The first Core Knowledge literature unit for fifth graders at Crossroads is an immersive study of Homer’s Odyssey. Students learn about the history and legend of the Trojan War while discussing the oral tradition of epic poetry in Ancient Greece. Then, they read three different published versions of the story, and as they do so, they encounter infamous creatures like the sirens and the cyclops, powerful beings like Circe and Calypso, and even the goddess Athena! Throughout their reading, the fifth graders focus on the character traits of Odysseus–his heroism and his hubris–and his relationships with other characters. They also learn about the concept of xenia, or guest-friendship, and how The Odyssey served as cultural education for people in Ancient Greece, just like other myths.
In addition to writing their own synthesized version of one of the tales from The Odyssey, the fifth graders’ culminating experience for this unit is the annual “Odyssey Museum.” For this open-ended and creativity-focused assignment, students are challenged to craft an original and interactive exhibit that demonstrates their mastery of the epic. From board games to stop-motion videos, from dioramas to travel guides and so much more, every year the fifth graders find new ways to show what they have learned!
