Famous Men of Greece · Ch. IV, part 2 · Unit 2: Hercules, Jason and Theseus

7. Hercules and His Labors (labors 10–12 and the end)

Goal: Your child can finish the list of the twelve labors and retell how the Greeks said Hercules's life ended.

⏱ About 25 minutes · 6 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗

You'll need

  • A notebook or paper and colored pencils
  • The labors chart from last time

What's in the book

Sections III and IV: the oxen of Geryon, the golden apples (Atlas holds up the sky), Cerberus; then Alcestis, Hercules as Omphale's slave, Nessus the centaur, the poisoned robe, and Hercules taken up to the gods.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    Point to the first nine boxes on the chart and let your child name each labor.

  2. Read the chapter together

    Read pages 45–51 aloud, or let your child read and help with the hard names. Start at section III, "Bring me the oxen of Geryon." The last part, section IV, has some sad moments; read it calmly.

  3. Narration

    Close the book. Ask your child to tell the story back in their own words, from the beginning. Don't correct as they go; just listen. If they get stuck, use a prompt:

    - How did Hercules reach Geryon's island?

    - What bargain did he make with Atlas?

    - How did he bring Cerberus up from the underworld?

    - How did the centaur's blood harm Hercules?

  4. Finish the chart

    Fill in boxes 10 to 12: oxen, apples, Cerberus. Now say all twelve in order, looking at the pictures, then try it with the chart turned over.

  5. Talk it over

    Ask:

    1. Who was Atlas, and what was his job?

    2. Hercules did good things and some bad things. Can you name one of each?

    3. How did the story end for Hercules?

  6. Remember it

    "I will get you some of the apples," said Atlas in answer to Hercules, "if you will hold up the sky for me while I am getting them."

    SayA book of maps is called an atlas, after this giant.

Afterwards

Hang the finished chart on the wall. Each day this week, your child names the twelve labors from memory.

Tip

Section IV mentions that Hercules once became insane and killed a friend, and that his wife's mistake led to his death. Preview it; with a younger child you can tell those parts briefly in your own words.

Answers to the book's problems

1. A giant in Africa whose duty was to hold up the sky, with the sun, moon and stars. 2. Good: he brought Alcestis back to her husband. Bad: he tried to carry off Apollo's tripod at Delphi, or killed a friend when he was insane. 3. He lay on a funeral pyre, his spirit was carried to the skies, and Jupiter made him one of the gods.

Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.

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