Characters
Choose the character you will play.
Are your students interested in learning more about Greek gods? Meet Persephone and Demeter in “The Curse of Winter,” a play your little actors and actresses will love.
Art by Alex Lopez
Play,
Battle of the Gods
Who will rule the gods?
By Sari Bodi and Karen Trott | Art By Alex Lopez
From the May/June 2024 Issue
Learning Objective: Students will read a fictional play based on a Greek myth and identify the motivation of two main characters.
Complexity Factors
Featured Skill:
Character,
Other Key Skills: cause and effect, problem and solution, plot, main idea and supporting details, text features, interpreting text, vocabulary, connecting to the text, explanatory writing, narrative writing
Standards
Storytellers 1, 2, and 3 (S1, S2, S3)
The Titans
Kronos
Other Titans, to be read by a group
Rhea
The Olympians
Hestia
Demeter
Hera
Hades
Poseidon
Zeus
Cyclopses 1, 2, and 3, one-eyed giants
Humans 1 and 2
Scene 1
S1: Long ago, in ancient Greece . . .
S2: . . . people believed that gods ruled the world.
S3: There were 12 gigantic gods called Titans.
S1: They lived on Mount Othrys (OH-thris).
S2: The most powerful Titan was their king.
Kronos: That’s me!
Other Titans: All hail Kronos, king of the gods!
S3: One day, Kronos and his wife Rhea have a child named Hestia.
Rhea: What a cute little goddess!
Kronos: She’s not that little . . .
Rhea (to Hestia): You’ll grow up big and strong like your daddy!
Kronos (to himself): What if she grows so strong that she wants to overthrow me and rule the gods?
S1: Kronos grabs Hestia and swallows her.
Rhea: Aah! What have you done?
Kronos: A child can’t rule from my belly!
S2: One by one, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon are born.
S3: And the same thing happens.
Kronos: Down you go!
Rhea: Not again!
Kronos: Relax, they’re immortal like us!
Rhea: Yes, they’ll never die. It’s where they live that bothers me!
Hestia: Mom, help us!
Demeter: It’s so dark in Dad’s belly . . .
Hera: . . . and stinky!
Hades: Oh no . . .
Poseidon: . . . here comes more soup!
Scene 2
S1: When Rhea and Kronos have their sixth child, Rhea comes up with a plan to trick Kronos.
S2: Rhea wraps a stone in a blanket instead of her baby.
Rhea: Here, Kronos, meet baby Zeus.
Kronos: Ooh, you’re a heavy little guy.
S3: Gulp! Down goes the stone, blanket and all.
Hestia: Hey, we’re getting crushed down here!
S1: Rhea hides baby Zeus on an island to keep him safe.
S2: She asks the people there to protect him.
Rhea: I’ll return soon, my son!
S3: Years pass, and Zeus grows into a strong and powerful god.
S1: Rhea returns to the island to visit Zeus.
Rhea: My son, it’s time you free your brothers and sisters.
Zeus: I’ve always wanted siblings! But how?
Rhea: Put on a disguise and give Kronos this potion.
S2: Zeus travels to his father’s palace atop Mount Othrys.
Zeus (in disguise): Sire, here is a drink for you.
Kronos (slurps): My belly’s fizzing up. It’s like a volcano!
S3: Kronos vomits up the stone. Then out come Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia.
Hestia: I can’t wait to sleep in a bed! I’ll be the goddess of homes.
Demeter: Look at those gorgeous flowers! I’ll be the goddess of all that grows.
Hera: As long as I’m with my family, I’m happy. I’ll be the goddess of families.
Hades (squinting): It’s too sunny here. I’m going to be the god of the dark underworld.
Poseidon: Check out those waves! I’m going to rule the oceans.
S1: Zeus chases after them.
Zeus: Wait! First, we must get revenge on our father, Kronos.
Hera: Yes, let’s punish him for swallowing us!
Demeter: He’s too cruel to rule!
Scene 3
S2: Zeus brings his siblings to Mount Olympus.
Zeus: This is where we’ll lead our attack. What should we call ourselves?
All Olympians: The Olympians!
Hestia: This will make a nice home if we win.
Zeus: Let’s send a shower of stones to Kronos.
S3: Kronos looks down from Mount Othrys.
Kronos: HA! Look at these tiny rocks. Titans, help me! Unleash the boulders.
Other Titans: You got it!
S1: Gigantic rocks fly toward Mount Olympus.
All Olympians: Aah!
S2: The Olympians duck for cover.
Hera: This is the last time I fight with giants!
S3: The war lasts for 10 long years.
S1: Finally, Rhea decides to help her children.
Rhea: Zeus, you must free the Cyclopses.
Zeus: The monsters with huge eyes in the middle of their foreheads? Why?
Rhea: They can give you magical gifts. But they are locked in the underworld.
Zeus: I’m on it!
S2: So Zeus and his brothers travel to the underworld.
Hades: Ahh, it’s so nice down here.
Zeus: Cyclopses, we need magical gifts to defeat the Titans.
Cyclops 1: What’s in it for us?
Zeus: I’ll free you from the underworld!
Cyclops 2: Deal!
S3: So Zeus frees the Cyclopses.
Cyclops 3: Hooray!
Zeus: Ahem . . .
Cyclops 1: Oh, right. To Zeus, we gift a lightning bolt.
Zeus: It’s so flashy!
Cyclops 2: To Poseidon, we gift a trident.
Poseidon: I’ll stir the sea and create killer waves.
Cyclops 3: And to Hades, we gift a helmet that makes you invisible.
Hades (taking his helmet on and off): Now you see me, now you don’t!
Scene 4
S1: With new weapons, Zeus leads the Olympians into battle.
S2: He hurls lightning bolts at Mount Othrys.
Zeus: ZAP! Getting a little hot for you, Titans?
S3: With his trident, Poseidon creates 100-foot waves.
Poseidon: Surf’s up, and the Titans are down!
S1: Hades puts on his helmet and becomes invisible.
S2: He enters the Titans’ camp and destroys their weapons.
Hades: You won’t be needing these!
Kronos: Who said that?
S3: At last, the Olympians defeat the Titans.
All Olympians: Hooray!
Other Titans: NOOOO!
Kronos: My worst fear came true!
S1: Zeus traps the Titans in the underworld.
Zeus: Now I am king!
All Olympians: All hail Zeus, king of the gods!
Scene 5
S2: Down on Earth, humans discuss how to honor their new gods.
Human 1: Let’s hold a contest to show we are strong and powerful like Zeus!
Human 2: We can call it the Olympics, in honor of Zeus and the Olympians!
Zeus: Why, thank you. With a spark from my lightning bolt, I will light the Olympic torch.
Both Humans: Let the games begin!
Think and Write
Imagine you are Kronos or Zeus. Write a speech supporting your actions throughout the play.
video
(1)
Audio
()
Activities
(6)
Skills Activities
Quizzes
(1)
Answer Key
(1)
video
(1)
Audio
()
Activities
(6)
Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Quizzes
(1)
Answer Key
(1)
Can't Miss Teaching Extras
For another Greek myth, read “Pandora’s Box,” a play about the famous box that was opened—and changed the world forever.
Stay in ancient Greece and meet Perseus, a brave character who comes face-to-face with a scary Gorgon in “The Snake-Haired Monster.”
The Olympics learning journey doesn't stop here. Travel back in time roughly 2,000 years to ancient Greece in “Journey to the First Olympics.” Then have a class-wide debate with your students in “Would You Want to Be an Olympic Athlete?”
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Table of Contents
5. Differentiate and Customize
Struggling Readers, Multilingual Learners, Advanced Readers, Creative Writing
1. Preparing to Read
Set a Purpose for Reading/Preview Text Features
- Instruct students to study the title and subtitle on page 26, and illustration on page 27. Ask them to describe the illustration and predict what the play will be about.
- Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 26 and the Think and Write box on page 31.
Introduce Vocabulary
- The play includes bolded vocabulary terms in the text but does not include definitions. A Vocabulary Skill Builder online previews the vocabulary terms (overthrow, immortal, potion, revenge, cruel, unleash, trident, and invisible). You may also show our Vocabulary Slideshow..
2. Close Reading
- Storyworks 3 plays provide a perfect opportunity for students to build fluency.
- Perform the plays as a class or have students follow along as they listen to the audio Read-Aloud.
- Project or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions. (Alternatively, assign all or part of the Learning Journey Slide Deck.)
Close-Reading Questions
- Read Scene 1. Why does Kronos swallow all his children? Kronos swallows all his children because he’s afraid they will overthrow him and rule the gods when they grow up. (cause and effect)
- Read Scene 2. How does Rhea trick Kronos to save baby Zeus? Rhea tricks Kronos by wrapping a stone in a blanket for him to swallow instead of baby Zeus. (problem and solution)
- What happens after Zeus gives Kronos a special drink to swallow? The special drink makes Kronos’s belly fizz up. He vomits up the stone and his five children. Then each child becomes a god or goddess. (plot)
- Read Scene 3. Why does Rhea tell Zeus to free the Cyclopses from the underworld? The Cyclopses can give Zeus and the other Olympians magical gifts to defeat the Titans. These magical gifts are a lightning bolt, a trident, and a special helmet that makes the wearer invisible. (main idea and supporting details)
- How does the illustration on page 30 help you understand the events in this scene? The illustration shows a giant one-eyed Cyclops. Below him are the three Olympians with their magical gifts: a lightning bolt, a trident, and a helmet that makes the wearer invisible. The illustration helps me understand what a Cyclops looks like and what the magical gifts look like. (text features)
- Read Scene 4. Which supporting details describe how Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades use their magical gifts to defeat the Titans? Zeus throws his lightning bolts at Mount Othrys. Poseidon uses his trident to create 100-foot waves. Hades uses his helmet to enter the Titans’ camp and destroy their weapons. (supporting details)
- Why does Kronos say “My worst fear came true!”? Kronos always feared that his children would overthrow him when they grew up. Now the Olympians have defeated the Titans. (interpreting text)
- Read Scene 5. Why do humans decide to hold the Olympics? Humans decide to hold the Olympics because they want to show they are strong and powerful like Zeus. To honor him and the Olympians, they hold the Olympics. (characters’ motivation)
Critical-Thinking Question
- Who is your favorite character in this Greek myth? Why do you feel this way? Use details from the play in your answer. Answers may vary. Students should include details from the play in their responses. (connecting to text)
3. Skill Building and Writing
Featured Skill: Characters’ Motivation Skill Builder
- Distribute or digitally assign the Characters’ Motivation Skill Builder.
Ask students to write a response to the Think and Write prompt on page 31.
Differentiate and Customize
For Striving Readers
Build fluency and boost confidence with unison reading. Choose a scene, preview challenging words, and then assign students two or three of the characters to read together aloud while you take on the other roles.
For Multilingual Learners
Gauge your multilingual learners’ knowledge of Greek mythology and work with them to build on it, as needed. Read through the play and circle any unfamiliar words or terms. As a whole class or small group, look up the meanings of the words or terms. Use the video “Into the World of Greek Mythology” or the slideshow “Meet the Greek Gods!” to help build background knowledge.
For Advanced Readers
The illustrations in this play don’t have captions, so invite students to create some! The captions can describe what is happening in the play, include speech bubbles for the characters shown in the illustration, or add new details that students think would enhance the story. Have students share their captions with the class.
Text-to-Speech