These interdisciplinary lessons were created by teachers who have participated in the annual Villa Summer Institute. Each lesson incorporates works of art on view and other resources at the Getty Villa to enhance knowledge and understanding of the visual arts as well as other disciplines.

For more information about the program, please e-mail teacherprograms@getty.edu.

Lessons 1-3 of 3

Mythological Creatures and the Labors of Herakles
Grades/Level: Lower Elementary (K–2)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts
Lesson Overview: Students are introduced to the mythological creatures featured in the myth of Hercules (Roman name for the Greek hero Herakles). They learn new vocabulary related to the creatures' body parts (e.g., talons, hooves, etc.), and plan and create a drawing of an original mythological creature. Students then name their creature and write a descriptive sentence about it.

Low-Relief Sculpture
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts
Lesson Overview: Referring to a Roman gravestone for inspiration, students use a foam carving medium and carving tools to create a bas-relief (low-relief) gravestone for a beloved pet. Students then write an epitaph for the pet using a standard form of poetry that is appropriate for the setting, such as an elegy, ode, or couplet.

Ancient Greek and Roman Talk Show
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8), High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students use the model of the infamous Bill and Ted from the feature film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure to "go back in time" to learn about deities in the ancient world. After researching, studying, and viewing reproductions of artworks that depict gods and goddesses, students transport their chosen deities to the modern world as characters they write about in a mock television talk-show script, which they enact for the class.

Lessons 1-3 of 3