DAYS TEN AND ELEVEN

MONDAY

On Monday we did some inquiry learning about Ancient Greek architecture.  We learnt about the different types of columns (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian), friezes, metopes and triglyphs, and pediments.  Then we did some detailed study of the most famous building on the Acropolis, The Parthenon.  We looked at the layout of the Parthenon, the types of columns (Doric on the outside and Ionic on the inside), the metope/triglyph frieze, and the stories sculpted in the pediments: the contest for Athens on the West and the birth of Athena on the East.  We looked at how the frieze around the building showed a Panathenaic Procession and the offering of the peplos robe to Athena (we knew about the Panathenaic Games from our earlier study and this was the procession that was held at the opening of these games).  And we already knew all about the 12 metre high gold and ivory statue of Athena inside the Parthenon! 

Then we talked about how we would set up our next drama play, which was going to be the opening of the Parthenon in 438BC.  We made a collective plan about who would be at the opening and what events might happen.  Then everyone chose what parts they would like to play and started to prepare their roles.  It was decided that there would be a table of gods watching the opening, a restaurant on Mt Olympis serving the gods, speeches by Pericles (the leader of Athens) and Phidias (the sculptor), entertainers, traders, and townspeople with offerings for Athena.

Preparing roles.

Erin shows everyone how it took 9 years to build The Parthenon - working in BC time can be tricky!

WEDNESDAY

This was the last day of our Mantle of the Expert Ancient Greece unit. 

We began the day looking at architectural features of modern day buildings in Wellington that have been influenced by the artists and designers of Ancient Greece in the Golden Age.  We saw Doric columns on the Railway Station, Ionic columns on the Parliament buildings, Corinthian columns on the town hall, and Doric columns and pediments on St Andrews on the Terrace.  We even saw one building that had a triglyph and metope frieze around the top. 

Doric columns on the Wellington Railway Station

Corinthian columns on the Wellington Town Hall

We then spent the morning finishing our preparations for the opening of the Parthenon.  Costumes and props were organised and the room layed out as the area around the Parthenon. The whiteboard was the front of the Parthenon and the columns, metope/triglyph frieze, and pediment showing the contest for Athens between Athena and Poseidon was drawn.

Drawing the Parthenon

THE OPENING OF THE PARTHENON

Once everything was prepared we used circular drama to watch all the different things that were happening as part of the opening of the Parthenon.  First we listened to conversations between the townspeople who had come to see the new building.

Two women who have come to see the opening of the Parthenon.

“I have bought a sack of obols for Athena and jars of olive oil” (these were presented to a very pleased Athena, Poseidon was not happy!).

“Isn’t it wonderful!  Did you bring the sacrifices?” (a number of chickens and sheep were presented to Athena!).

Then we heard speeches from Pericles and Phidias officially opening the Parthenon, watched over by guards.

Pericles officially opens The Parthenon.

“Hello loyal citizens.  Today we are here for the opening of the Parthenon.  Today we need to thank some people. First of all we would like to give great thanks to Phidias the great man who built this wonderful building.  Second of all we would like to thank the wonderful designers Kalamis, Ictinus, and Calibrates.  Thirdly I would like to thank all of you for agreeing to build this wonderful building.  Finally I would like to thank the beautiful goddess Athena for being the god of Athens and in your honour we have built a twelve metre statue of you!  We have tried to make this the most beautiful building in Athens and hope you like it.  Thank you.” PERICLES

“I’m honoured to be here to present the Parthenon with our 12 metre gold statue of Athena.  We love our goddess Athena …we may have to keep away from Poseidon today though….!”  [note: because he didn’t win the contest for Athens!].  PHIDIAS

Then we watched the gods for a while feasting at the Mt Olympus restaurant ‘Gods Olympus’.  They were talking about the new building and Athena was very happy about the huge statue they had made of her.  Hermes carried messages between the gods and Poseidon was very grumpy at all the celebrating of Athena (since he had lost the contest for Athens) and moodily ate his shrimp!

Serving the gods at the restaurant 'Gods Olympus'.

Athena and Poseidon

Finally we watched entertainers perform music, songs, and dances.  Everyone got tickets to the wonderful performance by BAGS (Bennet, Abigail, Georgie, and Samantha).

BAGS entertains

When we had taken turns to watch the different activities we had time for some free play in the scene.  The gods came down in disguises to Athens to participate in trading and watching the entertainments, and everyone admired the new building. There was a lot of creativity in the play today and the children showed they had learnt a lot!

THE BIG DIG
After lunch everyone chose one friend to come and spend the afternoon as archaeologists.  We had 30 squares to dig in today all filled with artifacts that we have studied throughout our unit of work.  The Mantle children told their friend as much as they could about each artifact they dug up.  They shared their toolkits and archaeological log books with their friend and showed them all about working in role.

Our dig site!

The dig begins.

In each square there was also one quiz question about the Golden Age of Ancient Greece.  The winners of this quiz were….LEON and LACHLAN (you can collect your choc fish from Mrs Skilton tomorrow – well done!). 

PRIZEGIVING

To celebrate the end of our unit of work we had a prizegiving.  We did this with all of our friends there to watch.  Everyone received a certificate, their storymaps of the Odyssey, their logbooks, and their toolkits to take home.  Well done everyone, it has been lots of fun and I am very impressed with how much you have all learnt about the Golden Age of Ancient Greece, Homer’s Odyssey, and archaeology – you have all become real experts!

REFLECTIONS

We also did some reflection work today.  Here are some favourite moments and comments about Mantle of the Expert this term.

“I love Mantle and I would love to be chosen again.  I loved every week of it.  I also thought it was very fun.  I think I know more that my mum now.”

"I loved it when we were doing the play of the Parthenon opening.  I was Athena!"

"My favourite moment was the slave trade."

"My favourite thing was doing clay"

"I think that Mantle has been really fun and I would love to do it again"

“I like Mantle of the Expert.  I like this way of learning.  It helps me remember things and it’s a fun way of learning.  I think I learnt lots.  I would love to be chosen for Mantle of the Experts again next year.” 

"I love all the art, drama, and writing.  I learned LOADS about Ancient Greece.  I wish I could keep doing Mantle until Yr 8.”

"I wish Mantle was going for ever and ever and ever.  I hope I get chosen again"