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Learning Objectives 

Students will: 

• Identify character traits common to heroes, and recognize qualities that are exceptional in certain heroes.
• Compare heroes from many diverse cultures.
• Discuss how heroes can be any type of person who has accomplished an inspiring action.
• Collaborate to create a working definition of a hero.
• Examine works of art, literature, and music that depict historical, legendary, or contemporary heroes.
• Research and gather information about a piece of art depicting a hero, including the style, medium, and time period in which this hero was depicted.
• Design and create a presentation on a hero. 
• Present information and findings to an audience.
• Write an expository essay. 

Standards Alignment

National Core Arts StandardsNational Core Arts Standards

Common Core State StandardsCommon Core State Standards

Recommended Student Materials

Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.

Websites

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Teacher Background

Teachers should be familiar with composers who were inspired by the conflict between heroes and villains. For more information, review the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s resource and . Print and hang around the classroom.

Student Prerequisites 

Students should read and review the poetic form, . 

Accessibility Notes

Modify handouts and give preferential seating for visual presentations. Allow extra time for task completion.

Engage

1. Begin this lesson by reading a well-known account of a hero and heroic action, such as a Greek myth.

2. Using this character as an example, have the class begin to draft a list of the characteristics and qualities of a hero that were presented in the story. Widen their concept of a hero by guiding the discussion to talk about heroes from areas such as politics, religion, history, folktales, and art.

3. Brainstorm a list of as many heroes as possible and then create a grid with the heroes on one axis and the characteristics on the other. Check off the qualities as they apply to each hero.

Build

1. Break students into cooperative learning groups. Instruct the groups to create a working definition of a hero. Encourage them to use the to facilitate their thinking. 

2. Have each of the groups present their findings to the class. Keep a running list of traits that were most common amongst the groups, and of the most unusual adjectives and descriptions for a hero. Lead the students in a group discussion of the variety of types and qualities of heroes.

3. Introduce different works of art and music depicting deeds of heroic figures from the . Comment on the various examples presented, identifying styles of art, media, historical periods, composition, and interpretation of the subject matter. 

Apply

1. Have students find one example of a hero depicted in art or music. Review the prior to having students research and gather information on a heroic art piece.

2. Allow students time to complete their research and create a presentation using presentation software like , , or . Encourage students to add voiceover, music, or to screencast their presentation. 

3. Groups will present their piece of art or music to the class. Engage students in a post-presentation discussion or Q&A session.

Reflect 

1. Assess students' knowledge with an expository essay about a real-life hero. They can select someone from the lesson or choose their own hero, subject to approval. 

John Williams

John Williams - “Star Wars” (Main Title)

John Williams - “Summon the Heroes”