OFFICIAL1 Why does Matthew mention Greek and Roman mythology?

[00:00.00]Narrator: Listen to part of a conversation between a student and his professor.
[00:06.88]FEMALE PROFESSOR: Hi Matthew. I'm glad you could come in today. [00:10.22]You've been observing Mr. Grabell's third-grade class for your Approaches to Education paper, right?
[00:15.25]MALE STUDENT: Um… yes…[00:17.18]I go over to Johnson elementary school.. you know to watch Mr. Grabell teach the children in class. [00:22.38]It's been amazing. I mean I'm just learning so much from just watching him.  [00:26.79]I'm so glad that classroom observations are a requirement for the education program. [00:31.42]I mean it's like the best thing ever to prepare you to be a good teacher.
[00:35.45]FEMALE PROFESSOR: Well, I'm glad to see you feel that way, Matthew. [00:37.78]You know, that's the goal. [00:39.68]So … I've been reading over your observation notes, and I'm quite interested in what's going on—in particular with the astronomy unit he's been teaching.
[00:48.64]MALE STUDENT: The astronomy unit?
[00:50.51]FEMALE PROFESSOR: It seems that Mr. Grabell has mastered the interdisciplinary approach to teaching that we've been talking about in class.
[00:57.15]MALE STUDENT: Oh, OK. Yeah, so like when he was teaching them astronomy … he didn't just teach them the names of the planets. He used it as way to teach mythology.
[01:07.05]FEMALE PROFESSOR: Really? so, how did he do that?
[01:09.49]MALE STUDENT: Well, some of the students could already name the planets, but they didn't know that the names had any meaning … the stories behind them.
[01:16.51]FEMALE PROFESSOR: So he…
[01:17.98]MALE STUDENT: …he introduced Greek and Roman mythology, as a way of explaining,  [01:21.34]Like you know how like Jupiter's the biggest planet, right, and … how Jupiter was the name of the king of the gods in Roman mythology … right? [01:30.07]So since Jupiter, the planet, is the largest planet in our solar system, it's like the king of the planets, like Jupiter was the king of all the gods.
[01:38.97]FEMALE PROFESSOR: Oh Matthew, that's a great example!
[01:41.45]MALE STUDENT: Yeah … [01:41.94]and each student chose a planet, and then did research on it to write a report and make a presentation. [01:47.91]They went to the library to do the research. Then they made presentations about the planet they chose.
[01:54.38]FEMALE PROFESSOR: So in one science unit, in which the focus was astronomy, the students also learned about the literature of Greek and Roman mythology, used research skills in the library, wrote a report, and practiced their oral presentation skills?
[02:08.46]MALE STUDENT: Exactly!! He used this one topic to teach 3rd graders all that stuff … how to use the books in the library … to write reports … and even how to speak in public. [02:18.00]Plus they had a great time doing it.
[02:19.91]FEMALE PROFESSOR: You know, Matthew, this is just what we've been talking about in our class, [02:24.32]and I'm sure everyone could learn something from your experience,  [02:27.18]You know, Matthew, I'd love for you to talk about this Astronomy Unit in class on Wednesday.
[02:32.79]MALE STUDENT: Really? Um … cuz I don't really think I'll have any time to write my paper by then …
[02:38.64]FEMALE PROFESSOR: Oh you won't need to write anything new just yet. [02:41.14]For Wednesday, use your class observation notes, and explain the things we've discussed today.
[02:46.03]MALE STUDENT: OK. That sounds alright.