Pandoras Box 1

Pandora’s Box
Lesson 1
English
Pandora’s box – A Greek myth
• This week our literacy learning will be focused on a Greek

myth which is not related to our Healthy Humans topic. For
this lesson you will need a piece of paper to draw on and a
pencil.
• What is a Greek Myth? Created thousands of years
ago, Greek myths were epic stories about Greek gods,
passed down over generations. They often feature heroic
battles and terrible creatures, and taught the importance of
bravery, intelligence, and right and wrong.
Read along with the story
• If possible pause the Powerpoint slides and recording here so

that you can print out the story that is attached – don’t
worry if you can’t you can follow along with me on the next
slide.
• We’re going to do some shared reading like we have before in
class. In class we have used rulers so that you can keep your
place in the story but you can use your finger instead.
The Myth of Pandora’s Box
Are you nosy? Do you like secrets? Have you ever done something
that you’ve been warned not to, just to find out a secret? All
through time there have been stories about people being told not
to open doors, cupboards, gates and all sorts of other things, and in
many of the stories the people just didn’t listen.
One person who did not listen is Pandora. Her story is from Ancient
Greece, where her nosiness changed the world forever! Not
hundreds but thousands of years ago, in ancient Greece, there lived
two brothers called Epimetheus and Prometheus. Although they
lived in a world where the gods were in charge, they liked nothing
more than to annoy the gods. One day, Zeus, a particularly powerful
god decided to teach them a lesson. Zeus ordered the gods to
create a beautiful woman.
Her name was Pandora and she was to marry Epimetheus. As a
wedding present, Zeus gave Pandora a beautiful box but there was
one special condition; she was never to open it! All day Pandora’s
husband Epimetheus was out working. All day all she could think about
was what was in the box. Pandora could not understand why Zeus
would give her a box that she could not open. It made no sense to
her. Pandora was bored and lonely and her curiosity became
unbearable.
Activity 1 – What did the box look like?
• Wow! What an exciting story and what an exciting box

Pandora’s box was.
• We would like you to draw a picture of this special box. Zeus,
who gave it to Pandora was a very powerful God. How do you
think he may have decorated it and how do you think he may
have kept it locked?
• Look at the next slide for some ideas.
Shared reading 2
• One day, when she was sure that Epimetheus was out annoying
the gods, Pandora searched for the key to open the box. “I
know it’s here somewhere,” she muttered to herself as she
opened cupboards and drawers. There it was, high on a shelf in
their bedroom! With shaking hands, Pandora slid the key into
the lock and turned it.
Activity 2 – What’s in the box?
• What could be in the box? What did Zeus put in there? And why
wasn’t Pandora allowed to open it?
• Have a think about what you think it might be. If possible share
ideas with someone in your household.
• Next we would like you to draw a sketch of what you think might be
in the box.
Shared reading 3
• Pandora took a deep breath, closed her eyes and slowly, with
trembling hands, opened the lid of the box, imagining what could be
inside: rubies as red as the blazing sunset, jewel encrusted gowns,
piles of gold coins. But there were no coins or jewellery, no gowns or
gems, for all at once every evil and spite, every sadness and misery
flew out.
Like a swarm of insects, they fled the house and infested the earth
with heartache and sorrow. Pandora slammed the lid shut and
turned the key. “What have I done?” she sobbed, holding her head
in her hands. Sometime later, Pandora noticed a fluttering sound
coming from the box, as something was trapped inside. Terrified,
she pressed her ear to the box. “Let me out,” a small voice pleaded
gently, “I mean you no harm.”
Once again, with shaking hands, Pandora unlocked the box and
opened the lid. A beautiful butterfly of hope fluttered out of the
box, for although Pandora had released pain and suffering into the
world, she had also allowed hope to follow them.
The end

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Pandora’s Box

• This week our literacy learning will be focused on a Greek

• If possible pause the Powerpoint slides and recording here so

• Wow! What an exciting story and what an exciting box

inside: rubies as red as the blazing sunset, jewel encrusted gowns,

piles of gold coins. But there were no coins or jewellery, no gowns or

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