Native American Creation Myth

Native American Creation Myth 11th Grade: Narrative Required Writing Assignment

Estimated Time to Complete: 2-4 Class Periods Assignment Description: After reading multiple creation myths from differing Native American traditions, the students will write an original creation myth for an animal of their choice. (+/- presentation) Materials: “World on the Turtle’s Back” and other creation narratives of your choice, paper, pencil/pen, coloured pencils/markers, +/- Document Camera Standards: on iPlan Objectives: The students will be able to: -complete a close reading and identify the elements of a Native American creation myth in the mentor text. -demonstrate knowledge of the elements of plot by writing an original creation myth in an original narrative based on the structure of a Native American creation myth. Lesson Steps for Teachers: 1. Review the elements of plot. 2. Review the elements of a Native American oral tale 3. Separate students into groups of 2-3 4. Hand out the assignment sheet 5. Have students brainstorm 3-4 different animals with which Native American interacted 6. For each animal the students need to identify what purpose the animal has in nature, keeping in mind the perspective of Native American culture 7. Review basic convention rules for punctuating dialogue (identify examples in the story) 8. Students need to write a plan on how the group is going to separate, and complete the work on schedule 9. Brainstorm/outline how the creation myth will be formatted (exposition, climax, resolution) 10. Students need to draft the written narrative 11. Students will create the visuals corresponding to the written narrative 12. Students will participate in a peer editing activity with another group 13. The editing pair is required to come up with at least two questions they have concerning the narrative and/or visuals 14. The editing pair must come up with 2 specific examples of what they liked about the edited work, and 2 constructive criticisms 15. After completing the peer editing activity the students will go back and correct/change their work as they choose 16. For the final submission the students need to attach the visuals to the written narrative. 17. If presenting, have the pairs present their storyboards and their narrative, splitting up the presentation responsibility. 18. If presenting, the audience must complete the audience review