NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHS
RELATED LINKS:
SOUTHWEST CULTURES
MISCONCEPTIONS
Use this lesson better understand Native American stereotypes.
CULTURE
Use this lesson to better understand what culture is.
MYTHS
Use this lesson to learn about Native American myths.
LIVING OBJECTS
Use this lesson to better understand the importantance of objects.
Native American culture is rich in myths and legends that were used to explain natural phenomena that they didn't understand. The most common myths are the creation myths, that tell a story to explain how the earth was formed. Others include explanations about the sun, moon, constellations, animals, seasons and weather. In this lesson, students will review some of these myths and then write their own.
Lesson Objectives
Students will
read Native American myths
summarize the myths in class discussions
write their own myths
Materials Required
Native American myths (see Resources, below)
Paper
Pencils
Procedure
Ask the class what a myth is and if they've ever read or heard any Native American myths. If someone knows one, let him/her repeat the story to the class. Ask what other cultures have myths (ancient Greeks and Romans, for example). Discuss why these cultures had myths (to explain the natural phenomena that they weren't able to explain otherwise). Elicit some common themes in myths (beginning of the earth, how humans first came to be, floods, thunder and lightening, fire, death, constellations) and common characters (gods, animals) of myths.
Read aloud Tomie de Paola's The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush or another Native American myth of choice. Have the students identify the natural phenomenon that is explained by the myth, the theme, and the main character. Give each student a myth to read silently, and then have each student summarize his/her myth for the class. Native American myths can be found in the list of resources below.
Let each student pick one topic/objects/subject and tell them they are to write a myth as if they are a Native American seeing it first time. The myth must explain how it came into being. After they finish their final draft, they can make picture books. Let the students share their myths with the rest of the class. If there is a younger grade in the school that studies Native Americans, let the class vote on the best myths to be read to the younger grade.
Resources
Books
Caduto, M.J., and Bruchas, J., 1991, Keepers of the Animals; Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children, Fulcrum Publ., Golden, Co.
Caduto, M.J., and Bruchas, J., 1989, Keepers of the Earth; Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children, Fulcrum Publ., Golden, Co.