with classmates these creation myths, comparing and contrasting. 
  • Complete a quiz based on weekly reading assignment.  
  • Write about a local phenomenon and explain why it has mythical overtones.  
  • Create a creation myth -- Rough Draft. 
Week 3 
  • Continue reading about and discussing creation myths. 
  • Work as an editorial team providing constructive feedback to student written creation myths. 
  • Summarize creation myths read.
     
Week 4 
  • Understand copyright, discuss using someone else’s work, and take a quiz. 
  • Read stories of gods and goddesses in the classical tradition. 
  • List descriptive characteristics of gods/goddesses/deities from classical mythology. 
Week 5 
  • Continue reading about gods, goddesses, and other deities from various traditions. 
  • List descriptive characteristics of ten gods/goddesses/deities and find illustrations to represent these deities. 
  • Create a god/goddess/deity for the new millennium. 
Week 6 
  • Read and discuss fertility myths (including the blood myths) and myths of lovers. 
  • Conduct interview about fertility myths in their own current culture and share the results. 
Week 7 
  • Read myths about people who angered the gods. 
  • Write a personal essay about revenge. 
  • Participate in an assignment and discussion with classmates about justice and punishment.
     
Week 8 
  • Read stories of traditional and divine heroes and heroines. 
  • Create a list of characteristics of traditional and divine heroes. 
  • Interview family and friends about their own heroes. 
  • Write a compare/contrast essay about traditional and divine heroes/heroines.
     
Week 9 
  • Collaborate to research and share stories, images, icons, and attributes of a hero. 
  • Complete a hero evaluation. 
  • Participate in a discussion about the hero evaluation 
  • Collaborate with classmates to revise a compare/contrast essay.
     
Week 10 
  • Read an excerpt from an epic poem. 
  • Discuss the characteristics of an epic hero 
  • Examine modern superheroes and participate in a discussion.
     
Week 11 
  • Read and discuss an article on animals in mythology. 
  • Read and share animal myths and fables. 
  • Write an animal myth. 
Week 12 
  • Discuss monster fears in childhood. 
  • Read about monsters and share. 
  • Create a monster. 
  • Write an original monster myth.
     
Week 13 
  • Read stories of tricksters 
  • Discuss the behavior and purpose of tricksters in literature and film today and in mythology 
  • Create a poster 
  • Discuss why the trickster character is a part of mythology and culture
     
Week 14 
  • Read stories about the underworld and life-after-death options. 
  • Discuss the afterworlds of various cultures. 
  • Create a hell based on Dante’s Inferno 
  • Examine the influence of world politics on Israel's economy 
Week 15 
  • Read stories of the end of the world from various cultures and share impressions 
  • Post a final draft of their hell based on Dante’s model 
  • Reflect on time spent in this course.
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