Olympus and Kissavos

(title of a famous traditional song)  

5th Grade Geography: The Mountains of Greece
Section 2- Chapter 13 (Greek Educational System)
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  Mountain-and-Forest-Powerpoint-Backgrounds

 This Creative lesson can be done in any country, by choosing 5 main mountains and their myths.

Materials for the lesson

Children’s bags and backpacks.

Teachers Bell.

Layout of the classroom

The desks are put aside to have empty space in the middle.
On the classroom floor with a chalk we design all the shape of Greece.
The lesson could also take place in the yard or the Indoors gym.

1st Phase

The Teacher divides the children in to 5 groups.
Some days before, he/she assigned them to research about a mountain (each group 1 of 5) as homework (research and learn what myths and stories are hidden behind its name-we refer to these in the end of the creative lesson).
These 5 main mountains, the book also refers to, are: Olympuss, Rodopi range, Pindos, Taygetos and mount Idi of Crete.

2nd Phase

On the map of Greece, drawn on the floor, under the teachers direction, the students place their bags to create the mountains in their right position(Olympus at Thessalia, at Thraki the mountain range of Rodopi, in Crete mount Idi, in the Peloponnese peninsula, Taygettos etc.) Bags and backpacks form the mountains of the lesson. μαθήματος.

3rd Phase

 Each group goes to the place of their assigned mountain and makes the presentation of their little research. First is mount Olympus residence of the 12 Gods of Ancient Greece. Continuing the scenario, the rest of the mountains tell their story and myth behind their name.

4th Phase

The teacher finds the chance to complete the lesson with details from the book (height, place, physiology etc.)

5th Phase

Myths of the Mountains
Olympus: Residence of the 12 Gods of Ancient Greece.

Mount Range of Pindos:  In the Ancient Times, Pindos was the sacred mountain dedicated to Apollo and the Muses. The name came from the son of Macedon, Pindos who had two more brothers that envied him. There was a war between the brothers and each took a mountain top. From the tops, they each threw rocks at each other, mainly at Pindos  and one of them killed him. So it is explained how at the Dragon-Lake of Smolika (that belonged to Pindos)we find white rocks while around there are only black. And at the dragon-lake of Gamila, we see black, while around there are only white rocks on this mountain.

Mount Taygettos: according to Mythology, it took its name from the Nymph, Taygeti, one of the daughters of Atlas, who united with Zeus and from their union the important hero of the area, Lacedaemon, was born.

Mount Range of Rodopi: According to the Greek Mythology, the mount range was named after the Queen of Thraki, Rodopi, wife of King Aimos. They both provoked the rage of Zeus and Hera when they said that they are grander than the two Gods. Their punishment was to be transformed into two high mountains.

Mount Idi-Psiloreitis:  was the mountain that the Kourites lived. At the Ideo andro they hid Zeus when he was a baby so his father Cronus would not eat him. Kourites made lots of noise with tins and metals to cover the crying of the little God. Special reference to the goat Amaltheia, which from her horn Zeus was nourished with milk and honey.