TITLE OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE: How Spring Comes Each Year - The Sotry of Persephone and Demeter by Marian Giunta Wilson

1. LEARNING CONTEXT
Describe the pupose, objective, or focus of the learning experience, including:

• the learning standard(s) and the specific performance indicators being assessed;
• a description of where this experience fits into the school or course curriculum; and
• what students need to know and/or be able to do to succeed with this learning experience.

Learning Standard - ELA 1. Students will be able to accurately paraphrase what they have heard, follow directions that involve a few steps. Learning Standard - ELA 4. Students will be able to listen attentively and participate in discussions and present information to classmates. Learning Standard - The Arts 1. Students will develop their own ideas and images through the exploration and creation of a poster based on themes, symbols and events. Learning Standard - The Arts 2. Students will understand the characteristics of various mediums and select those that are appropriate for their poster. Learning Standard - The Arts 4. Students will produce a poster that reflects the influence of a particular culture. Instruction is related to curriculum in Social Studies, such as in Standard 2. World History, the Arts curriculum, and English Language Arts curriculum for the grade level. Students need to know some information about Greek and Roman Mythology. This is one lesson from a unit on mythology

2. PROCEDURE
Describe, in narrative form, the actions of students and teachers and the interactions among and between students and teachers, including how the learning experience:

• supports student progress toward attainment of the learning standards;
• reflects current scholarship in your field and "best" classroom practice; and
• incorporates technology (when used) into instruction to enhance learning and to assess student performance.

STUDENTS - Participate in review of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses to date in the unit. Actively listen to the story about Persephone and Demeter. Take informational notes. Participate in theater/acting exercises. Brainstorm ideas for poster to share information about story, welcoming Persephone back to earth. Students may choose to work individually or in groups of 2 or 3 with each poster showing one part of the story. Begin work on product. Select appropriate art materials.

TEACHER - Review with students gods and goddesses that have been presented. Remind students that myths explained events in nature. Read story of Persephone and Demeter. Talk about the emotions the characters may have felt in the story. Have students stand and show non-verbally, emotions of fear, joy, happiness, love, etc. If pomegranate is available, teacher may bring one to class, have students taste a few seeds.

3. INSTRUCTIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS
Describe the procedures used to accommodate the range of abilities in the classroom, including students with disabilities, limited english proficiency, or bilingual students, such as:

• instructional modifications made; and
• physical modifications of the classroom setting.

NONE - Students may wish to place desks in a semi-circle to see poster presentations

4. TIME REQUIRED
For each aspect of the learning experience, state the amount of time for:

• planning;
• implementation (note the length of your class period, where appropriate, and the number of days to implement the experience); and
• assessment

Planning - one hour, Implementation - one class period, Assessment - one class period

5. RESOURCES
Please note any extraordinary or unique resources (human or material) needed to successfully complete this experience:

• for the student; and
• for the teacher

STUDENT - Note paper and pencil, art supplies such as magic markers, construction paper, and/or poster board.

TEACHER - Copy of mythology story of Persephone and Demeter. Pomegranate, if in season. Internet site, for teachers only, such as The Encyclopedia Mythica at http://www.pantheon.org/mythica, Mythos: Zeus Speak! Grades 4-8. Books such as Peresphone, Bringer of Spring by Sarah F. Tomaino, T.Y. Crowell, NY and Classis Myth to Read Aloud by Wiliam F. Russell, Crown Publishers, NY

6. ASSESSMENT PLAN
Describe the:

• manner in which students are involved in developing assessment criteria, maintaining an awareness of their progress, and reflection on their work;
• techniques used to collect evidence of student progress toward meeting the learning standards' performance indicators (eg. , observation, group discussions, journal writing, use of alternative testing techniques); and
• tools used to document student progress (eg., scoring guides, rating scales, check-lists). Please submit these tools.

Class discussion of presentation requirements before beginning product. List these expectations on the chalkboard for every one to see. Student verbal presentation of product - poster - which relates story and explains the return of Spring.

7. STUDENT WORK
Send three or four samples of student work:

• that reflect different levels of student performance; and
• include comments reflecting the basis for teacher's assessment.

Posters in hall welcoming spring and/or Peresphone back to earth for others in the school to enjoy.

8. REFLECTION
Please offer personal comments on the learning experience:

• why this lesson was developed for the specific learning standard(s) and performance indicator(s);
• what you learned from implementing this lesson; and
• how the lesson was reviewed by peers prior to submission and what you learned from the review.

This lesson could easily be modifies to use presentation programs such as PowerPoint, Story Weaver and/or Hyper Studio. Reiteration of the story takes place as students present posters. Using a digital camera, some students may enjoy putting the story on computer. Review the scientific reason for the seasons of the year. Play "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi or other music to reflect how a person feels in certain seasons of the year. Besides posters, students could dress in costumes and put on a short skit or design a puppet show. Teacher would need to adjust time.