This unit ideally takes place from "Columbus Day" through Thanksgiving. Experiences such as a field trip to The Museum of American Indian Culture and silent "stream of consciousness" sessions in the woods on campus preceed classroom lessons.
To enable the children to experience nature as the early inhabitants of our NE woodlands, we take our students to a nearby wooded area. They bring with them a book we've dubbed "Bits and Pieces," a scrapbook-type collection of pre-writing brainstorms, outlines, quotes, pictures, articles, etc. The children record all of the sights, sounds, thoughts, sensations, and imaginings as they sit in the woods for a 30-40 minute period. This experience helps the children establish settings for the myths they will eventually write. They are often surprised at how poetic their pieces sound. Some are turned into "woods poems."
- Visualization...."A Journey with the Abenakis" from Keepers of the Earth p. 169. Get in the mood as your teacher guides you through this journey. Discuss the four elements........silence, circle, sharing, respect.
- Listen to "Gluscabe and the Wind Eagle" (p 67 in Keepers of the Earth) as read by your teacher.
- Get ready to write a myth of your own by doing the following:
- Read various myths on your own.
- Read myths to each other in your class.
- Become involved in a keypal relationship with a Native American child who lives on a reservation.
- List at least three questions you'd like to ask him or her.
- E-mail your favorite question to the child you've selected from the bios they've e-mailed to us. Include a short bio about yourself with your question.
- Correspond with your Native American keypal at least three times during this unit.
- Listen to "The Dream Fast," an Ashinabe tale as read to you by your teacher.
- Analyze the first two components of the myth:
- the natural phenomenon from the NE woodlands that your myth will explain
- the lesson/s to be taught/learned
- Decide which ones you will use in your myth.
- Presearch in library class and support group.
- Decide on the specific group you will learn about for your myth.
- Collect data in the following areas:names of people, transportation, animals, clothing, customs, trees,food,environment, residence, climate, rituals, costumes, games, sacred symbols, music
Write a list of at least 20 facts about your group in your "Bits and Pieces." Spend time alone in a special place outdoors where you can record all the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions you experience a syou imagine this place long ago...as Native Americans may have experienced this place. "Soak up" the culture of your group by listening to stories and music, watching videos such as "The Land of the Eagle," and exploring Websites to gather more information. Make an outline of the ideas you will use in your myth. Word process a rough draft. Peer conference. Listen to feedback. Revise. Edit. Review storytelling techniques. Practice storytelling techniques. Read/tell your story at Campfire Simulation. Write or word process a good copy of your myth. Add your myth to the fifth grade webpage.
Favorite Books Containing Myths
Keepers of the Earth and Keepers of the Night, (both by Caduto and Bruchac)
Native American Myths and Legends and Myths of the North American Indian, (both by Colin Taylor)
First Strawberries, retold by Joseph Bruchac
Where the Buffaloes Begin, by Olaf BakerOther Reference Materials
Keepers of the Earth by Caduto and Bruchac
Native American Stories told by Joseph Bruchac
Timelines of Native American History by Carl Waldman
How the Stars Fell From the Sky by Jerrie Oughton
The Encounter by Jane Yolen
Medicine Cards by Sams and Carson
Keepers of the Night by Caduto and Bruchac
Microsoft Bookshelf CD-ROM by Microsoft
Encarta `96 CD-ROM by Microsoft
Multimedia Animals Encyclopedia by Applied Optical Media
GeoSafari by Educational Insights interactive
Time Almanac by Softkey
US Atlas CD-ROM
Search the WWW for other examples of Native American myths. Try some of our Native American Bookmarks which we compiled for this unit.
Native American Foods and RecipesYour notes from our trip to The Lenni Lenape Historical Society
