About the Project
A former sixth grade English teacher, currently an educational technology current specialist, created this project as a culminating assignment for his graduate class at Loyola Marymount University, EDUR 6324: Technology in Multicultural Settings, led by Dr. Philip Molebash.
This project is intended to be used as a short lesson sequence within a larger, integrated English-language arts or social studies unit that utilizes Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief novel and/or a history unit on Greek mythology, but it can also be used in isolation. The readings and activities were designed especially for sixth grade students, based on reading level and alignment to sixth grade history content, but they are appropriate (or can be adapted) for students in fourth through eighth grades. The Lexile level of the texts are as follows: The Lightning Thief = 740; The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel = 470 (an excellent accommodation for lower readers); and the fates article in Encyclopedia Britannica = 790.
Feel free to use or adapt materials from this project; please attribute appropriately to Bryan J. Twarek. And, please contact the author with any questions, suggestions, and feedback. If you are looking for additional resources for teaching The Lightning Thief, visit Rick Riordan's website.
This project is intended to be used as a short lesson sequence within a larger, integrated English-language arts or social studies unit that utilizes Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief novel and/or a history unit on Greek mythology, but it can also be used in isolation. The readings and activities were designed especially for sixth grade students, based on reading level and alignment to sixth grade history content, but they are appropriate (or can be adapted) for students in fourth through eighth grades. The Lexile level of the texts are as follows: The Lightning Thief = 740; The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel = 470 (an excellent accommodation for lower readers); and the fates article in Encyclopedia Britannica = 790.
Feel free to use or adapt materials from this project; please attribute appropriately to Bryan J. Twarek. And, please contact the author with any questions, suggestions, and feedback. If you are looking for additional resources for teaching The Lightning Thief, visit Rick Riordan's website.
About the Sources
- Novel Excerpt: Riordan, R. (2005). Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1: The Lightning Thief. New York, NY: Hyperion Books.
- Graphic Novel Excerpt: Riordan, R., Venditti, R., Futaki, A., and Villarrubia, J. (2010). Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1: The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel. New York, NY: Hyperion Books.
- Banner Image: Analeilouise (2014). Greek Mythology: Fates [online image]. Deviant Art. Retrieved from http://analeilouise.deviantart.com/art/greek-mythology-FATES-400835984.
- Hercules Movie Clips: Clements, R. (Producer) & Musker, J. (Director). (1997). Disney's Hercules [motion picture]. U.S: Walt Disney Video.
- Encyclopedia Article: Fate. (2014). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/274276.
About the Tools
This project involves many neat (and free!) educational technology tools, which are listed below:
- This website was created using Weebly.
- The research activity and analysis submission was created using Google Forms.
- An automatic email was sent to students after completing the research activity (with their responses and brief feedback) using autoCrat.
- The moderated comments boxes were created with HTML Comment Box.
- The rubric was created using iRubric.
- Tools to make word clouds include: Wordle, Tagxedo, or Tagul.
About the Author
Bryan J. Twarek (“BT”) is a San Francisco-based educator who is originally from Kansas City, Missouri.
He graduated from Yale University with a degree in human neuroscience and psychology, where he primarily studied neural imaging and infant social cognition. However, it was during his time off from college--while teaching English in Mexico, China, Argentina, and the U.S--that he discovered his true passion for education.
After graduating from Yale, BT joined Teach For America in the Bay Area and worked at KIPP Bayview Academy (KBA) in southeastern San Francisco from 2010 to 2014, where he served as dean and sixth grade English-language arts teacher. Over these four years, BT worked to develop an integrated literacy curriculum and transform the school's literacy model. In 2013, his sixth grade students outperformed all other KIPP schools in terms of growth on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) reading assessment.
At KBA, BT also worked to utilize technology in his instruction. In 2012, he earned a grant to procure a class set of Chromebooks and then created a paperless classroom, in which students used their Chromebooks to access his personalized English curriculum online. As technology integration specialist, he led the implementation of a one-to-one program throughout the rest of the school and trained and coached teachers to use technology more effectively in their classrooms. In 2014, BT decided to leave the classroom to focus on education technology.
Most recently, BT joined San Francisco Unified School District’s Curriculum & Instruction department. As an education technology content specialist, he trains teachers to leverage technology tools to improve their instruction, personalize learning, build 21st century skills, ease the transition to the Common Core State Standards, and maximize efficiency. He is also spearheading a project to expand access to computer science instruction to all students at all public schools within San Francisco.
In his free time, BT enjoys hiking, playing sports, photography (in the darkroom, when possible), and people watching.
Learn more about BT's work on his website.
He graduated from Yale University with a degree in human neuroscience and psychology, where he primarily studied neural imaging and infant social cognition. However, it was during his time off from college--while teaching English in Mexico, China, Argentina, and the U.S--that he discovered his true passion for education.
After graduating from Yale, BT joined Teach For America in the Bay Area and worked at KIPP Bayview Academy (KBA) in southeastern San Francisco from 2010 to 2014, where he served as dean and sixth grade English-language arts teacher. Over these four years, BT worked to develop an integrated literacy curriculum and transform the school's literacy model. In 2013, his sixth grade students outperformed all other KIPP schools in terms of growth on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) reading assessment.
At KBA, BT also worked to utilize technology in his instruction. In 2012, he earned a grant to procure a class set of Chromebooks and then created a paperless classroom, in which students used their Chromebooks to access his personalized English curriculum online. As technology integration specialist, he led the implementation of a one-to-one program throughout the rest of the school and trained and coached teachers to use technology more effectively in their classrooms. In 2014, BT decided to leave the classroom to focus on education technology.
Most recently, BT joined San Francisco Unified School District’s Curriculum & Instruction department. As an education technology content specialist, he trains teachers to leverage technology tools to improve their instruction, personalize learning, build 21st century skills, ease the transition to the Common Core State Standards, and maximize efficiency. He is also spearheading a project to expand access to computer science instruction to all students at all public schools within San Francisco.
In his free time, BT enjoys hiking, playing sports, photography (in the darkroom, when possible), and people watching.
Learn more about BT's work on his website.