Junior & Young Writers: Week 5 - Greek Mythology [from Perseus to Percy Jackson]

Hi Writers,

This week’s writing workshop took us deep into the world of Greek mythology! Our check-in exercise had everyone describing their week as a mythical creature or monster, leading to some brilliant comparisons. One example likened their school week to that of a Minotaur, as they are currently studying Greek mythology. Another example embodied the Hydra to represent an intense week.

We explored the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece, delving into what the Greeks believed and how mythology shaped their world. We also examined famous Greek monsters, including some well-known figures like Medusa and the Chimera, as well as the lesser-known but formidable ‘Typhon,’ the father of monsters. The group also discussed modern retellings of these myths, including Who Let the Gods Out? and the Percy Jackson series.

For our first creative activity, we split into two groups of three and crafted our very own Greek theatre performances. Each play featured a hero, god(dess), and chorus performer. As expected, the performances consisted of chaos, creativity and dramatic flair.

For our writing exercise, the prompts included the following:

Retelling a famous Greek story from a different character’s perspective
Two characters attending Camp Half-Blood and embarking on an adventure
Strangers exploring an ancient, monster-filled labyrinth
A day in the life of a Greek god or goddess on Mount Olympus
A modern discovery of Pandora’s box—what evils escape, and does hope remain?

The group produced some engaging pieces of fiction. Henry J. introduced us to a Greek goblin, Elsie wrote about a girl who meets a mysterious goddess called ‘The Unseen,’ Eddy crafted a list of chapter names for his Greek-inspired play The Hamburger, Indie wrote A Day in the Life of Medusa, and Juno began work on Virgo’s Mostly Mortal Life.

For our older group, we once again checked in as Greek monsters and creatures, with multiple unicorns representing predictable, average weeks and a Hydra representing a relentless week. This group split into three for their Greek theatre performances, each creating unique and memorable productions.

The first group, ‘RyanReynolds.co.uk,’ performed Flying Goat, a tragic love story. Sonny starred as the hero, Chloe embodied Hades, and Eden took on the mighty role of Zeus. The play received a solid 3.5/5 stars, with reviews describing it as ‘Distraught, Devastating.’

The second group, ‘Frinkle Frankles,’ delivered Hairy Monkeys, a comedy about revenge. Ava narrated while also playing a monkey, Lily became a god, and Catherine took on the role of the noble hero. This performance scored an impressive 4/5 stars, with reviewers praising the narration.

Finally, our third group, ‘The Tom Toms,’ presented Squished Avocado, a comedy themed around hate. Berry provided a fame worthy chorus soundtrack, Poppy dominated the stage as a mighty hero, and Lola transformed into a glorious deity. With a resounding 5/5 stars, the play’s ‘memorable soundtrack’ was the highlight of its reviews.

The group gave it their all this week, from monster metaphors to elaborate Greek theatre and imaginative storytelling. This week was a unique and incredible session filled with creativity, mythology, and laughter.

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Junior & Young Writers: Week 5 - Greek Mythology [from Perseus to Percy Jackson]