Ancient Myths



Ancient Myths

Activity Summary:

The purpose of this activity is to have students research ancient myths and depict them visually so other students can figure out what happened in the myth. Myths will be drawn from the Greek, Chinese, Native American, and Egyptian cultures.

Subject:

Social Studies:

               6.15 (B) Describe traits that define cultures

               6.15 (C) Analyze similarities and differences among world societies

               6.17 (A) Explain aspects that link or separate cultures and societies

               6.18 (D) Identify examples of expression that transcend cultural boundaries

               6.19 (A) Explain the relationship among religious ideas, philosophy, and culture

               6.21 (C) Organize and interpret information

               6.21 (D) Identifying points of view about an issue or a topic

               6.22 (D) Create written and visual material

               6.22 (E) Use standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation

7.2 (A) Compare cultures of Native Americans in Texas prior to Europeans

             7.22 (B) Use standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation

             7.22 (C) Transfer information from one medium to another

             7.22 (D) Create written, oral, and visual presentations of information

8.31 (D) Create written, oral, and visual presentations of social studies ideas

English:

               6.4 (B) Compare oral traditions across regions and cultures

               6.5 (B) Demonstrate effective communication skills

               6.5 (D) Generate criteria to evaluate oral presentations

               6.5 (E) Use effective volume, rate, tone, and pitch

               6.8 (A) Read classic and contemporary works

               6.8 (B) Select various sources to read

               6.14 (B) Determine characteristics of cultures through reading

               6.14 (C) Articulate and discuss themes across cultures

               6.15 (C) Write to inform

             7.4 (A) Connect experiences, information, insights, and ideas through speaking

             7.4 (B) Compare oral traditions across regions and cultures

             7.5 (B) Demonstrate effective communications skills

             7.5 (D) Generate criteria to evaluate oral presentations

             7.5 (E) Use effective rate, volume, pitch, and tone for the audience and setting

             7.8 (A) Read classic and contemporary works

             7.8 (B) Select varied sources when reading for information or pleasure

             7.14 (B) Determine characteristics of cultures through reading

             7.14 (C) Articulate and discuss themes across cultures

             7.15 (A) Write to express, discover, record, develop, and reflect on ideas

             8.4 (B) Compare oral traditions across regions and cultures

             8.5 (B) Demonstrate effective communication skills

             8.5 (D) Generate criteria to evaluate oral presentations

             8.5 (E) Use effective rate, volume, pitch, and tone for the audience and setting

             8.5 (F) Clarify and support spoken ideas with evidence and examples

             8.8 (B) Select varied sources when reading for information or pleasure

             8.11 (D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues across texts

             8.13 (I) Make presentations with visual aids to support meaning

             8.15 (A) Write to express, discover, record, develop, reflect and to problem solve

             8.15 (C) Write to inform

             8.15 (E) Select and use voice and style appropriate to audience and purpose

Technology: 

Finding information on a webpage

Grade Level:

Target Grade: 7  

Upper Bound: 6

Lower Bound: 8

Time Required: One or two class periods 

Activity Team/Group Size: Reusable Activity Cost Per Group [in dollars]: $0

Expendable Activity Cost Per Group [in dollars]: $0

Authors:

Undergraduate Fellow Name: Andrew Shuff

Graduate Fellow Name: Lisa Williamson

Teacher Mentor Name: ___

Date Submitted: 4/20/2005

Date Last Edited: 4/20/2005

Activity Plan:

After going through the Ancient Myths PowerPoint   have each student choose and read two myths from each culture. Have each student choose to do one of the following:

1. Choose your favorite myth, then write an essay and draw a picture describing what the myth was about. Why was that myth your favorite?

2. Choose three or more myths from different cultures. Compare and contrast the myths. How are the protagonists similar and different? How are the morals and lessons of the stories different or similar?

3. Some myths cross cultural boundaries. Read the four different civilizations’ myths about creation or the flood and compare and contrast them.

4. After reading the myths, create your own hero. Describe your hero, and give him/her characteristics from heroes in the myths. Draw a picture of your hero doing a heroic deed.

           

            All essays should be about one page long. Have each student present what they learned. For those students who drew a picture about their favorite myth, you can have the class try to guess what myth it is from the picture the student drew.

Learning Objectives:

The learning objective for this activity is to learn about other cultures through their myths and to learn how to compare and contrast different works.

Vocabulary / Definitions:

Protagonist – the main character in a work of literature

Materials List:

Computers with internet capabilities

Activity Extensions:

If the students seem to be interested in finding out more about myths, the websites provided have many more myths. The students could do #1 of the activity outside of class where they can research as many myths as they want and report on their favorite.

Multimedia Support and Attachments:

Here is a list of myths and their URL’s.

List of Myths Table

|Greek | |

|Myth Name |Online URL | |

|Creation | | |

|Great Flood | | |

|Perseus and Medusa | | |

|Heracles | | |

|Theseus | | |

|Atalanta | | |

|Cadmus | | |

| | | |

|Egyptian | |

|Myth Name |Online URL | |

|Creation | | |

|Trojan War | | |

|Cinderella | | |

|Parting of Lake | | |

|Seven Year Famine | | |

|Se-Osiris | | |

|Great Flood | | |

| | | |

|Native American | |

|Myth Name |Online URL | |

|Creation | | |

|Great Flood | | |

|Chipmunk and Bear* | | |

|Battle with the Snakes* | | |

|How Bear Lost His Tail* | | |

|Turtle's Race with Bear* | | |

|The Boy Who Lived with Bears* | | |

| | | |

|Chinese | |

|Myth Name |Online URL | |

|Creation | | |

|Great Flood | | |

|Gold Colt and Fire Dragon | | |

|Aniz the Shepherd | | |

|Story of the Three Genjias | | |

|The Frog Who Became Emperor | | |

|Don Yong's Wife | | |

| | | |

|*For these stories the link does not take you directly to that story. Instead it takes you to a list of many stories. The | |

|individual stories are all Iriquois stories. | |

| | |

Troubleshooting Tips:

If any of the websites do not work contact us at peer.tamu.edu. We will find new links to work with this activity.

Activity Scaling:

This activity will work with any size group as long as there are enough computers with internet access for everyone.

References:

The image at the top of this activity plan is from

All other references are in the Myth List table or in the PowerPoint.

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