Percy Jackson’s Magic Pen (August 19 – August 23)

(ALL DAY: for ages 9-12) Percy Jackson is mighty with his sword; his creator, Rick Riordan, is mighty with his pen. Try the writing methods Riordan used to weave a siren spell on you! Prepare by reading the first book of the series, The Lightning Thief. We will mine it for models of how to develop vivid characters, of how to hold readers across chapter breaks, and of the benefits of borrowing story elements from past literature. We’ll craft vivid descriptions and humorous wisecracks like those in Percy’s narration. You’ll create your own Camp Half Blood adventure. Meanwhile, we’ll enjoy examining ancient Greek culture; we’ll attempt some Greek literary forms, explore the Berkeley Gallery of Ancient Art, try on tunics and helmets, design our own hoplite shields, and concoct ambrosia! We will also look at how we borrow from ancient Greece in our language, government, culture, architecture, and art—to see that ancient Greece still lives in us