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YEAR 6 LESSON PLAN IDEAS
Hercules is best known for his incredible strength. But who knew
the guy could dance?
This awe-inspiring retelling of this classic Greek myth lends itself beautifully for use within a KS 2
cr ea tive cu rr ic ul um founded within the principles of the 2014 National Curriculum. It is now a
statutory requirement for Ye ar 6 to learn about An ci en t G r ee ce by studying Gre ek l ife, its
achievements and their influence on the western world, so what better way to ‘hook’ children into the
topic!
Throughout the primary years educators are expected to nurture children’s historical comprehension
with chronological understanding, knowledge and interpretation and historical enquiry. This show is an
incredible way to launch into thinking about the Ancient Greeks for all children but particularly those
approaching and currently in Year 6. The show can either be used to support other Ancient Greek
learning or it can become the core from which all other learning is generated.
The table on the following pages provides a range of Year 6 learning objectives from across the 2014
national curriculum providing opportunities for teachers to develop a broad menu of learning
experiences.
S prin g to ur 2015
Wed 20 May
Sat 6 June
Fri 12 June
Wed 17 June
Tue 23 June
Fri 24 & Sat 25 July
11am & 7pm
2pm & 7pm
7pm
11am & 7.45pm
1.30pm & 7pm
2pm & 7pm
Curve, Le ic es te r
Gulbenkian, C ant er bur y
De rby Theatre
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipsw i ch
Grand Theatre, B lac kpoo l
Peacock Theatre, Lon don
More resources including full tour booking links, show trailer, interviews, photos, workshop pack and fun
activity pack can be found at:
www.herculestour.co.uk
Year 6 curriculum
Area
Year 6 Learning
Objectives
History
To learn about Ancient Greece
by studying Greek life: its
achievements and their
influence on the western world.
Literacy
When writing narratives,
consider how authors have
developed characters, settings
and atmosphere in what pupils
have read, listened to or seen
performed.
Perform own compositions,
using appropriate intonation,
volume, and movement so that
meaning is increasing their
familiarity with a wide range of
books, including myths, legends
and traditional stories, modern
fiction, fiction from our literary
heritage, and books from other
cultures and traditions
Learn a wider range of poetry
by heart
Prepare poems and plays to
read aloud and to perform,
showing understanding through
intonation, tone and volume so
that the meaning is clear to an
audience.
Maths
To multiply multi-digit numbers
up to 4 digits by a two-digit
whole number using the formal
written method of long
multiplication
Science- Physics
To understand that force and
motion can be transferred
through mechanical devices
such as gears, pulleys, levers
and springs.
Inspirations
Explore different versions of the same
myth and how they are told in the
modern day through text and
performance e.g. New Art Club,
Disney’s Hercules, classic and modern
texts. Host a debate to battle out the
classic versus modern.
Design your own quest; create
challenges for your classmate
Compare a modern day hero with an
ancient Greek hero.
Write your own review or marketing
Learn and perform the poetry from
within the show, some classic Greek
poetry, the ‘I’m a Greek’ song from
Horrible Histories, or create your own
poem to bore or humour your
classmates.
Watch and learn ‘I’m a Greek’ from
You Tube;
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=27TUC3QKPsk
Write and draw your own cartoon strip
for the show version using ‘Greek
Myths’ Retold and illustrated by
Marcia Williams as inspiration.
Use the Hydra to explore
multiplication using word problems.
How can we be as strong as Hercules?
Use the song ‘We are Greek’ from
Horrible Histories and other research
to discover Greek inventions. Use this
to design structures that transfer fore
and could help Hercules fulfil his 3rd
and 5th task.
ICT and computing
Art and Design
To use many advanced features
in order to create high quality,
professional or efficient
communications e.g.
Plan and shoot multi scene
animation including characters,
scenes, camera angles and
special effects.
Trim, arrange and edit audio
levels of videos to improve the
quality of their outcome.
Export and transfer work to
other formats
Make use of programs such as
Audacity, imovie and Monkey Jam
Animation to film children’s drama
work, stop frame animations of the
myth or report and interviews post
viewing the show.
To show how the work of those
studied was influential in both
society and to other artists.
Have a go at moulding your own
Greek vase.
To create original pieces that
show a range of influences and
styles.
To use ceramic mosaic materials
and techniques.
Access Purple Mash online to explore
Ancient Greek focussed activities.
https://www.purplemash.com/#/t
hemes/history/ancientgreeks
Can you use ‘Red figure, black figure’
vase painting techniques to present
your favourite characters and scene
from the performance on paper, or
your own vase?
To show life-like qualities and
real-life proportions or, if more
abstract, provoke different
interpretations.
Use box modelling and paper craft
skills to build a mini Greek
amphitheatre. Can you act as one of
the Gods and create a stop frame
animation play of the
performance/traditional myth.
To use frameworks (such as wire
or moulds) to provide stability
and form.
Can you carve out your own Greek
column from breezeblock or
polystyrene?
Create ‘Golden apples’ by structuring
with chicken wire.
Make authentic Olympic wreaths.
PE and Dance
To apply basic principles
suitable for attacking and
defending.
To perform complex moves that
combine strength and stamina
gained through gymnastics
activities (such as cartwheels or
handstands).
Research the internet for information
on the history Olympic Games and
look at ‘Flame’ by the Horrible
Histories team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=ROZRuPBK03E
Reproduce the games or create your
own wacky games linked to the show.
To perform expressively and
hold a precise and strong body
posture.
To express an idea in original
and imaginative ways.
Gymnastics
Design and
Technology
Choreograph a repetitive ritual dance
praising to the Gods.
Choreograph a ‘poo on your shoe’
dance like that for Myth 4 in the show or
create your own dance for a scene.
Create complex and wellexecuted sequences that
include a full range of
movements including;
travelling, balances, swinging,
flight, vaults, inversions,
rotations, bending, stretching,
twisting, gestures, linking skills
Can you hula hoop? For how long? On
which body parts? How many can you
use? Convince your class why it is a
good way to represent this part of the
story?
To use innovative combination
of electronics and mechanics in
design.
In textiles use suitable visual
and tactile effects in decoration.
Design and create your own puppets
or costumes for the myth or show.
With materials show an
understanding of the qualities
of materials and choose
appropriate tools to cut and
shape.
See the 12 Hula Hooping challenges
on the Hercules website for inspiration
http://herculestour.co.uk/videos
.php
Create scenery for a scene of drama
Research traditional foods, write
recipes and create a costume drama
feast for the class.
Demonstrate a range of
cooking and baking techniques.
MFL
Use practical skills (drilling,
cutting, screwing, nailing, filing
and sanding.) to create
products.
Explore the patterns and
sounds of language through
songs and rhymes
Learn some common everyday
phrases in Greek
Learn and recite a Greek poem.
Appreciate stories, songs,
poems and rhymes in the
language
Geography
In Physical Geography describe
the physical geography of a
places – climate zones, biomes
and vegetarian belts, rivers,
Draw and label a diagram about Greek
Mountains, and in particular, Mount
Olympus – home of the Gods. Why
did the Ancient Greeks believe it was
mountains, volcanoes and
earthquakes and the water
cycle.
In Human Geography describe
the human geography of places
including settlements, land use,
economic activity including
trade links as well as the
distribution of natural resources
including energy, minerals and
water supplies.
Music
To develop an understanding of
the history of music.
so mystical?
Explore your locality and produce a
picture report on how its architecture
might be inspired by Ancient Greece.
Using world maps compare current
with ancient economic trade activity.
People in ancient Greece loved music,
which they thought was a way of
creating order out of chaos.
This is an instrument called a lyre. Try
making one with a coat hanger, rubber
bands or yarn and a metal bowl. Make
sure the strings are tight so they
resonate when you pluck them.
Extra links/support:
http://horrible-histories.co.uk/jokes/greece/
http://www.ngkids.co.uk/did-you-know/10-facts-about-the-Ancient-Greeks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_greeks/
Woodlands Junior Website- research site for kids- http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/Greece.html
THE 12 LABOURS OF HERCULES
As punishment for murdering his wife and children in a state of temporary insanity caused by the
jealous Goddess Hera, Hercules is set a series of Labours by King Eurystheus. All of the labours are
supposedly impossible and most of them are incredibly dangerous. Eurystheus does not expect
Hercules to return from the first Labour but he succeeds in all of the Labours.
Nemean Lion
Hercules must kill and skin an invulnerable lion without using a weapon.
The Hydra
Hercules must slay a nine-headed sea monster when he chops off a head another grows back. The
final head cannot be killed so he has to chop it off and bury it.
The Hind of Ceryneia
Hercules must capture an impossibly fast deer. He must not kill it as it is the pet of Diana the goddess
of hunting.
The Augean Stables
Hercules must muck out enormous stables that hold thousands of animals in one day. He succeeds
by smashing a hole in the wall of the stables and rerouting a river through it.
The Boar
Hercules must capture a boar that is rampaging through a town causing havoc. He only has a net to
complete this task with.
The Bull
Hercules fights a Bull
The Belt of Hippolyta
Hippolyta is the Queen of the Amazons. She has a belt that was given to her by Ares, the God of War.
It holds her sword and arrows. Hercules must take the belt from her.
Stymphalian Birds
Hercules has to drive away an enormous flock of killer birds.
The Cattle
In these labours Hercules must capture and bring back these animals to King Eurystheus but they are
scattered because of a Gadfly.
The Horses
Hercules has to wrestle a King; the loser is fed to man-eating horses.
The Golden Apples
Hercules must find some golden apples that are in a secret garden and guarded by some Nymphs.
Cerberus
Finally Hercules must defeat Cerberus the three-headed dog monster that guards the underworld.