Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about the Olympians in Greek mythology? Who is the Greek god Poseidon, and what are his special powers?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to break students into small groups or pairs to conduct research on Poseidon. Students who already read The Lightning Thief or who have pre-existing knowledge of Greek mythology could be invited to share their knowledge with their partner or group. Afterwards, volunteers might share what they learned.

• This article from Brittanica Kids provides information about the Greek god Poseidon and shares some key details about Greek mythology.
• This article from World History Encyclopedia explores the origin of the Greek god Poseidon and includes a 10-minute video about his history.

2. The Sea of Monsters is a sequel to Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief. Consider some of the sequels you have encountered in literature or film. How did those sequels compare to the original stories? What makes a sequel a sequel? Is it necessary for readers to read earlier works first? Why or why not?