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Objectives:

Students will study mythology. They will examine individual and group relationships with institutions and cultural traditions. Students will be able to answer or create:

How did the Greeks and Romans use mythology to explain natural phenomena?
What impact did mythology play in defining astronomy?
Why was so much importance placed on astronomy and mythology?
Students will create their own myth that a fictitious society might observe to follow to explain a natural occurrence.

Introduction:

In an attempt to explain natural phenomena, ancient people created stories to provide explanations for answers they could not otherwise explain through conventional wisdom.

Myths were to be shared within the society to pass on cultural values and ethics. Myths were a creative way for members of a society to entertain, but they also inspired and taught those that heard them.

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Task:

You will be using the Internet to:

Find myths in your collaborative groups. Each group is chose to one story. You are to type the story onto paper and cut one copy of each story into 5 or 6 sections [dividing at paragraphs]. The teacher will put parts of the story in a mixed-up order in an envelope and give each group an envelope. Each group will have 5-8 minutes to arrange the story into the correct sequence. Then, you will check your completed arrangement with your master copy.

Students! You are to take4-6 minutes to study their myth. Each group will be informed that they will not be allowed to use the script. [This technique forces the students to look at the storyline and structure and to ignore non-essential details.] At the end of the study time, have students in each group count off. For example, if you have four groups of four, members of each group will be #1, #2, #3, and #4. Then, reorganize the groups by numbers [all the #1's, etc.]. Have each student tell myth without the original. Each student gets to hear all of the stories.

You are then to write an original myth as individuals. The myth is to explain a natural occurrence that impacts the behavior of a culture. The myth should be researched by using the resources listed below and evaluated using the designated rubric (also found below).

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Resources

Greek Mythology Link

http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/

Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant

http://messagenet.com/myths/

Timeless Myths

www.timelessmyths.com

The Mythology of the Constellations

http://www.comfychair.org/~cmbell/myth/myth.html

Where to Start: Exploring the Gods and Goddesses

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/10134/87439

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Evaluation

Story Writing : Creating A Myth

Teacher Name: Mr. Wright

Student Name: ________________________________________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Focus on Assigned Topic	The entire story is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic.	Most of the story is related to the assigned topic. The story wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic.	Some of the story is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic.	No attempt has been made to relate the story to the assigned topic.
Characters	The main characters are named and clearly described in text as well as pictures. Most readers could describe the characters accurately.	The main characters are named and described. Most readers would have some idea of what the characters looked like.	The main characters are named. The reader knows very little about the characters.	It is hard to tell who the main characters are.
Creativity	The story contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his imagination.	The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his imagination.	The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story. The author has tried to use his imagination.	There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.
Problem/Conflict	It is very easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face but it is not clear why it is a problem.	It is not clear what problem the main characters face.
Solution/Resolution	The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is logical. There are no loose ends.	The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is somewhat logical.	The solution to the character's problem is a little hard to understand.	No solution is attempted or it is impossible to understand.

Rubric created November 28, 2004 using Rubistar located at http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

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Conclusion

After the project, you will be able to use the knowledge of myths to develop a better understanding of how ancient cultures explained astronomy and astrology in the absence of scientific advancement. The stories you create will be assessed on their ability to inform and entertain the members of the class as well as maintaining a high language arts mechanical standard.

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Contact e-mail: John.Wright@slps.org Webmaster: John Wright