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Cool Greek Myths: Free Printable Activities For Kids

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a cool Greek myths free printable. Also, look at my page Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus for more ideas.

Studying and learning Greek myths help kids to connect ancient history to current history. And kids of any age love stories and fiction.

Besides, one of the best connections for us is history and literature. Greek myths give kids an insight to culture and human nature.

Cool Greek Myths: Free Printable Activities For Kids

In addition, myths teach moral and character lessons. Characters help kids to think about right or wrong in a story base manner.

And one of the best parts my kids loved is that myths inspire creativity. The stories are full of monsters, mysteries and mayhem.

The myths challenge our children to think about character motivation, consequences, and choices. And you can grab the free printable about 10 Greek myths at the bottom by adding your email and instantly downloading it.

GREEK MYTHOLOGY BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about Greek mythology to pair with these printable pages.

10 Books for a Fun Greek Mythology Unit Study

You’ll love adding one or two of these resources or books to your homeschool unit study about Greek mythology.

Next, look at these other activities to go along with this free cool Greek myths printable.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR GREEK MYTHOLOGY

MORE GREEK ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS STUDYING ANCIENT GREECE

Cool Greek Myths: Free Printable Activities For Kids

Also, look at the 10 Greek myths in this free printable.

10 GREEK MYTHS TO STUDY

  1. Zeus and The Olympians
  2. Prometheus and the Gift of Fire
  3. Pandora’s Box
  4. Theseus and the Minotaur
  5. Daedalus and Icarus
  6. Persephone and Hades
  7. The Twelve Labors Of Hercules
  8. The Trojan War & the Trojan Horse
  9. Odysseus and the Odyssey
  10. Achilles and The Heel

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How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

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Let’s take a simple paper plate and learn how to make a Greek theatre mask with kids as we learn about the ancient time period. Also, look at my page Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and look at my second free Ancient Greece Lapbook for more ideas.

Making a Greek theater mask is a fun and educational craft that connects kids to ancient history and drama. Greek masks were bold, expressive, and exaggerated because they helped actors show emotions clearly in large amphitheaters.

In ancient Greek plays, masks represented stock characters like heroes, villains, gods, or ordinary people and also exaggerated emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, fear.

How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

Greek theater masks were not made from paper plates like the ones we use today, instead, ancient craftsmen created them from lightweight, natural materials.

Because the masks were worn for long performances, they needed to be light enough for actors to carry without tiring. Artists painted them with bold colors so the expressions were easy to see from far away.

Unfortunately, since these materials were not very durable, none of the original masks have survived. What we know about them comes from ancient pottery, sculptures, and written descriptions.

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE

First, look at these books about Ancient Greece.

I prefer living books when I can find them.

8 Living History Books about Ancient Greece

You'll love this roundup of living history books about Ancient Greece.

Next, look at these fun facts about Greek masks.

7 COOL FACTS ABOUT GREEK THEATER MASKS

  1. They were exaggerated on purpose- The eyes, mouths, and expressions were oversized so that even audience members sitting at the very back of the amphitheater could see what was happening on stage.
  2. They showed emotions clearly. Masks helped the audience instantly recognize whether a character was happy, sad, angry, or fearful. This was especially important in tragedies and comedies, where emotions were the heart of the story.
  3. One actor played many roles. In ancient Greek theater, there were only a few actors on stage. They switched masks to display a new character, which allowed one performer to play both a hero and a villain, or even a man and a woman.
  4. The masks were made from lightweight material. Ancient masks were usually made from linen, wood, cork, or stiffened leather, then painted. Unfortunately, none of the original masks have survived because the materials were not durable. We only know what they looked like from paintings, pottery, and descriptions.
  5. The open mouths may have worked like a microphone- Some historians believe the wide-open mouths of the masks helped project sound, making the actors’ voices louder in the large, echoing amphitheaters. They also helped express emotion as well.
  6. They symbolized comedy and tragedy- The two classic masks we often see today,a smiling face and a sad face, come directly from Greek theater. They represent the two main types of plays: comedies, which are lighthearted and funny, and tragedies, which are serious and sad.
  7. They inspired later theater traditions- The use of masks spread to Roman theater and influenced forms of drama around the world, including Italian commedia dell’arte and even some styles of Japanese Noh theater.

    Next, look at these hands-on Ancient Greek activities.

    ANCIENT GREEK CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES TO TRY

    How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

    Finally, look at how to make a Greek theater mask.

    HOW TO MAKE A GREEK THEATER MASK FROM A PAPER PLATE

    You will need:

    • Paper plate or cardboard base
    • Scissors
    • Penci
    • Glue or tape
    • Paint, crayons, or markers
    • Construction paper or tissue paper

    First, have your child choose a character or emotion to portray with their mask. Sketch out basic eye and mouth shapes.

    How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

    Fold the plate in half and then open it, with the “back” of the plate facing you.

    Cut the eyes out, be sure they are large enough for your child to see through.

    For an open-mouth “speaking” look that is common in Greek theater masks, cut an oval for the mouth.

    How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

    Build up noses, eyebrows, hair, beard, and lips by cutting out pieces of folded paper or cardboard scraps.

    How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

    Glue these in place to add more dimension to your mask.

    How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

    Use over-exaggerated expressions- make smiles very wide or frowns very deep, since ancient masks needed to be seen from a distance.

    You can either paint on the mask or glue on pieces of construction paper, yarn, or tissue paper for hair, beards, or laurel wreaths. Use bright or dark, contrasting colors so the face is clear from a distance.

    Make curly hair by wrapping paper strips around a pencil.

    How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

    Then glue them into place.

    How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids

    Tape an elastic string to both sides so the mask can be worn. Or attach a craft stick to the bottom to hold it up in front of the face.

    Once the masks are finished, encourage your child to perform short scenes or read lines from a Greek play.

    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    This is so much more than just a list of Ancient Greek Philosophers; it includes activity ideas and lots of great facts. Also, look at my page Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and look at my second free Ancient Greece Lapbook for more ideas.

    When you think about the foundation of Western civilization, Ancient Greece should come to mind. The Greeks contributed much to art, government, architecture, science, and most importantly, philosophy.

    Philosophy means “the love of wisdom,” and the philosophers of Ancient Greece were seekers of truth.

    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

    They asked big questions about life, the universe, morality, and human behavior. Their answers shaped a lot of how we think today.

    In your homeschool, studying Ancient Greek philosophers is a wonderful way to combine history, literature, and critical thinking.

    To make our lesson even more memorable, we’ll also create a fun hands-on project, a Greek-inspired wreath, just like the ones given to poets, athletes, philosophers, and leaders thousands of years ago.

    ANCIENT GREECE BOOKS FOR KIDS

    First, look at some of these books about Ancient Greece.

    8 Living History Books about Ancient Greece

    You'll love this roundup of living history books about Ancient Greece.

    Ancient Greek philosophers are more than names in a textbook. They were the first people to explore important questions like…

    • What makes a good life?
    • How should people be governed?
    • What is the truth, and how do we find it?
    • Is the universe made of matter, numbers, or something else?

    LIST OF ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS

    Teaching kids about these thinkers helps them practice reasoning skills, debate, and curiosity—the very heart of learning. Even young students can appreciate their ideas when explained in simple terms, and teens can dive into deeper discussions.

    Socrates (470–399 BC)

    • Known as the “Father of Western Philosophy.”
    • Famous for the Socratic Method, where he asked questions instead of giving direct answers, helping students think for themselves.
    • He believed that truth could be discovered through conversation and self-examination.
    • He was put on trial in Athens and sentenced to death for “corrupting the youth” by encouraging them to question authority.

    Hands-On: Have your kids try the Socratic Method by asking each other open-ended questions instead of answering with “yes” or “no.”

    Plato (428–348 BC)

    • Student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
    • Founded the Academy in Athens, one of the first institutions of higher learning in the world.
    • Wrote The Republic, a book exploring justice and the idea of a perfect society.
    • Believed in the existence of “ideal forms,” meaning everything in the physical world is only a shadow of a greater, perfect reality.

    Hands-on: Ask your child what their “ideal” home, homeschool, or community would look like. This connects directly to Plato’s ideas about the ideal society and is a great way to give your child a voice in how their schooling works.

     Aristotle (384–322 BC)

    • Student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great.
    • Wrote extensively on science, ethics, art, government, and logic.
    • Believed knowledge comes from observing the natural world.
    • Organized information into categories that influenced how we study science and philosophy today.

    Hands-on: Take a nature walk and encourage students to classify what they see (plants, animals, rocks). This mirrors Aristotle’s method of observation and categorization.

    Pythagoras (570–495 BC)

    • Both a philosopher and a mathematician.
    • Best known for the Pythagorean Theorem in geometry.
    • Believed numbers were the foundation of the universe.
    • Founded a school where math, music, and philosophy were studied together.

    Hands-on: Explore musical patterns (like scales) or geometric shapes to show how math and beauty connect—just like Pythagoras taught.

    ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS

    Heraclitus (535–475 BC)

    • Believed that change is the only constant in life.
    • Known for saying, “You cannot step into the same river twice.”
    • His philosophy emphasized that the world is always in motion.

    Hands-on: Using water as an example of change, pour it into a cup, freeze it into ice, or boil it into steam.  This is a great demonstration of how change is constant.

    Epicurus (341–270 BC)

    • Believed happiness comes from simple pleasures, friendship, and freedom from fear.
    • Taught that peace of mind is better than wealth or power.
    • His philosophy became known as Epicureanism.

    Hands-on: Encourage your learner to make a “simple joy list” of things that make them happy (a good book, a walk, family time). This ties directly to Epicurus’ teaching.

    Zeno of Citium (334–262 BC)

    • Founded the philosophy of Stoicism.
    • Believed in self-control, courage, and living according to nature.
    • Stoics taught that while we cannot control what happens to us, we can control how we respond.

    Hands-on: Put stoicism into practice, role-play scenarios where you practice calm responses to frustrations like losing a game.

    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

    Then look at these ancient Greek philosopher activities.

    ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHER ACTIVITIES

    • Philosopher Spotlight Project- Give your child one philosopher to research and then give a short presentation or skit wearing their wreath.
    • Socratic Debate- Pick a silly but fun question like, “Is it better to have cats or dogs?” and let students debate by only asking questions.
    • Greek Philosopher “Plato” Mat- How awesome is this playdough mat for younger kids and I think even older ones will enjoy the challenge of creating playdough versions of these Greek philosophers.
    • Greek Banquet Day – Prepare a simple Greek-inspired meal (olives, grapes, bread, Ambrosia of The Gods, cheese) and have kids wear their wreaths to celebrate.
    • Philosophy Journal – Encourage students to keep a notebook where they write their answers to “big questions”.
    • Make a Wreath- In Ancient Greece, wreaths made from olive branches, ivy, or laurel leaves symbolized honor, achievement, and victory. Wreaths also were worn in ceremonies and festivals. Olive wreaths were awarded to winners of the Olympic Games. Laurel wreaths were given to poets, scholars, and military leaders, so naturally, we are going to create a laurel wreath today.
    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

    Next, look at these ancient Greece hands-on activities.

    Finally, look at how to make a fun ancient Greece wreath.

    HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ANCIENT GREEK WREATH

    You will need:

    • Pipe cleaners, or a plain headband (to form the base)
    • Green felt, or artificial leaves
    • Scissors
    • Hot glue gun

    First, bend wire or pipe cleaners into a circle (crown size) or use a headband as the base.

    We had this thin gold one on hand that no one wore anymore, and it worked perfectly but to make the “leaves” have more to adhere to I glued a strip of felt all the way around the outside.

    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

    If you are using pipe cleaners, you will want to braid a few together to make it sturdier.

    Cut out leaf shapes from green felt or use artificial leaves from the craft store. Laurel leaves are long and pointed.

    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

    Layer the leaves onto the base, gluing them so they overlap like scales.

    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

    To finish off the inside and make it comfortable, you can glue on another felt strip to cover everything up.

    Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath

    That’s it, so simple!

    Fun Ancient Greece Activities To Learn From The Great Minds

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    Today, I have some ancient Greece activities to learn from the great minds of the past. Also, look at my page Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and look at my second free Ancient Greece Lapbook for more ideas.

    For example, we’re learning about the Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and Epicurus.

    Besides there is a word for those all questions your children ask – the Socratic method.

    But tapping into the minds of the past, help kids to learn how to ask questions and to learn to think critically.

    Fun Ancient Greece Activities To Learn From The Great Minds

    Many of the ideas we learned laid the foundation for ideas that continue to influence us.

    Too, questions help children to develop reasoning skills, and you decide when to ask morality questions to weight against what the Greek philosophers felt.

    And when children ponder meaningful questions instead getting the answers they develop curiosity and an open-mind.

    They can also develop empathy and it’s an opportunity for you to model how you want your children to handle viewpoints different from their own.

    ANCIENT GREECE BOOKS FOR KIDS

    First, look at some of these books about Ancient Greece.

    8 Living History Books about Ancient Greece

    You'll love this roundup of living history books about Ancient Greece.

    Next, look at some hands-on Ancient Greece activities.

    ANCIENT GREECE ACTIVITIES

    Also, look at some facts about these 5 ancient Greek philosophers.

    ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHER FACTS

    Ancient Greece thinkers were called philosophers. We still ponder some of the same questions they ask in the past.

    Look at a few of these famous Greek philosophers.

    SOCRATES

    • Socrates (469–399 BC) was one of the most famous philosophers of all time.
    • He didn’t write anything down. His student Plato kept a record.
    • And he loved to walk around asking questions to people in the street in Athens.
    • His manner of questioning all is still referred to as the Socrates Method.

    Also, look at these facts about Plato.

    PLATO

    • After Socrates passed away, Plato kept his ideas alive.
    • His school the Academy was one of the first schools in western history.
    • He spent a lot of time thinking of fairness or justice.
    • And he believed math helped people thinking logically.
    Fun Ancient Greece Activities To Learn From The Great Minds

    Next, learn about Aristotle.

    ARISTOTLE

    • He taught Alexander the Great.
    • And he is considered the Father of Logic.
    • Aristotle thought that reasoning (the ability to think clearly) was one of the most important things for people to learn.
    • He made contributions to science like studying about plants, animals, and stars.

    Then, learn about Pythagoras.

    PYTHAGORAS

    • He was a math genius.
    • Too, he is known for his amazing discovery about right triangles.
    • Pythagoras thought that numbers were the key to understanding everything in the world.
    • He believed that everything in the world was connected by numbers.

    Finally, look at some information about Epicurus.

    EPICURUS

    • He was a philosopher that liked happiness.
    • He believed in finding pleasure in a healthy way.
    • According to Epicurus, life is about enjoying the present.
    • Epicurus believed in living in harmony with others.

    Also, look at what you get in this download and how to use it.

    HOW TO USE THE ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS PRINTABLE.

    There is one page on each of the 5 philosophers mentioned above.

    Each page has an activity or two along with facts about the philosopher.

    Use the pages to introduce philosophers in your unit study.

    In addition, you can add these pages to your notebook or even to the two free Ancient Greece lapbooks I have.

    Look here at my post at my post How to Turn Boring Worksheets into Fun Minibooks – From Boring to Interactive to fold a page into a minibook for your file folder or notebook.

    Finally, look at how to get this free printable.

    HOW TO GET THE FREE ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS PRINTABLE

    Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

    That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

    1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

    2) Grab the freebie now

    3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    The first thing to do before we build this triorama is to pick your favorite story from Greek mythology. Also, look at my pages Trioramas: How To Create Engaging Visual Narratives For Kids for more ideas and Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus.

    Or you can just go with a peek into Mount Olympus with a few myths and legends.

    You can make a triorama any size you like.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    I thought this one would be a fun one to make into a mini scene, this one stands just 6” at the point.

    A triorama is like a diorama.

    It can be made in 2 ways.

    It can be a 3 dimensional triangle shape made from a single square of cardboard, paper, cardstock, or poster board.

    Or you can create 3 sections depending on your needs.

    They are a unique way to highlight a scene from a favorite book, movie, an animal’s habitat, or so many other things.

    This Brick Greek Myths book was a big hit and provides wonderful inspiration.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Before we begin with our triorama, let’s break down what Greek mythology is.

    It is a collection of stories about the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece.

    These stories have been passed down for centuries and are still popular today.

    The Greek gods and goddesses were very powerful and had control over different parts of the world.

    Zeus was the king of the gods and ruled over the sky.

    Poseidon was the god of the sea, and Hades was the god of the underworld.

    The gods and goddesses had many adventures and often got themselves into trouble.

    They also had many children, some of whom became gods and goddesses themselves.

    MOST FAMOUS OF GREEK GODS AND GODDESSES

    Next, look at some of the most famous Greek gods and goddesses.

    • Zeus: King of the gods and ruler of the sky
    • Poseidon: God of the sea
    • Hades: God of the underworld
    • Hera: Queen of the gods and goddess of marriage
    • Athena: Goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts
    • Apollo: God of music, poetry, and healing
    • Artemis: Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and chastity
    • Aphrodite: Goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure
    • Hermes: Messenger of the gods and god of trade and travel
    • Ares: God of war
    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Also, add some books to your study.

    When I can find them, I prefer living books.

    GREEK MYTHOLOGY BOOKS FOR KIDS

    10 Books for a Fun Greek Mythology Unit Study

    You’ll love adding one or two of these resources or books to your homeschool unit study about Greek mythology.

    Additionally, look at more activities to with this Greek mythology triorama.

    COOL GREEK MYTHOLOGY CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES

    1. Wow what a unique take on a shoebox craft, Theseus and the Minotaur: Ancient Crete Shoebox Craft.
    2. Learn How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History, was it myth or reality? Find out!
    3. A good video can be such a wonderful source of knowledge and inspiration, introduce your child to myths with Greek Mythology for Kids | What is mythology? Learn all about Greek mythology.
    4. Make this simple Greek Mythology Inspired Labyrinth Craft to go along with “Basileo and the Labyrinth”
    5. These Silhouette puppets to act out Greek myths are a very unique way to retell the mythical tales of larger than life characters like Hercules, Zeus, Poseidon, and monsters like pegasus, chimera, and minotaur.
    6. Free Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus
    7. Make a Staff of The Gods that changes from the bolt of Zeus to the horn like bi-dent of Hades or Poseidon’s classic trident all in one scepter.
    8. The Kids Greek Mythology Craft: Pandora’s Box Shoebox Craft highlights one of the most known Greek myths about what can happen when curiosity gets the better of you.
    9. A Greek Mythology Medusa Mask is an easy way to recreate the story of the monster Medusa who was believed to turn men into stone with one look.

    MORE TRIORAMAS

    Finally, look at how to make this fun Greek mythology triorama.

    HOW TO MAKE A COOL GREEK MYTHOLOGY TRIORAMA

    You will need:

    • 2-8.5×8.5” pieces of cardstock
    • scissors
    • Colored pencils/markers
    • Mythical Realm Toob
    • Cotton stuffing
    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    First, fold your paper from corner to corner so that it forms a triangle and press a firm crease along the bend.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Open the paper and fold in the opposite direction and repeat the crease so that there is an x crease across the paper when opened.

    Cut along one of these creases just to the center point.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Now you can draw out your backdrop on the two triangles above the cut crease.

    Because we wanted to make Mount Olympus, we drew some simple mountains in the background and some Greek temples.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Next, add some details and color with colored pencils, markers, or crayons. You can also cut out some buildings and trees to give some dimension to the backdrop.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Fold either side of the cut corner inward and secure with glue, press firmly to form the base.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Because our triorama was set in Olympus we wanted to make it look as if it was coming out of the clouds.

    So, we lightly colored the base a blue green and added cotton stuffing to make it look like clouds.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    Finally, add in your figures that you have chosen to use.

    How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids

    To add a little more effort to the finished project you can require that your child retell the story they have portrayed or give 5 facts about Greek mythology, etc.