SOCIAL STUDIES Myth and (Mer)man Use this activity in social studies or world history classes to examine the dramaturgical background of The Little Mermaid. Alternatively, use this activity in the rehearsal process so that students more fully understand the world of the musical. Much of The Little Mermaid takes place under the sea and many of its aquatic characters are based in Greek mythology and European folklore. Understanding where these characters come from will illuminate the culture of Ariel’s ocean home as well as those of the believers living on the land above. Working in small groups, charge your students with researching mythology, specifically Greek mythology. What role did mythology play in ancient cultures? How did mythology relate to religion, environment, education, and natural phenomena like the passing of time? How were myths passed on from one generation to another? Using this base knowledge of how myths operated in ancient societies, ask the groups to investigate mythological figures that appear in The Little Mermaid: Triton, mermaids, the Sea Witch. Where and how did these figures originate? What are their key characteristics? What would they have symbolized culturally or religiously to Prince Eric and his sailors? Now have each group write its own folktale or myth inspired by a local or international cultural or environmental phenomenon. What kinds of characters populate their tale? What does each character symbolize? When the stories are complete, have each group present its idea to the class.
SCIENCE The Movement of Marine Life Use this activity in a biology or ecology class or in early rehearsals when students are beginning to develop character movement and work on choreography. The Little Mermaid takes place in several ecosystems: Pelagic zone, or open sea; Aphotic zone, just above the sea bed; the Bethnic zone, or the sea bed itself; and the surface of the ocean, including the beach and coast. Set both on land and sea, The Little Mermaid hosts a myriad of animals and plants. Break the class into four groups, assigning a different ecosystem to each. Ask each group to research the following: • • The region of land or ocean that the ecosystem comprises. • The defining characteristics of the ecosystem: depth, shape, temperature, oxygen levels, type of water (fresh • water, brackish, salt water) or land, etc.
• The types of animals and plant life inhabiting the ecosystem. Describe three examples, with photos, considering: Where do they dwell or grow? What does their diet consist of ? Do they inhabit one or multiple ecosystems? What are their noted physical features? Life expectancies? Predators? Etc.?
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