“Being a hero doesn’t mean you’re invincible. It just means that you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed.” Rick Riordan – The Mark of Athena

The Percy Jackson books have been adapted into movies and have become very popular with young readers and adult readers like myself. I started reading the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan this year and fell in love with them. The books revolve around seven heroes or demigods as they are called in the books. Percy Jackson must go on a quest to unite the forces that have hated each other for centuries, as well as save the world from Gaea, the earth goddess.

As you read, you follow all seven of them as they go through struggles as a team and as individuals. I am trying really hard to not give any spoilers away, so after you read this you can enjoy the books as much as I did.

Reading these books is fun, but the all-important question is what in the world can a bunch of fantasy kid books have to do with High Trails. The answer to this question is plenty, actually.

Here are two classes where you, as an instructor, can channel some of Percy Jackson’s power and use it to your educational advantage. 

Astronomy and Percy Jackson

Have you looked up at the sky and said, “Hey, there is Orion’s belt.” or “There is Scorpio”? The answer to that question is probably yes, or if it is no, you need to look up in the sky more often!

We all know some or maybe a lot of the constellations present in our sky, but do you know the Roman or Greek story on how they became constellations? Your students most likely know the Greek gods by name and some of them may know some of the stories behind the constellations.

These books have given you, the instructor, the power to entice and enthrall your students with stories. We can give students all the facts about how stars are made and how we can see them, but some students need that extra hook to get them more interested.

Here is one example:

Taurus is a zodiacal constellation and, according to the myth, Taurus represents the bull-form taken on by Jupiter when he became enamored of Europa, princess of Phoenicia.

The princess Europa was impressed by the beauty and gentleness of the bull, and the two played together on the beach. Eventually, Europa climbing onto the bull’s back and he swam out to sea with her.

The constellation, Taurus, consists of only the head and shoulders of the snow white bull, due to the rest of the bull’s body being submerged.

Giving your students these images to think about when they look up into the sky can give them a chance to explore the stars in a whole new light.

Tribes and Percy Jackson

Some people will look at you funny if you say you can use Greek and Roman mythology in our class Tribes, but it is quite easy.

In the Heroes of Olympus books, there is a character called Arachne who was one of the best weavers around (she made clothes). She boasted that she was even better than Athena, goddess of wisdom, weaving and strategy.

Athena takes offense to this and challenges Arachne to a contest. Athena, being a god, wins and punishes Arachne for her vanity and turns her into a spider. Using this story gives instructors a window to talk about students and their vanity.

In Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development, students are in a stage of egocentrism, the world revolves around me. Using this story and tribes as a basis of discussion, instructors can help students realize what they may or may not be doing to others with their egocentrism. This idea of team or unity can be gained.

This is only one story from Greek or Roman mythology. All of these stories come with learning lessons from which our students can benefit, if explained well and put into the proper context.

These are only two examples of how we can use Greek and Roman mythology in our classes with our students. Our students are already reading these books so use them to your advantage! Take the time to read the Heroes of Olympus to gain useful tools to interact and gain a rapport with your students. I had excellent conversations with my students about science and life. Don’t be ashamed to read children’s fantasy fiction/ You may just find that it entertains you and helps with your teaching; a double edged sword you can use to your advantage.

Rick Riordan wrote these books. Learn more here.

At High Trails Outdoor Science School, we literally force our instructors to write about elementary outdoor education, teaching outside, learning outside, our dirty classroom (the forest…gosh), environmental science, outdoor science, and all other tree hugging student and kid loving things that keep us engaged, passionate, driven, loving our job, digging our life, and spreading the word to anyone whose attention we can hold for long enough to actually make it through reading this entire sentence. Whew…. www.dirtyclassroom.com