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Reading schedule · Grades 4–6

Greek Myths of the Heroes in 6 Weeks: A Reading Schedule

A six-week plan for reading Greek Myths: The Heroes, one section a week. Each week gives the reading, a short summary of what happens, three discussion questions and the escape room that goes with it. For grades 4–6, in class or at home.

Pacing

At the grammar stage (grades 4–6) short, regular readings work better than long ones. Many families read aloud together and ask children to tell back what they heard before talking about the questions. Each week covers one section; if a section feels long, take two weeks over it and keep the escape room for the end.

Each week ends with an escape room on that week's reading: seven self-checking locks that run in any browser, with no logins, and progress is saved, so a room can be finished another day. Every room has free taster locks to try, and members can open them all.

Print this schedule Escape rooms on Greek Myths of the Heroes

Week 1: Perseus

Read: Perseus

Danaë and her baby Perseus are set adrift and wash up on the island of Seriphos. King Polydectes tricks Perseus into a dangerous quest, and with gifts from the gods and the nymphs and help from the Grey Sisters he defeats Medusa the Gorgon, rescues Andromeda and returns home.

Discussion questions

1. Why does Polydectes want Perseus out of the way?
2. How does Perseus get the better of the Grey Sisters?
3. Which of the gifts helps Perseus most?

Escape room: The Gorgon's Gaze (lockedlessons.com/rooms/greek-heroes-perseus/)

Week 2: Theseus

Read: Theseus

Theseus lifts a rock to find his father's sword and sandals and travels to Athens, defeating bandits on the road. Medea tries to poison him, and he sails with the young people sent to Crete, where Ariadne's thread leads him through the maze to the Minotaur and out again; Naxos and the sail follow.

Discussion questions

1. Why does Theseus take the dangerous road to Athens?
2. Is Theseus fair to Ariadne?
3. What happens because of the sail, and who is to blame?

Escape room: Into the Maze (lockedlessons.com/rooms/greek-heroes-theseus/)

Week 3: The Labours of Heracles, 1–6

Read: The Labours of Heracles, 1–6

Hera's anger brings Heracles into the service of King Eurystheus, who sets him a series of tasks. He faces the lion of Nemea and the Hydra, captures the golden-horned deer and the boar of Mount Erymanthus, cleans the stables of King Augeas and drives off the Stymphalian birds.

Discussion questions

1. Why must Heracles serve Eurystheus?
2. Which labour needed cleverness rather than strength?
3. How does Heracles deal with the Hydra's heads?

Escape room: A Hero's Tasks (lockedlessons.com/rooms/greek-heroes-the-labours-of-heracles-1-6/)

Week 4: The Labours of Heracles, 7–12

Read: The Labours of Heracles, 7–12

Heracles captures the bull of Crete and the wild mares of King Diomedes, wins the belt of Queen Hippolyta and takes the cattle of Geryon. With Atlas's help he gets the apples of the Hesperides, and last of all he brings up Cerberus, the dog of the underworld.

Discussion questions

1. How does Heracles get the better of Atlas?
2. Why is the last labour the hardest?
3. What makes Heracles a hero: strength, courage or something else?

Escape room: To the World's Edge (lockedlessons.com/rooms/greek-heroes-the-labours-of-heracles-7-12/)

Week 5: Jason and the Argonauts

Read: Jason and the Argonauts

Jason is raised by the centaur Chiron and arrives at King Pelias's court having lost a sandal, and Pelias sends him on a quest. With the Argonauts on the Argo he frees Phineus from the Harpies and passes the Clashing Rocks, and with Medea's magic he meets King Aeetes's tasks and gets past the dragon that never sleeps.

Discussion questions

1. Why is Pelias afraid of a man with one sandal?
2. How do the Argonauts get through the Clashing Rocks?
3. Could Jason have succeeded without Medea?

Escape room: Voyage of the Argo (lockedlessons.com/rooms/greek-heroes-jason-and-the-argonauts/)

Week 6: The Trojan War

Read: The Trojan War

At a wedding Eris throws down a golden apple, and Paris is asked to judge which goddess should have it. Helen goes with Paris to Troy and the Greek ships set sail to bring her back; Achilles and Hector fight, Cassandra's warnings go unheeded, and a trick ends the war.

Discussion questions

1. Why does Paris choose as he does?
2. Why does nobody believe Cassandra?
3. Was the trick that ended the war a fair way to win?

Escape room: The Golden Apple (lockedlessons.com/rooms/greek-heroes-the-trojan-war/)