To deepen their reading of the Epic of Gilgamesh, groups of fifth graders in Mr. Friedman’s Social Studies class teamed up to depict the ancient Mesopotamian poem as an illustrated novel.

On November 10, fifth graders shared their epic coming books with sixth graders, who fondly recalled completing the same unit last year. As the sixth graders browsed the comics, they engaged the fifth graders’ in thoughtful discussions about the epic’s narrative, as well as the overarching theme of the hero’s journey. They fifth graders especially enjoyed sharing the inspiration behind their illustrated interpretations, ranging from Gilgamesh as a Minion to demons as fruit!

This hands-on project was a memorable way for the fifth graders to explore literature, history, creative expression, and critical discussion—all while making a centuries-old epic a new favorite read!