The Antigone is an ancient Greek tragedy, written and performed in a specific cultural and historical context in classical Athens. This specific context influenced the way the play was written and the characters within it, but the play also investigates more universal issues about humanity that have resonated with a variety of people throughout the centuries. The text thus has both ancient and modern aspects, a situation that presents unique opportunities and challenges for educators. As much as we should understand the ancient context of this play, we should also celebrate its ability to speak across time and space.

This teaching unit is designed to use the myths of Prometheus in a theatre curriculum. I would strongly encourage English and Language Arts teachers though to add this project to any study they may attempt of Greek and Roman Mythology. The Theatre techniques described in the following pages will enhance the classroom study of this classic literature by giving students in the middle and high school classrooms new opportunities and learning experiences. Playing theatre games, dramatizing the myths, making masks and studying the Greek theatre will allow teachers to use a creative, “hands on” approach to the study of ancient Greek Mythology that I feel students of all ages will not be able to resist.

Today children seem to have few heroes, too few people they respect. Children are often confused about moral issues and how to act in difficult situations. They need to analyze and understand human behavior. They need to discuss choices that can be made and when possible to empathize with others through dramatic role playing. Most importantly they need heroes to emulate and admire.

 As part of the Hamilton College Summer Program in Philosophy (HCSPiP), students from Hamilton and institutions across the country are taking part in a roleplay exercise for their class “Democracy in Athens.”

With names like Thrasybulus, Meletus, Aristocles, and Xenophon, the students transformed the classroom into an Athenian assembly in 403 B.C.E, taking part in a lively debate over the enactment of a new law.

The next 90 minutes go by in a blur. After sacrificing a “pig” and making a prayer to the gods, the 20 philosophy students take turns passionately defending or condemning the proposed law. A heated debate follows as the session moves into an open discussion.

“Athens must be a feared force in the Greek world again!” one student shouts. “Are we not a democracy? Who are we if we leave justice in the hands of the gods?”

Myths are the oldest and most powerful of all story forms. They often carry an important message for a culture or group. Myths are stories that give people a relationship with the universe, the passing of time, and with their environment. Some myths give the official view of creation, others are a way to explain natural events. Myths were passed on by spoken word, and their function was to explain, to teach lessons, and to entertain.

via Fast Company https://www.fastcompany.com

Here are some great improv games to work on collaboration skills.

We’ve been quite intentional about creating training curricula to reliably fill our pipeline, and as we’ve honed our methods, we’ve seen that improv principles are highly applicable to the corporate world. Drawing on lessons we’ve learned, my group, Second City Works, now counsels leaders during 400 engagements a year, about half with Fortune 1000 companies. Of all the lessons we share, these three are perhaps the most important:

via Axios https://www.axios.com/top/

via Axios https://www.axios.com/top/