The Percy Jackson book series has seized elementary readers everywhere, and it is the perfect opportunity to incorporate Greek and Roman mythology into your history lessons! The books follow a young protagonist, Percy, who finds out that the world of Greek mythology is real and that he’s at the center of it; he’s a demigod, half mortal, half Greek god. And the hands-on series of books by Evan-Moor, Literature Pockets: Greek and Roman Myths (grades 4–6), educates young readers about Greek mythology and history and provides a gateway into the history of the ancient world.
Supplement your social studies lessons with this unit from Literature Pockets: Greek and Roman Myths to include exciting myths like Perseus and the Gorgons and Pandora’s Jar that students will love learning about! These engaging lessons and activities will bring Percy Jackson to life!
Pocket 2: Pandora’s Jar
Learn all about the myth of Pandora’s jar, a classic tale of a character who let her curiosity get the best of her. After reading the myth, the students will design their very own Greek-style vase, learn vocabulary and comprehension, and write their own short story about a curious character and a sealed container. Get this individual unit on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Pocket 3: Perseus and the Gorgons
This pocket presents the Greek myth of the great hero Perseus (the book’s Percy Jackson was named after him) as he takes on the evil gorgon, Medusa, who turns people to stone with one look. The unit includes activities like making an illustrated mini book, creating a 3D Medusa, writing a news article about Perseus’s victory, and a vocabulary and comprehension activity page. Find this individual unit on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Pocket 5: The Race for Atalanta
This unit includes the myth of Melanion, who ran a race to win the heart of his true love, princess Atalanta, and won with the help of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. After students read the myth, they’ll complete activities like illustrating the victory scene, creating a mini book about Greek sports, and creating a moveable portrait of Melanion holding his gift from Aphrodite. The unit also includes a comprehensive vocabulary page. Get this unit here, on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Pocket 6: Persephone and the Seasons
A lot of Greek myths help explain natural phenomena; for example, the Greek myth of Persephone explains why we have four seasons and why they are so different. The unit includes a story plot flowchart, a character map, a puppet show activity where students will write, create, and perform a show about the myth, and a vocabulary page. This unit is individually available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Percy Jackson–Themed Activities and Projects
Character Cereal Box Project
This hands-on book report project focuses on one character from a book and can be expanded for any book report. Students will pick one character from Percy Jackson or the Greek myths. It could be a human character, a Greek god, or anything in between. After they select a character, each student will create a cereal brand based on that character.
Each student will redecorate a cereal box with pictures, slogans, and “nutritional facts.” Instruct students to write a summary of the book or myth on the back of the cereal box, the nutritional facts on one side, a list of important characters on the other, and their title and illustrations on the front! They can even advertise a “prize” inside that relates to the book or character, like a toy sword inside Percy-Os!
Directions:
1.Write a summary of the book or myth on the back of the cereal box.
2. Create nutritional facts on one side of the box. Facts should relate to the character.
3. Write a list on the other side of the box of the character’s personality traits, powers, and other relevant information.
For example:
Percy-Os! A little bit of hero to start your morning off right! Nutritional facts: 30 g of heroism, 20 g of loyalty, 10 g of sarcasm, 20 g of bravery, 5 g of saltwater, 10 g of athleticism, and 3 drops of blue artificial coloring.
4. Decorate the front of the cereal box with a title and illustrations.
Supplies Needed:
- One cereal box per student
- Colored construction paper
- Scissors, glue, markers, pens
Creative Writing Prompts
Instruct your students to imagine that they live in the Percy Jackson universe. Make the prompt as open-ended as possible, so the students can use their imagination to place themselves inside the world of Greek gods and heroes. Listed below are a few examples:
- Which character would they be? Would they be a Greek god? A demigod hero?
- What monster are they facing?
- Maybe your students want to pretend they’re campers at Camp Half-Blood…which cabin do they belong to? Are they going to win Capture the Flag?
Create-a-Monster Art Project
Engage your students in Greek mythology by having them create their own monster! They can mix and match traits from the monsters they’ve read about, or make their own from scratch. Have your students draw their monster on a piece of paper and label its abilities (e.g., acid breath, four heads, spiked tail, etc.).
To further this activity, have your students write about how this monster gets defeated and by which hero. It can be a hero from myths, like Hercules, or their very own hero from the activity above. No monster is too fearsome for your classroom heroes!
Use these lessons and activities to turn your classroom into a mini Greek villa! The Percy Jackson series is a successful gateway into Greek history, and will keep students engaged and fascinated. Check out Rick Riordan’s other successful series, which dive into the mythological adventures of Roman demigods, Egyptian descendants, and Norse heroes.
Discover more history pockets:
 History Pockets: Ancient Rome grades 4–6 |
 History Pockets: Ancient Egypt grades 4–6 |
 History Pockets: Ancient Civilizations grades 1–3 |
Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.