Alex had been reading the whole series and David is researching mythology.
During the movie, I started to write out some journaling topics for the boys.
As always with our journaling, drawing is encouraged to go along with the writing.
1. How is the book different from the movie?
2. How are Percy and Harry Potter (or Luke Skywalker) alike?
3. Why is the gateway to Mt. Olympus located at the Empire State Building?
4. Can you have a special power and not know about it?
5. How are Percy's friends (or team) like a family?
6. What are a half goat/half man and a half horse/half man called? Create your own half man/half other animal. Draw it and write about it.
7. What are some themes we find in fairy tales? Is The Lightning Thief a fairy tale?
8. Look up and then explain the rules to capture the flag. (Play capture the flag).
9. What is the difference between a main god and a demi god in mythology?
10. Write a paragraph about Hermes. Write a second paragraph explaining how he can make a good bad guy. (Opportunity, easy access, get away).
11. Can you think of any buildings that look Greek in architecture? Write about them.
12. In your own words, where do myths come from?
13. A character says, "The gods must be angry!" Why would he say that? What made people of Greece think that?
14. Why were the lotus flowers dangerous? (Discuss or write about lots flowers = drugs. Why was this scene set in Las Vegas? Look up wisdom and folly in Proverbs. Are they mentioned much? Why?)
15. Why was Hades set in Hollywood? Are there any other locations that would have worked?
16. How are dyslexia and ADHD Percy's super powers? Do super powers help you to fit in or stand out? Do most pre-teen kids want to fit in or stand out? How about grown ups?
17. Do you have super powers?
18. Does our hero work alone or on a team? Can you think of other heroes from literature or TV who work the same way?
19. Why do the main characters in fairy tales (or Disney movies) often not have a regular family?
20. Write a short story about the day you found some flying shoes.
21. What is a quest? Have you ever gone on a quest? Would you like to? Can you think of character from literature, TV or people in history who have gone on a quest? Do these quests have anything in common?
22. Write a short story about a quest you (or your character) would like to take. This can be real or imaginary.
So far, they are still enjoying talking and journaling about the movie and books. Some topics have fallen flat and some have continued for days.
I like to get them thinking critically about what they have read or seen. I want them to be able to evaluate what they have seen in comparison to other themes, stories, geography, history and culture around them. And if it gets Max to stop writing about bodily functions in his journal...then all the better.
