Percy Jackson | The Lightning Thief Movie Guide (PG-2010)

Turn movie time into a Greek-mythology lesson!
Guide students through Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief with 11 thought-provoking prompts, two mini-essays, and a printable family tree of the gods. Perfect for grades 7-10 and free to download here on K12MovieGuides.

Why pair The Lightning Thief with this guide?

Rick Riordan’s demigod adventure sparks curiosity about classical myths, but passive viewing won’t build skills. This question-driven guide pauses the film at pre-marked timestamps so students can:

• Analyze character motivation and hero-journey archetypes
• Compare Hollywood plot points with authentic Greek legends
• Gather evidence for argument or narrative writing tasks

What’s inside

• 11 short-answer prompts & 2 extended essays requiring inference and textual evidence
• Greek Pantheon family tree (8 deities who appear on screen)
• Answer key with exemplar responses & discussion notes
• Generic permission slip – ready for districts that require media consent
• Common Core alignment sheet for quick administrator approval
• Paperless options – fillable PDF, Google Slides™ & Google Forms™ versions

Implementation tips

1. Print or distribute the digital file to each student.
2. Preview the next prompt before pressing play to focus attention.
3. Pause when indicated, let pairs discuss, then share-out to the class.
4. Allow 5-10 minutes post-film for the essay questions.
5. Total time: film length + ~45 minutes of guided discussion.

Distance-learning ready

Share the Google Forms version, play the movie via screen-share, and use breakout rooms for debate. All files are optimized for 1:1 devices.

Teacher feedback

“Great companion to the film – perfect kickoff to our 7th-grade mythology unit.” – Amy G. (TPT review, 5 of 5 stars)

“Students loved analyzing the differences between novel and movie. Questions stay in order with the plot.” – High-school ELA teacher (TPT review, 4 of 5 stars)

Standards coverage

College & Career Readiness: CCRA.R.3, CCRA.W.1, CCRA.W.3, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.3