I didn’t want to share my Athena paper doll because the fashion illustration was historically inaccurate. It was silly, so here it is in its imperfect glory.
Athena paper doll by Eve
Minerva was Athena in Rome
Atenea is Spanish
Atena in Italian
Since Athena’s name is extremely ancient, the sound of the letter Eta (uppercase Η, lowercase η) has changed in the thousands of years of Athena’s reach. This is why she has been Athena, Athene. I have to look more into this because I also saw her name spelled with an Alpha at the end, which corresponds to our modern Athena.
This dress turned out wrong, attempted a tied look on the waist, but the skirt should be pleated and fall at her sides.
Now that I have shown you my defective work, I will have to finish it. I have a second page where I stopped. It has a shield and another dress that also made me feel I had done a poor job.
Ancient Greek fashion
The ancient Greeks didn’t have sewing machines. They used fabrics and tied them into dresses.
Even in Rome, dresses called Stolas in Latin (the equivalent of togas for males) were very large tied fabrics.
Collaboration with Lilli (9), who helped me create the lesson, game, graphics, and learned alongside me.
I saved many Athena photos, illustrations, and more to this Pinterest board. For inspiration click and see the different Athena goodies with links to more Athena content.
Athena was the Ancient Greek goddess of war and wisdom
Athena Symbols: Olive tree and owls
Athena was born fully grown in armor
Lilli’s Athena art with her ancient Greek name in capital letters.
Lesson Plan (7 to 9 year olds) Introduction to Athena in Greek Mythology
Here’s an Introduction Lesson Plan about Athena for children ages 7 to 9. It’s designed to be fun and creative, involving hands-on activities like making a paper doll, storytelling, and a coloring project to keep kids engaged while learning about Greek mythology.
Lesson Plan: Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War
Age Group: 7-9 years old Duration: 60-90 minutes Objective: Students will learn about Athena, her role in Greek mythology, and express creativity through art, storytelling, and crafts.
Materials Needed:
Printable Athena paper doll template (with Greek dress, armor, and owl accessories)
Markers, crayons, colored pencils
Scissors, glue
Construction paper for comic book creation
Copies of Athena myth stories (simplified versions)
Athena coloring pages
Whiteboard/Chalkboard (for brainstorming)
Lesson Breakdown:
1. Introduction to Athena (10-15 minutes)
Discussion: Start the lesson by introducing Athena. Use simple language to explain that Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts in Greek mythology. Mention that she is famous for her intelligence, bravery, and protection of the city of Athens.
Ask Questions:
What do you think a goddess of wisdom and war would do?
Why do you think people respected her so much?
Fun Fact: Share that her favorite animal is the owl because it symbolizes wisdom.
2. Create a Paper Doll (15-20 minutes)
Activity: Hand out a printable paper doll template of Athena. This template should include:
A basic doll figure (Athena)
Traditional Greek clothing (a flowing dress, armor)
Accessories like an owl, helmet, spear, and shield
Lizzie’s Athena
Instructions:
Have students color the doll and clothing, then cut out the pieces.
Glue or attach the clothing onto the doll to create their own mini Athena.
Discussion While Working:
Talk about why Athena wore armor even though she was peaceful and loved wisdom.
3. Read a Short Myth about Athena (10-15 minutes)
Storytelling: Read aloud a simplified myth about Athena. You could choose:
Athena’s Birth: How she was born from Zeus’ head.
Athena and the City of Athens: How she gave the olive tree to Athens.
Interactive Discussion:
Ask them: What was your favorite part of the story?
How do you think Athena felt when she helped the city of Athens?
4. Create a Story or Comic Book (15-20 minutes)
Activity: Provide each child with construction paper to create a simple 3-4 panel comic strip or short story. The prompt could be:
“Athena Goes on an Adventure”: Have the children imagine a fun adventure for Athena, like her helping a hero or solving a tricky problem using her wisdom.
Steps:
Draw pictures of Athena and her adventure.
Add speech bubbles or a few sentences to describe what’s happening.
Encourage Creativity: Allow the kids to come up with their own ideas, such as Athena talking to animals or meeting other gods.
5. Coloring Time (10-15 minutes)
Activity: Hand out Athena coloring pages that depict her with owls, a spear, or in her flowing gown.
Optional Discussion: While they color, discuss how Greek gods and goddesses were often drawn or sculpted in ancient times.
6. Class Sharing (10 minutes)
Share Creations: Let each student show their paper doll and comic strip or story to the class.
Encouragement: Praise their creativity and highlight fun details in their stories or drawings.
Wrap-Up:
Review: Ask them to name one thing they learned about Athena today.
Closing: End with a question to spark curiosity for next time: “If you could meet Athena, what would you ask her?”
Follow-Up Activity for Home:
Encourage students to research more about Greek mythology with their parents or continue coloring and creating new stories about Athena.
This lesson plan balances learning with creative play, making it a fun and memorable introduction to Athena and Greek mythology for younger children!
Athena Creation Myth
Creative Athena Activity Ideas
Color Athena coloring pages
Create an Athena paper doll and learn about the Ancient Greek costumes
Create a story with Athena as a character
Write an Athena song or poem
Dress up as Athena
Athena Trivia Game: Simple
Here’s a fun and easy Athena Trivia Game for children, designed to teach them about the Greek goddess in a playful way! Each question includes simple multiple-choice options to keep it engaging and interactive.
Scroll down to review your answers.
Athena Trivia Game
Question 1: Who is Athena the goddess of?
A) The Sea
B) Wisdom and War
C) Music
Question 2: What is Athena’s favorite animal, which represents wisdom?
A) Owl
B) Lion
C) Snake
Question 3: Which city in Greece is named after Athena?
A) Sparta
B) Athens
C) Crete
Question 4: What weapon does Athena usually carry in battles?
A) Bow and Arrow
B) Sword
C) Spear
Question 5: Athena was born fully grown from the head of which god?
A) Zeus
B) Hades
C) Poseidon
Question 6: What is Athena’s special tree, often associated with peace?
A) Apple Tree
B) Oak Tree
C) Olive Tree
Question 7: Which hero did Athena help in his journey to slay Medusa?
A) Perseus
B) Hercules
C) Theseus
Question 8: Athena is known for her wisdom. What does she often wear on her head as a symbol of this?
A) A crown
B) A helmet
C) A laurel wreath
Question 9: Athena never married and stayed focused on her duties. What is she often called because of this?
A) The Brave Warrior
B) The Wise Queen
C) The Virgin Goddess
Question 10: In one myth, Athena competed with Poseidon to become the patron of Athens. What gift did she give to win?
A) A magical horse
B) An olive tree
C) A golden shield
Bonus Activity:
After the quiz, encourage kids to draw their version of Athena or make up a new adventure where Athena helps a hero. This keeps them creatively engaged!
This game is simple, fun, and educational, perfect for children learning about Greek mythology!
Answers
Athena
Answer: B) Wisdom and War
Answer: A) Owl
Answer: B) Athens
Answer: C) Spear
Answer: A) Zeus
Answer: C) Olive Tree
Answer: A) Perseus
Answer: B) A helmet
Answer: C) The Virgin Goddess
Answer: B) An olive tree
Sources
Here’s a list of sources where you can learn about Athena for free, perfect for children or general mythology enthusiasts:
These sources offer a mix of simplified content for children and in-depth articles for older students or adults who want to explore Athena’s mythology further.
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