ALEX Classroom Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [LAT] LA1 (7-12) 6 :

6) Investigate and describe the most important Greco-Roman deities, including their characteristics, duties, and associated myths.

Examples: Olympian gods, earth gods, mythical monsters, and creation stories.

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify Latin influences on other disciplines.

Examples: Roman numerals, metric prefixes in (mathematics), anatomical terminology, and names of planets (science).

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 13 :

13) Identify similarities of their own culture to that of the Greco-Roman world.

Examples: Architecture, daily life, themes and heroes of classical mythology.

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 15 :

15) Identify professional fields that employ Latin terminology.

Examples: Medicine, law, pharmacy, engineering, and science.

This lesson allows students to make connections between Latin, astronomy terminology, and Greco-Roman art. Students will be introduced to the Greco-Roman myth of Phaeton and how he created the Milky Way galaxy by critically analyzing The Fall of Phaeton by Rubens. The lesson provides a detailed background that explains the artwork, guiding questions that help transition from the art to a discussion of the constellations and astronomy, step-by-step activity instructions, and an optional extension. Middle school and High School Latin students should add to this assignment by creating a list of astronomy-related words that are influenced by Latin.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [LAT] LA1 (7-12) 2 :

2) Read and understand appropriate Latin vocabulary, inflectional systems, and syntax.

a. Summarize and translate passages of Latin composed or adapted for acquisition of content and language skills appropriate for Level I.

b. Answer questions in Latin or English about short passages of Latin composed or adapted for acquisition of content and language skills appropriate to Level I.

Examples of grammar appropriate to Level I: See the Latin Grammar Addendum (Appendix A, page 67).

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate and describe elements of Roman daily life.

Examples: Calendar, household gods, government, family, social organization, Roman games, and holidays like Saturnalia.

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify Latin influences on other disciplines.

Examples: Roman numerals, metric prefixes in (mathematics), anatomical terminology, and names of planets (science).

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 13 :

13) Identify similarities of their own culture to that of the Greco-Roman world.

Examples: Architecture, daily life, themes and heroes of classical mythology.

This Latin activity introduces students to the differences between reading in Latin and reading in English while emulating how Latin students learned to read text. It offers two samples of familiar English texts printed in a fashion similar to ancient Latin. The first is a segment of "Cat in the Hat" as well as a segment from "To Kill a Mockingbird."  As students read these selections they look for differences and similarities between the reading process in Latin and English. The link suggests that students finish the activity by looking at a sample of Virgil's Aeneid to discuss learning to read in ancient times versus modern times.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [LAT] LA1 (7-12) 6 :

6) Investigate and describe the most important Greco-Roman deities, including their characteristics, duties, and associated myths.

Examples: Olympian gods, earth gods, mythical monsters, and creation stories.

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify Latin influences on other disciplines.

Examples: Roman numerals, metric prefixes in (mathematics), anatomical terminology, and names of planets (science).

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 11 :

11) Recognize plots and themes of Greco-Roman myths and their influence in literature, art, and music.

[LAT] LA1 (7-12) 13 :

13) Identify similarities of their own culture to that of the Greco-Roman world.

Examples: Architecture, daily life, themes and heroes of classical mythology.

[LAT] LA2 (7-12) 7 :

7) Investigate and describe Latin influences on modern academic disciplines, world languages such as English and the Romance languages, history, and philosophy.

Examples: Stoic and Epicurean philosophy on contemporary ideas and literature, similarities and differences between modern and Roman military tactics.

[LAT] LA2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Describe Roman influences on contemporary arts and culture.

Examples: The television series Rome, the movies Gladiator, Cleopatra, and Troy, and contemporary youth literature.

This learning activity is created to follow Social Studies and Language Arts standards however, the content makes a perfect connection to the Latin literary figures addressed in the Latin standards for the state of Alabama. The activities are in English but provide insight into "The Metamorphoses" by Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid). It includes guiding questions, background information, an essay-based assessment, and multiple extensions that allow students to compare "The Metamorphoses" with later works of art and modern poetry.