Marathon Race Notes

Learning Objective

Total Time: 1 minute

Students will analyze a text from Modern Greek literature, identifying key themes and vocabulary while relating them to historical and cultural contexts.

Assessments

Total Time: 1 minute

Students will create a brief summary of the text, highlighting its main themes and their personal reflections, which will be shared in pairs.

Key Points

Total Time: 2 minutes

• Introduction to New Greek literature and its significance.
• Themes of perseverance and cultural pride in athletic achievements.
• Vocabulary: μαραθώνιος (marathon), τερματισμός (finish line), επιφυλακτικά (cautiously), δρασκελιές (strides).

Opening Activity

Total Time: 3 minutes

• Show a short, engaging video clip about the history of the Marathon race.
• Ask students to share any prior knowledge about marathons or famous athletes, prompting a discussion that relates to the text.

Introduction to New Material

Total Time: 4 minutes

• Read aloud a short excerpt from the provided text, emphasizing key vocabulary and themes.
• Discuss the significance of the marathon in Greek culture and its historical roots from ancient Greece to modern times.

Guided Practice

Total Time: 4 minutes

• In small groups, students will analyze the text further, focusing on the protagonist's emotions and experiences during the marathon.
• Each group will discuss how the text reflects themes of determination and success.

Independent Practice

Total Time: 2 minutes

• Students will individually write a brief summary of the protagonist’s journey in the text, focusing on their emotions and outcomes.

Closing Activity

Total Time: 3 minutes

• Conduct a quick class discussion where students share their summaries in pairs and reflect on what they learned about the themes presented in the text.

Extension Activity

Total Time: 2 minutes

• For students who finish early, encourage them to research a famous marathon runner and prepare a two-sentence summary about their achievements.

Homework

Total Time: 2 minutes

• Assign students to reflect on a personal challenge they faced in sports or other activities, writing a short paragraph about it and how they overcame it.

Standards Aligned

Total Time: 1 minute

• Aligned with Common Core standards for reading literature (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.2) and speaking and listening (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1).