Gods of Olympus, The

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DVD

FEATURES & DETAILS:


Price: $29.95
  
Grades: 4 to 8
  
Runtime: 23 minutes
  
Item #: V6205
  
Availability: In Stock!
  
Format: DVD
  
Also Available In:
Digital Rights
  
Closed-Captioning: Yes


PRODUCT SUMMARY


The myths of ancient Greece were passed down by word of mouth, over thousands of years, often changing over time. These legendary tales revolved around a family of immortal gods who, while incredibly powerful, had some very human characteristics -- complete with petty resentments, wounded egos and frequent quarrels that erupted into larger-than-life dramas. In The Gods of Olympus, students will observe the creation of the universe from chaos, learn how Zeus became the king of the gods and examine life on Mt. Olympus, the home to Zeus and his family of Olympian gods. This title provides an overview of the major characters in Greek mythology and sheds light on their relationships with each other and with humans. Part of the multivolume Greek Mythology for Students DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online.


EDITORIAL REVIEWS


"The tales are well-written and briskly paced, and the computer animation is simple, but eye-catching…The programs are beautifully done, bringing the subject matter to life in a clear and informative way. A valuable addition to studies of Ancient Greece as well as classroom myth and legend units."- School Library Journal (Sept 2005)

"…will hold students’ interest…The narrator has a great voice…a good fit for upper elementary to junior high and great support material for Greek mythology units…Recommended."- Library Media Connection



FULL REVIEWS


School Library Journal (September 2005)

Gr 4-8-This brightly colored, digitally animated series teaches young viewers the basics of Greek mythology and hero tales. Each program is introduced by a live male host who provides background information on the topic. Then simple animation and classic storytelling combine to present the ancient tales. Gods of Olympus provides clear and interesting background stories of the gods from Gaia and Uranus to the Titans, and then covers more familiar Olympian gods and their choice of Mt. Olympus as their home. Constellation Myths includes the stories of Orion, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Callisto, Andromeda, and related star groups. In , students learn about the penalties paid by Arachne, Prometheus, Pandora, and Icarus when they put their own wisdom ahead of that of the Olympians. Both Jason and the Golden Fleece and The Journeys of Odysseus provide abbreviated introductions to these classic tales. Nature Myths includes the stories of Persephone, Echo and Narcissus, and Phaeton. The tales are well-written and briskly paced, and the computer animation is simple, but eye-catching. Themes and morals of the stories are briefly examined as well. The DVD version's special features include chapter select, discussion questions and activities (with the ability to review video segments or images to answer the questions), and a sound track choice of either Spanish or English. The programs are beautifully done, bringing the subject matter to life in a clear and informative way. A valuable addition to studies of Ancient Greece as well as classroom myth and legend units.

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal. Used with permission.

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