EQ: How Do Scientists Learn About the Natural World? ELA Week Theme Investigations

EQ: How do scientists learn about the natural world? ELA Week Theme Investigations Learning Target I can identify literature in the folktale genre, specifically myths and creation myths. Genre Folktales Materials / Resources Genre poster Book: Roadrunner’s Dance by Rudolfo Anaya (E ANA) – a pourquoi story

Prior Knowledge Students have been introduced to traditional folktales and are writing their own original versions.

Procedure Modeling and/or Skills Development 1. Discuss the Folktale genre, sometimes called Traditional Literature. Identify the subgenres in that category (epics, legends, myths, fables, etc). 2. Focus on myth, and more specifically, the characteristics of creation myths which do the following: a. Explain a natural phenomenon. b. Include gods, goddesses, or supernatural characters who make extraordinary things happen. c. Explain the creation of someone or something found in our world. 3. Read the story aloud. 4. Identify the setting of the story and the problem.

Guided Practice 5. How important was Desert Woman’s role in solving the problem? 6. Is Desert Woman a goddess or supernatural character? Explain. 7. Solve the analogy: a. Mongoose: cobra :: Roadrunner: ______(answer: rattlesnake) 8. Choose another creation or pourquoi tale and ask students to identify the supernatural characters or the natural phenomenon ‘explained’ in the story.

Reflection Ask: What would make a good topic for such a tale? Why? What could be included?