Museum of Homer's Excellent Adventure

Introduction / Purpose of the Program
Homer met a cast of characters while on his excellent adventure. Help introduce these characters and tell about his journey by opening a museum telling the story of Homer's Excellent Adventure.

Students will select and research characters from Homer's Excellent Adventure and present their information in character in a museum setting.

Common Core
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.1.A; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.1.B; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.1.C; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.2.A; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.2.D; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.3.A; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.3.D; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.6; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.8; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.9
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6-8.4; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6-8.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.4; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.8

TEKS
SS6 113.18: 1, 2a, 3c, 5, 5b, 13a, 13d, 15a, 15b, 21
ELAR6 110.22: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12

Detailed Description of the Program
Students will draw or choose from the list of characters in Homer's Excellent Adventure to research. The book Homer's Excellent Adventure as well as outside sources will be used.

Once students have researched their character, they are to come up with a costume that represents that character. Have students think outside of the box. Instead of the traditional togas that people think of, what modern way could they represent them? (For example, Zeus might be dressed in a power suit, wearing a crown and carrying a large thunderbolt. Aeolus might be carrying a battery operated fan, wearing large plastic ears, and have a fold out wallet that contains pictures of his twelve children.) Students should not only dress for the character, but should also be able to act the way they did in the book.

Set up
As a class or grade level, decide how the tour should take place. Will Homer and Dory be docents and take attendants on the tour introducing them to the people they met along the way? Will attendees be allowed to wander and visit the characters that they wish?

The order of places and characters to visit should follow the order of the book. This could be done in one large space divided, or use classrooms to represent each place.

Other ideas
Decorate or make signage for each place.
Make a tour using Virtual Reality
Have Green Screens up for each place with appropriate props and a background picture

The students, dressed as their character, will introduce and tell a little bit about themselves, making sure that they include how they fit into Homer’s story.

Every opening event should have snacks. Have students research traditional Greek food. Have students use the recipe for Dory’s Hardtack, listed in the book, to serve.

List of Supplies
Paper
pencils/pens
computers/tablets
Databases (if access is available)
Reference books (nonfiction books)
Costumes
List of characters
Name tags
Optional:
Green screen
Virtual reality

Resources
Videos to watch before reading Homer's Excellent Adventure
A Long and Difficult Journey, or The Odyssey: Crash Course Literature 201 (Preview first. Skip 6:55-7:57)
Everything You Need to Know to Read Homer's "Odyssey"
The Science Behind the Myth: Homer's "Odyssey"
Websites
Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Greece
Ducksters Ancient Greek Mythology
Greek Myths 4 Kids
Eat Like an Ancient Greek
More Eat Like an Ancient Greek
Virtual Reality Tour Creator

Characters
See the list From Homer's Excellent Adventure