Mythological stories developed as a result of man's early
observations of flying objects and his attempts to explain the
natural phenomena.
STUDENT OBJECTIVE:
The student will be able to recognize parts of a myth in relation
to the whole story.
OVERVIEW:
The student will demonstrate an understanding of myths
related to flights of fantasy.
TEACHER TEXT:
From the beginning of history we have been fascinated by flight.
Ancient myths and legends of every culture are filled with tales
of gods and humans with the ability to fly. Symbols of freedom
and mastery, flight myths fanned the dream of people everywhere
to join their heroes in reality.
3. Give the children a "part" of the myth and show them the picture you
have selected.
4. Tell them they will be coloring the myth picture,
but first they will take a walk around the school yard.
5. Take the children outside and look at the colors in the
environment. Teacher: take the box of crayons with you.
Look at the color of the grass. Ask the children what the color
of the grass is. Show the children the crayon that matches
the color of the grass. Repeat for the color of the sky, the earth,
and other colors in the school yard. Match the crayon with what
they see in the environment. Look for things that are in
flight: airplanes, birds, bees, other insects, butterflies.
What colors are they?
6. Return to the classroom and color the picture of part of the myth
with some of the colors seen in the school yard. Are there things
in the yard that are also in the myth?
7. Have the children present their creations in class.
8. Discuss what part of the myth happened before the picture and
after.
9. How do they feel about this part? How do they feel about the
whole myth.
10. How would they change this part of the myth to make it a
different myth?
WHY?
This activity uses information that a child has already about their
environment. Once they connect what they already know and they
have a holistic or whole picture they can begin to associate symbols
(colors) with the parts and the whole. Recognizing the part in relation
to the whole is an integral part of science and mathematical concepts.
ASSESSMENT: Can the student communicate what they observed?
4......Student is able to communicate in detail how the part of the
myth is related to the whole story of the myth.
3......Student is able to communicate generally how the part of the
myth is related to the whole story of the myth.
2......Student is able to communicate that there is a part and there
is a whole story of the myth.
1......Student is only able to communicate the story of the myth.
EXTENSIONS:
1. Reinforce part and whole through colors by encouraging children
to make up their own myths of flight through other means of art:
painting, chalkwork on the cement, watercolor.
2. Have the children act out their myth of flight: either the whole
myth or part of it.
3. Use music and have the children dance part of their myth.
