Novel Study: The Lightning Thief: Pre-Reading Activity

Prepare students for reading The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan by accessing and building background knowledge! In this pre-reading activity, students will first review a few key terms to help them understand the foundation of Greek mythology and Percy Jackson’s story. Then, they will access their background knowledge by recording what they already know about some of the famous gods, goddesses, creatures, and places they’ll meet in The Lightning Thief. Finally, learners will conduct their own research and record any new learning about the major characters and setting in the story. Designed for sixth-grade students, this pre-reading activity is part of a larger novel study unit on Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief.