Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Book OneThe Lightning Thief

Grade Band MS Reading Level 2.8

Adapted Book Usage

These adapted resources are provided by the ACCESS Project at the University of Delaware’s Center for Disability Studies for teachers to help students with significant intellectual disabilities participate in the general curriculum. Please limit the use and distribution of these materials accordingly. Please read and purchase each original text (cited by author) prior to using the adapted text.

ACCESS ProjectCenter for Disabilities Studies

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Chapters One & Two

Percy was in sixth grade. His class was learning about the Greek gods. One day, one of his teachers, Mrs. Dodds, got very mad at him. She grew wings and yellow fangs. Then, she attacked him. Percy hit Mrs. Dodds with a sword. She disappeared. He didn’t know what happened to Mrs. Dodds. Percy was confused .

Percy and his friend Grover rode the bus home. Percy and Grover saw three old ladies knitting big socks by the road. One of the ladies looked at Percy and cut her yarn. Percy did not know what that meant. He thought something bad was going to happen to him. Percy was confused .

Chapters Three & Four

Percy lived with his mom. He never knew his dad. That night, Grover knocked on Percy’s door. He said they were in danger. Grover had to protect Percy. The old ladies from the bus stop were looking for Percy. They were the Furies. The Furies were creatures who helped the god of the Underworld. One of them was Mrs. Dodds. Percy looked at Grover’s legs. He had hooves instead of feet. He was a satyr. Monsters were chasing Percy.

They drove to a special summer camp. Percy would be safe there. A Minotaur was following them. The Minotaur grabbed Percy’s mom. She disappeared. Percy jumped on the Minotaur’s head. He pulled out its horn and killed it. Monsters were chasing Percy.

Chapters Five, Six, & Seven

Percy woke up at the camp. Percy was surprised to see his favorite teacher, Chiron. He was a centaur. Chiron explained to Percy that the Greek gods live forever. They are very powerful. The camp was for children of the gods. Percy found out his dad was a god. He did not know which god. Percy is the son of a Greek god.

Chapters Eight & Nine

Percy found out that water made him strong. It helped him win a sword fight. The water also helped one of his cuts heal. Grover thought Percy might be the son of a powerful god. The most powerful gods were Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. They were all brothers. A picture of a trident appeared above Percy’s head. This meant Percy’s dad was Poseidon, god of the sea. Percy’s dad was Poseidon.

Zeus was missing his lightning bolt. He thought Percy stole it for his father. If Percy didn’t find it, the gods would fight. Chiron told Percy that Hades had the lightning bolt. Hades was god of the Underworld. He was powerful and scary. Percy and his friends were going to look for Hades. Percy’s dad was Poseidon.

Chapters Ten & Eleven

The entrance to the Underworld was in California. Percy, Grover, and their friend Annabeth were going to take a bus to California. The Furies were on the bus. They wanted to stop Percy. Percy fought the Furies. The bus crashed. The kids ran away from the Furies. Percy started to look for the lightning bolt.

Percy and his friends were hungry. They found a restaurant. An old lady answered the door. A veil covered her face. There were lots of statues in the restaurant. The lady wanted to take a picture of them. She took off her veil. She was Medusa, a dangerous monster. Whoever looked into her eyes turned into a statue. They fought Medusa and got away. Percy started to look for the lightning bolt.

Chapters Twelve, Thirteen, & Fourteen

The kids needed a new way to get to California. They bought train tickets. On the way, the train stopped in St. Louis. The kids wanted to see the top of the Gateway Arch. Percy got stuck at the top with a lady and her dog. The dog turned into a Chimera. The Chimera breathed fire onto Percy. The fire made a big hole in the arch. Percy jumped out of the hole. The kids stopped in St. Louis.

Percy found Annabeth and Grover. The police were looking for Percy. They blamed him for the hole in the arch. The kids hurried to the train station to get away from the police. The kids stopped in St. Louis.

Chapters Fifteen & Sixteen

Next, the train stopped in Denver, Colorado. There, they met Ares, the god of war. Ares asked Percy to find his shield. He left it in a waterpark. Ares would help them get to California if they got his shield. Percy met Ares, the god of war.

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover found the shield at the waterpark. When Percy grabbed it, a net fell on him and Annabeth. It was a trap. Grover helped them get out of the net. Percy met Ares, the god of war.

The kids gave Ares his shield. Ares got a truck for them to ride in. The truck stopped in Las Vegas. The kids walked into a hotel. They ate and played games for five days. Percy remembered he had to find the lightning bolt. The hotel was another trap. Percy met Ares, the god of war.

Chapters Seventeen, Eighteen, & Nineteen

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover took a taxi to California. They needed to go to the Underworld to get the lightning bolt from Hades. Poseidon sent Percy magic pearls. The pearls would help him if he got in trouble. Percy visited Hades in the Underworld.

The kids found the Underworld. A big dog was guarding the entrance. Annabeth gave him a ball and he let them enter. The kids found Hades. Percy told him he wanted Zeus’ bolt back. Hades didn’t have it. Hades thought Percy had his helm of darkness. Percy visited Hades in the Underworld.

Percy’s backpack felt heavy. Zeus’ bolt was inside! Percy had been tricked by Ares. Hades wanted the bolt. Percy had to bring it to Zeus on Mount Olympus. He used the pearls to get out of the Underworld. Percy visited Hades in the Underworld.

Chapters Twenty & Twenty-One

The kids met Ares on the beach. He took Zeus’ bolt and Hades’ helm because he wanted the gods to fight. Percy wanted to return the items to Zeus and Hades. He fought Ares for them. Percy used the water to win. Percy gave the Furies the helm of darkness. They would give it to Hades. Percy returned the bolt and the helm.

Percy went to Mount Olympus. He returned the lightning bolt to Zeus. He talked to his father Poseidon for the first time. Percy went back to summer camp. Percy found out his camp counselor stole the bolt from Zeus and gave it to Ares. The counselor was the lightning thief! Percy returned the bolt and the helm.

The Lightning Thief Vocabulary Definitions*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional

words based on student needs.

Essential VocabularyImportant Vocabulary

Greek gods: mythological beings with different powers and personalities

Sword: a weapon with a long sharp blade

Disappeared: gone; not visible anymore

Confused: unclear or not understood

Danger: not being safe from harm or injury

The Furies: Greek mythological creatures who look like old women, but change into bat-like creatures

Satyr: a Greek mythological creature with the body of a man and the legs of a goat

Minotaur: a Greek mythological monster shaped half like a man and half like a bull

Camp: an outdoor place where people live for a short amount of time and perform activities

Centaur: a Greek mythological creature that is half human and half horse

Powerful: strong; full of power and control

Trident: a spear with three points; the sign of Poseidon

Sea: a body of salt water that is smaller than an ocean

Lightning bolt: the flash of light during a thunder storm; the symbol of Zeus’ power

Underworld: in Greek mythology, it is where Hades lives

Crashed: ran into something and broke

Veil: a piece of cloth usually worn by women over their head, shoulders, and sometimes face

Statues: sculpted works of art

Definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com and www.wikipedia.org

Medusa: a Greek mythological woman with snakes for hair who turned people into stone when they looked into her eyes

Train: a connected line of railroad cars that transports people or materials

Arch: a curved structure or building

Chimera: a fire breathing monster in Greek mythology with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a snake’s tail

Police: people that keep order and enforce the law, investigate crimes, and make arrests

Shield: a piece of metal carried on the arm to protect one from getting hurt

Waterpark: an amusement park with pools, slides, and water rides

Net: a woven fabric made of rope used for catching various objects

Trap: something used to catch someone or something

Hotel: a place where people can pay to sleep

Pearls: smooth round gems that comes from an oyster

Helm: a helmet; a head covering; the symbol of Hades’ power

Beach: the sandy part next to the ocean or sea

Return: to give/come back

Thief: someone who steals

Definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com and www.wikipedia.org

Lightning Thief Vocabulary and Object List* This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Vocabulary ObjectSword Cocktail/Plastic SwordDisappeared Hide toy behind back or under blanketDanger Caution Tape; Tactile Danger SignThe Furies Wool/Yarn; Knitting MaterialsSatyr GoatMinotaur Animal HornCamp Sleeping Bag; TentCentaur HorsePowerful WeightsTrident Toy Trident; SporkSea Salt WaterLightning bolt Sound of Lightning; Toy Lightning Bolt; Tactile lightning boltCrashed Demonstrate a toy car driving into a wall of blocksVeil TulleStatues Stone; Concrete; Toy StatueMedusa Rocks; Toy SnakesTrain Train Whistle; Toy TrainArch Arch (Cardboard, Foam)Chimera Stuffed/Toy Lion, DragonPolice Toy Police Car; Whistle; Police CostumeShield Toy/Real ShieldWaterpark Bathing Suit; Flip Flops; Sun Tan LotionNet NetTrap Bug/Finger Trap; Net; Bug SprayHotel SuitcasePearls PearlsHelm Toy Steering WheelBeach Sand, Water, Sea ShellsReturn Give an object back after taking it awayThief Take an object away

Lightning Thief Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Greek Gods

Sword

Disappeared

Confused

Danger

The Furies

Satyr

Minotaur

Camp

Centaur

Powerful

Trident

Lightning Thief Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Sea

Lightning Bolt

Underworld

Crashed

Veil

Statues

Medusa

Train

Arch

Chimera Police

Shield

Waterpark Net Trap

Lightning Thief Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Hotel

Pearls Helm

Beach

Return

Thief

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Comprehension Questions

Chapters 1-2

1. What grade is Percy in? (sixth grade)2. What was Percy learning about? (Greek Gods)3. What is different about Mrs. Dodds? (she grew wings and yellow fangs)4. Who rode the bus home with Percy? (Grover)5. Why did Percy think something bad was going to happen to him? (one of the ladies cut the yarn)

Chapters 3-4

1. According to Grover, who is looking for Percy? (the Furies)2. What sort of creature is Grover? (satyr)3. What happens to Percy's mother? (she disappears)4. How did Percy kill the minotaur? (he pulled its horn out)

Chapters 5-7

1. What surprises Percy about the summer camp? (seeing his favorite teacher)2. What sort of creature is Percy’s favorite teacher? (centaur)3. Who is the summer camp for? (the children of the gods)

Chapters 8-9

1. What made Percy strong? (water)2. Who is Percy’s dad? (Poseidon, god of the sea)3. What was Zeus missing? (Lightning Bolt)4. What will happen if Percy doesn’t find the lightning bolt? (the gods will fight)

Chapters 10-11

1. Who wanted to stop Percy on the bus? (the Furies)2. What was the old lady wearing when she opened the door? (a veil)3. What happened if you looked into Medusa’s eyes? (you turned into a statue)

Chapters 12-14

1. What type of transportation did Percy and his friends take? (Train) 2. Where does the train stop on the way to California? (St. Louis)3. What does the dog turn into? (a Chimera)

Chapters 15-16

1. Who did they meet in Colorado? (Ares, god of war)2. What was he missing? (Shield)3. Where did they look for it? (Waterpark)4. Who helps Percy and Annabeth out of the net? (Grover)5. What do the kids do in the hotel? (eat and play games)

Chapters 17-19

1. What was guarding the Underworld? (a big dog)2. How did they get into the Underworld? (Annabeth gave the dog a ball)3. Why was Percy’s backpack getting heavy? (Zeus’ bolt was inside)4. What did Percy use to get out of the Underworld? (the pearls)

Chapters 20-21

1. What does Percy use to beat Ares? (water)2. Who was the lightning thief? (Percy’s camp counselor)