Standards Correlations

R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.6, R.7, W.3, SL.1, SL.2, L.4, L.6

Learning Objective

Students will make inferences about characters in a play.

Key Skills

inference, text features, vocabulary, understanding genre, character, compare and contrast, critical thinking, point of view, narrative writing

Complexity Factors

Levels of Meaning: The play is based on a myth that highlights the dangers of greed.

 

Structure: The play is chronological and has five scenes. 

 

Language: The play includes some figurative language.

 

Knowledge Demands: Familiarity with Greek mythology may be helpful.

Levels

Guided Reading Level: Q 

DRA Level: 40

SEL Connection:

This play and lesson plan promote responsible decision making and self-awareness skills.

Lesson Plan: The Golden Curse

Essential Questions

  • Can money buy happiness?
  • Can people change?

Literature Connection

  • Novel: Secondhand Wishes by Anna Staniszewski
  • Novel: Switched at Birthday by Natalie Standiford
  • Graphic fiction: Dionysos: The New God by George O’Connor

1. Preparing to Read 

Respond to a Prompt (10 minutes)

Before reading the play, ask students to brainstorm a list of things that they believe contribute to happiness. Once they have their lists, put them into small groups to discuss their ideas. Then, as a class, have a discussion about whether money can buy happiness.

Preview Text Features (10 minutes)

Guide students to locate the play in their magazines or online. Then preview the text features using the following prompts:

  • Read the play’s title and the text beside it, and look at the first illustration. Describe what you see in the image, and make a prediction about what might be going on. Sample answer: The illustration shows a king and a young girl sitting at a table while two other people look at them in surprise. The king is holding food and a drink that appear to be made of gold. Maybe he has found a way to turn ordinary things to gold.
  • Look at the map titled “Mount Olympus” and read its caption. Where is Mount Olympus located? In Greek myths, who lives on Mount Olympus? Mount Olympus is located in Greece, which is in Europe. In Greek myths, gods live on Mount Olympus.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

  • Point out the vocabulary box. Read the words (precious, greedy, fragrant, banquet, transforms, astounding) aloud and discuss their definitions.
  • Play the Vocabulary Slideshow.

Make a Plan for Reading

Before students start to read, walk them through a reading plan:

  • Set a purpose for reading by telling students they’ll make inferences while reading “The Golden Curse.” Explain that making an inference means using clues from the text to figure out something that isn’t stated directly. 
  • Point out the activity at the end of the play. Tell students they will complete it after reading.

2. Reading and Unpacking the Text

  • Assign roles to students and read the play aloud as a class. Stop after each scene and ask students to summarize what happened. 
  • After reading, discuss the following close-reading and critical-thinking questions.

Close-Reading Questions (15 minutes)

  • Based on information in Scene 1, what can you tell about King Midas and what he cares about? (character, inference) In Scene 1, King Midas is annoyed that his daughter interrupts him while he is in his treasure room counting gold coins. Marigold mentions that he hardly leaves the room, and Midas responds, “Everything I love is here.” Midas doesn’t pay any attention when Marigold leaves the room, hurt and upset. This shows that Midas values his wealth above all else—even his own daughter.
  • In Scene 3, Midas turns one of Marigold’s rosebushes to gold. Based on how they both react, how is Marigold different from her father? (compare and contrast) Midas is happy that the gold roses are worth a fortune. Marigold is upset because the roses have lost their natural color and scent. You can tell that Midas is interested only in how much money a thing is worth, while Marigold values other qualities.
  • ​​How does King Midas’s attitude toward his golden touch change throughout the play? (character) King Midas’s attitude toward his golden touch changes dramatically. At first, he is very excited about  having the power to turn anything he touches into gold. Then, as he realizes that his new power is dangerous to him and to those around him, he becomes desperate to be rid of it.

Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)

  • Do you think Dionysus does the right thing by helping Midas in the end? Why or why not? (critical thinking) Answers may vary. Some students might say yes because the goal of the blessing/curse (to teach Midas a lesson) has been reached.  Some might say yes because Marigold doesn’t deserve to be left as a statue. Others might say no because Midas behaved terribly and deserved to end up unhappy. 
  • Read the caption titled “The Midas Touch”: What do you think King Midas would say about how we use the phrase “the Midas touch” today? (point of view) Answers will vary, but students will likely say that Midas would not agree with the way we use the phrase today. In the myth, Midas’s ability to turn everything into gold proves to be a curse and reveals the potential danger of placing too much value on wealth. Because of this, Midas would likely not agree with the phrase being used as a compliment.

3. Skill Building and Writing

  • Have students work in pairs to complete the Spotlight Skill Workout: Inference activity at the end of the play.
  • Assign students to work independently on our Understanding Genre Skill Builder. (Click here to see all your Skill Builders for this feature.)
  • Writing prompt:  Imagine that you’re Marigold, all grown up. Your children have asked you to write down the story of the day your father had a magical power. In a paragraph or two, write down what happened from your point of view. How did you feel when your father turned all of your roses to gold, even after you asked him not to? Can you remember being turned into a statue? How did the whole experience affect your relationship with your father?

Learn Anywhere Activity

An enrichment activity to extend the learning journey at home or in the classroom

Project the task below on your whiteboard or share it with students in your LMS.

Write a New Scene

Imagine that King Midas meets a visitor from outside Gordium. The visitor has heard stories about a great king who can turn anything he touches into gold. He is hoping to learn the secret of the king’s amazing power. What might Midas tell the visitor? What lesson can the visitor learn from Midas’s experience?

Write the scene in which Midas meets the visitor. Use the same format as the one used in the play. Keep these tips in mind: 

  • Give your scene a heading that tells readers where and when the action will take place.
  • Before each line, write the name of the person who says it and add a colon.
  • Use narrators (such as N1 and N2) to describe the characters’ actions.

Language-Acquisition Springboard

Practice reading end punctuation to increase fluency.

Before reading the play, pair students up and have them take turns saying these lines to each  other:  “This is the best day ever!” and “Really? What’s going on?” Discuss the natural way to speak a line that ends with an exclamation point (loudly, with feeling) and the natural way to speak a line that ends with a question mark (voice goes up in pitch). 

Next, have students practice saying these lines from the play:

  • No one can ever have enough!
  • Will nothing satisfy you?
  • I will be the richest man who ever lived!
  • See how beautiful your roses are?
  • Wow! Is this solid gold?

Looking for more ELL support? Download our full lesson plan and scroll to p. 5 to find questions that will help your ELLs respond to the text at the level that’s right for them.

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