Greek Gods KS2

Teach your KS2 class about Greek gods and goddesses with this ready-to-teach lesson. They will first explore the important role the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece played in everyday life, from worshipping and festivals to helping explain natural events through the telling of myths. In their independent activities, children will further explore the twelve ancient Greek Olympians, and be challenged to recall facts, answer questions or devise their own quiz to test the knowledge of a partner!

 

This Greek Gods KS2 History lesson includes:

  • a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities
  • a slideshow for the teaching input
  • a range of printable resources for independent learning activities

This lesson is part of our Who were the Ancient Greeks? History scheme of work for Year 5 and Year 6.

Greek Gods KS2 Lesson Pack

£2.99

Scroll through the pictures for a preview of the lesson's resources:

Greek Gods KS2 slideshow example 1
Greek Gods KS2 slideshow example 2
Greek Gods KS2 slideshow example 3
Greek Gods KS2 slideshow example 4
Greek Gods KS2 slideshow example 5
Greek Gods KS2 worksheet example 1
Greek Gods KS2 worksheet example 2
Greek Gods KS2 worksheet example 3
Greek Gods KS2 worksheet example 4
Greek Gods KS2 lesson plan example 1
Sketch of some of the Greek gods and goddesses

Greek Gods and Goddesses

Who are the Greek gods?

The ancient Greeks had a polytheistic religion. This means that they believed in many gods and goddesses. The ancient Greeks had a god or goddess for every aspect of their lives, from farming and fishing to love and war. Pleasing the gods was essential – the ancient Greeks believed that happy gods were helpful and generous, whilst unhappy gods were vengeful and would punish them.

How many Greek gods are there?

The ancient Greeks worshipped hundreds of minor gods and goddesses, but the most important deities were believed to live on the highest mountain in Greece – Mount Olympus. These twelve gods and goddesses were called the Olympians. They were believed to have special powers, but also human qualities and emotions, meaning they could fall in love, argue, and have children, amongst other things.

 

Pleasing the gods was essential - The ancient Greeks believed that happy gods were helpful and generous, whilst unhappy gods were vengeful and would punish them.

A modern day photograph of Mount Olympus

Who are the 12 main Greek gods?

Zeus was the king of the gods. He was the god of the sky and thunder, and his symbol was a thunderbolt. As the king of the gods, he was the most powerful. He could throw lightning bolts, control the weather, mimic people's voices and even shape shift into a human or animal. Several of the Olympian gods were Zeus's children: Ares, Apollo, Athena, Aphrodite, and Dionysus. Poseidon and Hades were his brothers, and Demeter was his sister.

Hera was the queen of the gods, and considered to be very powerful. She was married to Zeus (who was also her brother) and was the mother of Ares and Hephaestus. Her symbol was a peacock. She was the goddess of marriage, women, childbirth and family. She also held power over the skies, and could bring blue skies or thunderstorms.

Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes and horses. He ruled over the oceans and all bodies of water. He could create storms to sink ships, or calm the waters to help them along. He could also cause earthquakes. His symbol was a trident (a three-pronged spear). He was one of the few Olympians that did not reside on Mount Olympus - instead he lived in a coral palace under the sea. He was the brother of Zeus.

Demeter was the goddess of fertility and the harvest. She was very important to farmers in particular, as they depended on good crops for food and survival. Demeter could control whether the crops would grow or not, and had some power over the weather too. Her symbol was a sheaf of wheat.

Ares was known as the god of war and violence. His symbols included a spear, and he was considered a cruel yet cowardly god. His parents were Zeus and Hera.

Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, archery, the wilderness and the moon. She was the twin sister of the god Apollo, and her father was Zeus. She spent much of her time in the forest, surrounded by animals. She was a perfect shot with a bow and arrow. She also had the ability to turn herself and others into animals, and could heal wounds and diseases.

 

A modern day photograph of statues of the ancient Greek gods at the Academy of Athens

A modern day photograph of statues of the ancient Greek gods at the Academy of Athens

 

Apollo was the god of music, poetry, light and prophecy. His father was Zeus, and his twin sister was the goddess Artemis. His symbols included a lyre, and a bow and arrow. He had many special powers including the ability to see into the future, and to control light. He could also heal people, or cause illness and disease. Like his sister, he had a perfect aim with a bow and arrow.

Athena was the goddess of wisdom, war and crafts. One of her symbols was an owl. She was one of the most intelligent of the Olympians, and often helped out heroes on their adventures and war strategies. Athena invented many useful items, such as the ship, the chariot and the plough. She also invented the crafts of weaving and pottery.

Dionysus was the god of wine and the theatre. Wine was very important to the Greeks and played a large part in their culture. His powers included making wine, and ensuring grape vines grew. He could also transform himself into various animals. He was the only Olympian to have a mortal mother (Zeus was his father).

Hermes was the god of travel and roads. He was Zeus's son. His symbols included winged sandals and a winged cap. His main role on Mount Olympus was to serve as messenger of the gods. His main power was his speed - he was able to travel very quickly between the realms of the gods, humans and the Underworld.

Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. Her symbol was an apple. She owned a magical belt that, when worn, caused people to fall in love with the wearer. She also had the power to make bickering couples fall in love with each other again.

Hephaestus was the god of fire, blacksmiths, craftsmen and volcanoes. His symbols were a hammer and tongs. He was extremely skilled in metalwork and stonework, and crafted tools for the other gods in his forge. One-eyed monsters called Cyclopes were his assistants. Despite being kind and hardworking, he had a limp and the other gods considered him ugly.

 

Check out our Ancient Greece Mix and Match Topic Bundle with ready-to-teach schemes of work across a range of subjects to create your perfect Ancient Greece cross-curricular topic!