Teaching Mythology

In this episode, we continue exploring the Hero's Journey in Part Two, focusing on the Initiation or Road of Trials. Using examples from popular stories like Harry Potter and Star Wars, the episode discusses various stages of the initiation. Each stage is analyzed, providing insights into how these events shape the hero and prepare them for their ultimate quest.

Want to teach the Heroic Journey to your classes?  Check out ...

After a two-year hiatus, I'm back discussing  Joseph Campbell's Monomyth or Heroic Journey. Diving into this narrative archetype used in storytelling worldwide, I'll use examples from 'Star Wars' and 'Harry Potter' to illustrate the stages of this journey, including the departure, initiation, and return. This episode covers the first act, elaborating on the hero's separation from their known ...

Our Christmas and holiday traditions are steeped in centuries-old traditions and folktales that date back to the pagan era.  In this episode, I will retell and discuss 11 different witches, , grandmothers, trickster boys and old me, and goddesses from mythology that all relate to the winter solstice and winter holiday traditions.

Here is who I will be talking about in brief (you can use the chapter markers to jump to the o...

Take a walk with me through the Greek Underworld, past the river Styx, through the gates of Hades as we explore the Elysian Fields and Tartarus.  What you may think the Underworld is like, is probably not really how it is.  I also share my favorite assignment to do with my students to help them explore the Underworld - students create their own map of the Underworld as they read descriptions of it.

You can check out the Ma...

According to the Greeks, we have seasons thanks to Demeter, Persephone, and Hades.  But you may not know that the myth of seasons is really a myth about life, death, and rebirth.  It is also one of the greatest love stories in Greek Mythology.  It is a story about the love of a mother for her daughter and the love between Persephone and Hades.  Don't believe me?  Take a listen.

Read the transcript HERE

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It seems as though every culture or mythological system has death myths.  The preoccupation with the afterlife is something that has transferred very quickly into our modern world.  We see it with the never-ending pursuit of that youthful glow.  In Ancient Greece, Sisyphus's obsession over not dying led him to trick Gods, force his wife to not bury him, and negotiating with the goddess Persephone.  He was able to trick death t...

This is a serious episode today - more serious than I originally intended when I planned it.  Today, I'm going to talk about whether or not we should censor mythology and things you should consider when choosing what myths to teach in your classroom.

I've made this Google Doc of How I Map out My Year of Mythology to help you.  In it, I have links to resources, website, and myths.  This is a living document, so I ...

Are you teaching mythology, but don't know where to start or what to include for the time you have?  In this episode, I outline what I would teach if I had 2 weeks, 1 month, 1 quarter, 1 semester, or a full year of teaching mythology.

I've made this Google Doc of How I Map out My Year of Mythology to help you.  In it, I have links to resources, website, and myths.  This is a living document, so I am continually a...

Are you looking for resources for teaching Mythology? Do you need some help with how to get started teaching Mythology?    Here are some of my favorite resources and tips for teaching mythology.  I mention a ton of links in the show.  I have the links below, but you can also get them at the Show Notes on my blog.

Click here to get 3 Free Mythology Lessons.

Here are my two blog posts I talk about in the Podcast:

I love looking for similarities in myths from around the world.  The Myth of Pandora and the story of Eve both teach us that the Ancient World believed that the curiosity of the first women brought about all the evils in the world.  Come with me and we explore the similarities of these two myths and I explain how a lesson on symbolism with the myth of Pandora led to an unexpected social-emotional lesson.

Additional Resourc...

The ancient Greeks had two different myths explaining the creation of man.  The first being told by Hesiod, where he describes the four ages of men.  The other myth involves Prometheus creating man to be like the Gods, stealing fire from the Gods, and incurring the wrath of Zeus.  But both myths teach us about hierarchy in the ancient (and modern) world.

Additional Resources

Want my Greek Creation PowerPoint Slides to use i...

Today I'm going to share with you a graduation speech that I gave a few years ago. There's something about high school graduations that are special. They're life events that your entire family gets involved in, in the community you have parties and barbecues.  I have been in charge of graduations a two different schools - they are massive events and the culmination of 12 years of school.  Talk about pressure! 
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In today's episode, we continue the Greek Creation story.  We left Zeus off on the island of Crete.  As he grows stronger, Gaia whispers to Zeus to overthrow his father Kronos.  With the help of a magic potion, a massive amount of vomiting, and the cyclopes, Zeus is able to overthrow Kronos in an epic battle called the Titanomachy. 

Additional Resources

Want my PowerPoint Slides to use in your class - get them HERE.

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Today we're going to talk about the Greek creation story, a whole lot about castration ,and about cannibalism too. Hold on tight because the Greek creation is a wild story that is a little bit about creation and a whole lot about the gods, goddesses, and Titans that ruled the ancient world!

Additional Resources

Want my PowerPoint Slides to use in your class - get them HERE.
Want to try the Clash of the Gods in your...

The first day of class is probably always the worst day.  You have to go over rules and procedures, answer questions about homework and grading, and force students to "get to know each other" through awkward ice-breaker games.  Or do you?

Here is my first day lesson plan for my mythology classes.  Did I teach routines and procedures - sure, but they were how to have discussions and work together - not how to ask to go to t...

Today I'm going to share with you my background and why I wanted to start a podcast.

I've been in education for 15 years and was incredibly lucky to be a mythology teacher for several years in a high school.  When I first started teaching, I was given some horrible advice about what to teach and what not to teach.  And boy, am I grateful I didn't listen to that teacher. 

So come on in and get to k...

Welcome to the Teaching Mythology Podcast.  This podcast is for teachers wanting to learn more about the myths, get ideas for lessons, and talk about the myths through a modern-day lens.

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