Sixth Graders Are Immersed in Greek Mythology During Mythfest

“Oh, you’re going to have fun!” a student wearing a toga and a golden laurel crown said to similarly dressed students entering a middle school classroom. Sixth graders were participating in Mythfest, a favorite Fox Lane Middle School tradition that is more than 25 years old.

Throughout the day, students cycled through different Greek myth-inspired activities—from a rap battle to myth math—and ended the day watching The Lightning Thief. The event is the culmination of learning across disciplines.

“Students read the origin stories for each of the pantheon gods, study the Hero Cycle and learn about the Trojan war,” said English teacher Lori Philbin. “In Social Studies, they learn about ancient civilizations and related topics are referenced in science through their astronomy unit.”

Teachers hope that the event allows students to celebrate their hard work and the material that they learned in a fun and engaging way.

One thing is for sure: students were all in. Whether they were dressed up and carrying around props, dramatically acting out scenes during Myth Charades or crafting lyrics with their teammates during Rap Battle, students were active and energetic participants.

A lot of planning goes into the event, from grouping students, creating individualized schedules, prepping the games and reserving spaces.

“It is a labor of love, but the kids always have fun,” said Philbin.

The Rap Battle and movie screening seem to be fan favorites, but Philbin thinks it’s about more than that.

“I truly think that being together with friends is their favorite part,” she said.