Learning Greek Mythology Through Arts Based Education by Tara Kohl A Master s Project For ED 7999 for the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching June 2006 Major Social Studies Education Approved by Dr Bob Pettapiece Date Table of Contents Chapter One Introduction to Project 1 Chapter Two Literature Review 3 Chapter Three Methodology of the Project 10 Chapter Four Research Findings 14 Chapter Five Conclusions Recommendations and Personal Observations 17 References 20 Appendix A Pre test and Posttest Questionnaire 22 Appendix B Greek and Roman Mythology Survey 24 Appendix C Assessment Rubric 26 ii Chapter One Introduction to the Project Introduction The study of Greek and Roman mythology is important for students to learn about because it is part of history and literature After reading a selection of myths and learning about different gods goddesses and other mythological figures students will be able to better understand the impact the Greeks and Romans had on Western Civilization both visually and through text In an effort to create a stronger desire to learn students will have the opportunity to do an arts based lesson plan to help encourage creativity and promote self directed learning The Situation Something seems to happen to students as they grow up and progress through the educational system As small children they love going to school learning and playing Reading is an activity that often a child looks forward to being able to do However as they get older the enthusiasm seems to be lost School is a job full of repetitious days of homework and seemingly endless hours of focus The economy is sluggish and the money needed for out of the classroom activities simply is not there At the same time the need to achieve only continues to increase The Need Students need to be taught about Greek and Roman mythology for many reasons Mainly it helps them make connections between the ancient world and the modern world For example students will be able to make the connection between the statue of the Greek goddess Nike at the Louvre museum in Paris France and the name of the popular company 3 Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to show that by offering various teaching and learning activities seventh grade English students will gain an appreciation for Greek Mythology improve their knowledge of the subject and want to learn more about it in the future 4 Chapter Two Literature Review Introduction This chapter is a review of research done on Howard Gardner s multiple intelligence theory the elements to an arts based lesson and its purpose as an assessment Students studying Greek Mythology will be using their visual spatial intelligence This intelligence utilizes a person s capacity to solve problems or create products using all or part of their body Gardner 2004 defines intelligence as a biopsychological potential to process specific forms of information in certain kids of ways p 29 He believes that humans have developed different intelligences that allow them to process information and solve problems People are not simply classified as smart or dumb but rather that it depends on the culture in which the person lives David Lazear 1992 supports through research that a person s intelligence is something that they gain throughout their lifetime It is not based solely on the genetic make up of a person but rather the culture in which a person lives It is something we develop and the more we work on a particular skill or intelligence the better at it we become He also states Intelligence is a multi dimensional phenomenon that occurs at multiple levels of our brain mind body system p 9 Meg Willoughby supports Gardner s theory of multiple intelligences and states that artsbased education is relevant to the development of assessment techniques for the arts and other content areas p 2 Manifold 1995 says that by giving students an opportunity to study the art of a society they can see the relationship it has between the society economics and political 5 beliefs of that time period Social studies and art create a mutually beneficial relationship between each other Lazear believes that it is important for teachers to understand the skills applicable to multiple intelligences so that students are able to use the full spectrum of their intellectual capabilities 1992 p 19 He states that We all possess the seven ways of knowing p 20 and that we all use them to acquire knowledge understand our world engage in problem solving create works of art and meet the challenges of our daily lives p 20 In regards to social studies he believes that students understanding about a particular culture goes beyond just simply reading about it It may include studying the dance music and or art of a particular culture Aside from understanding how to teach the use of multiple intelligences as well as how to assess students is also important Lazear 1992 says that the goal with assessment is to gain a larger picture of what students know beyond what they can demonstrate on a typical paper andpencil test This is not to say these types of tests should be ignored however they should be done in conjunction with one or more of the following multiple intelligence assessment methods student portfolios student journals logs multi modal testing instruments intelligence exercises and practices and or intelligence transfer strategies Multi modal testing instruments tie in with arts based education methods Lazear explains that this assessment method has students Experiment with non traditional ways for demonstrating their knowledge of a topic that goes beyond verbal linguistic and logical mathematical ways of knowing p 39 For example a science test might involve drawing and or sculpting what they have learned using their visual spatial intelligence and thus demonstrating what they have learned 6 Theoretical Bases Howard Gardner 2004 has defined these intelligences Linguistic Logical Mathematical Musical Visual Spatial Bodily Kinesthetic Naturalist Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Falling under the multiple intelligence theory is the concept of arts based education This form as Stephanie Burridge 2002 writes is fluid embracing innovation and is adaptable to creative activities on for example technology integrated arts inter disciplinary and intercultural arts p 4 She also says that by teaching students about different ways of thinking will allow them to create answers or responses that are both knowledge based as well as appealing