To the Teacher:

Enclosed is the Ancient Beginnings packet.. This packet, an update of the 2003 Ancient Beginnings packet,
includes additional and replacement activity pages for the thematic section and the subtests of the 2011
National Mythology Exam. All materials in this packet are geared toward children in grades three and above.

The stories of Prometheus, Pand Pandora, and Deucalion in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths provided the
information for all activities listed in the Table of Contents under the heading “Ancient Beginnings Exam
Materials.” These activities may be used to prepare students for the thematic sect
section of the 2011 exam. Three
more sections, “Ancient Beginnings Enrichment: Prometheus,” “Ancient Beginnings Enrichment: Pandora,” and
“Ancient Beginnings Enrichment: Deucalion” include materials for use as extension activities. All the materials
for the sub-tests are test-specific:
specific: Book 1 of the Iliad, Book 10 of the Odyssey,
Odyssey Book 2 of the Aeneid, and
designated Native American, African, and Norse myths.

Additional mythology teaching packets are available from the Elementary Teachers of Classics.

The Olympian Gods packet is useful for the National Mythology Exam every year.
year

The Olympian Gods -- provides preparation for

for the first thirty questions of the National Mythology
Exam. The activities and information focus on the gods, goddesses, and basic
myths.

Other available teaching packets include the following:

Underworld – focuses on Demeter and Persephone, Ixion, Asclepius, The Muses,

Muse Orpheus and Eurydice,
Tantalus, and Sisyphus and includes a special mini-unit
unit entitled “Guided Tours Through
the Underworld”

Perseus and Mythological Monsters – features the myth of Perseus and highlights a variety of
mythological monsters

Transformations – includes a variety of materials centered upon the theme of transformations in

mythologyy with emphasis
emp on Echo and Narcissus, Apollo and Daphne, and Orion

Theseus – focuses on the myth of the Athenian hero, Theseus

Jason and the Argonauts – features the myth of Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece

Heracles Teaching Packet – focuses on the Twelve Labors of Heracles

The rewards of studying mythology are many. Knowledge of mythology increases the appreciation of literary
reference, provides a basis for the understanding of art, aids in the acquisition of vocabulary, and helps to
create historical perspective. An interest in mythology can be a springboard to the study of foreign language,
comparative mythology, anthropology, literature, art history, and world history. As you invite mythology into
your classroom, it is our hope that you and your students will find these packets enjoyable and useful.

Best wishes from your packet editors,

Kris Tracy and Andrew Carroll