Latin for
the Whole Child
Suzanne Henrich
Board of Directors, Ascanius: The Youth Classics Institute
Latin Teacher, Boston Latin Academy
NECTDGE 2013, Portland ME
Latin for Gifted Students: Why?
• Latin is likely new to students, making it exciting and different
• Latin helps students understand their own language better
• Latin is challenging, and remains challenging as one learns
the language
• Like math, Latin is cumulative and relies on a student having
knowledge of all previously learned skills. Thus it presents
continual reinforcement and challenge, which is excellent for
independent or self -directed work
• Latin is a gateway to understanding much about history,
literature, and the human experience
•To study Latin is to study not only a language, but also a
culture, history, religion, and philosophy. Teachers can use
Latin to connect with students of many types of giftedness
Lessons in Presentation
I. Vocabulary Acquisition (body parts, colors, family)
II. Romulus and Remus
III. The Natural World & Narcissus and Echo
IV. Music through Mythology (Holst’s The Planets)
I. Vocabulary Acquisition
1. Introduce new vocabulary
2. Physical practice
3. Musical practice
4. Hands-on practice
5. If desired, explore English derivatives related to
the vocabulary
I. Vocabulary: Body Parts
1. Introduce new vocabulary:
construct Joe Body Parts (as a class or individually)
2. Physical practice:
Simo dicit (Simon Says) **
3. Musical practice:
Body Parts Chant
4. Hands-on practice:
draw and label your partner’s body
I. Vocabulary: Body Parts
I. Vocabulary: Colors
1. Introduce new vocabulary:
Colors powerpoint
2. Physical and Musical practice:
Colors Song with props**
3. Hands-on practice:
Slap the Colors game
4. Derivatives:
http://www.classicsunveiled.com/romevd/html/deriv
main.html
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php
I. Vocabulary: Family
1. Introduce new vocabulary:
Pictures of students’ families
2. Musical practice:
Family Song
3. Hands-on practice:
Create and label a family tree (hanger or potted)
4. Derivatives
II. Romulus and Remus
1. Tell the story in English, listen to the story in Latin
2. Students examine authentic Latin text and match
English words in the translation to the Latin words**
3. Students draw a comic of the story, labeling it with
Latin from the authentic text
4. If desired, students can compare and contrast the
story of Romulus and Remus with other stories (Moses,
foundation myths from ancient cities especially Argos,
Padua (ancient Patavium), and Carthage).
II. Romulus and Remus
III. Natural World &
Narcissus and Echo
1. Introduce Nature vocabulary
2. Students play Nature Flyswatter game to practice
3. Go on a nature scavenger hunt– then students label
their finds in Latin
4. Tell the story of Narcissus and Echo
5. Students read the Latin story, and use it to fill in the
blanks in the English translation **
6. Students act out their portion of the story
7. If desired, play Mad Libs! Students give you Latin
words to fill in the blanks in a Nature Myth story.
IV. Mythology through Music
1. Students listen to The Planets by Holst, and hold up
words that show the emotions in the music **
2. Students can also listening to the music and draw
images based on what they hear
3. Students can then compare the music to authentic
images and stories of the gods- does the music give the
same impression of the god, why or why not?
4. Students write (in English or Latin) riddles about the
gods and share them with the class, who have to guess
which deity is described
Resources and Materials
Resources for teaching Latin:
Minimus, Cambridge Latin Course
Ascanius Resources:
Mingle with Myth: myth lessons and activities
by topic/story
Leap into Latin: beginning Latin lessons and activities by
topic
Readings from Mythology: adapted Latin readings for
beginning to intermediate student, includes vocabulary,
grammar practice and authentic images for comparison
Getting to Know Greek: fun introduction to ancient Greek
Iota magazine: myth, language, and culture for ES students
SCRIBO: Latin composition contest!
Questions? Suggestions?
Want to try some our activities?
Explore our resources for teachers:
www.ascaniusyci.org/teachers.htm
Find powerpoints and recordings:
www.ascaniusyci.org/companion/artmyth/
Contact me at:
shenrich@ascaniusyci.org