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Lesson 1: What Makes a Myth?
50 min
California CCSS: Focus Standards
California CCSS: Supporting Standards
ELD Standards
Student Lesson
Lesson 1: What Makes a Myth?
Student Learning Objectives
1
Content
Students will use textual evidence to explain the concept of myths and analyze the purposes they serve across different cultures.
2
Language
Students will use evidence-based sentence frames with because and the academic verb reveals to explain how a text conveys ideas.
3
Foundations
Students will use the morphemes to determine the meaning of mythology.
Essential Question
Why do cultures tell stories about gods, monsters, journeys, and transformations?
Connections to
Knowledge-Building:
Students begin the unit by defining the term “myth” and identifying how myths have been used to explain natural events, danger, and the unknown.
Enduring Understanding:
People across cultures use myths to explain the world and share important beliefs.
Future Lessons:
Students will use today’s notes to connect Greek myths to Percy’s world in The Lightning Thief.
Unit Performance Task:
Students will later compare myths and modern adaptations to explain what these stories reveal about the human experience.
Lesson Pacing
| Lesson Flow | Purpose of Learning Experience |
|---|---|
Launch15 Minutes | Students will build curiosity about myths by unpacking the word mythology and predicting what myths do for cultures. |
Learning in Action30 Minutes | Students will read What Are Myths? and identify details from the text that show how myths explain the world, reflect beliefs and values, and include supernatural elements. (RI.6.1, RI.6.4, SL.6.1.a, L.6.4.b) |
Look Back5 Minutes | Students will reflect on how they figured out a working definition of myth and write an evidence-based response. |
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Addressed in Lesson
- mythology
- the study of myths
- myth
- a traditional story that explains ideas about the world or a culture
- phenomenon
- an event or fact that can be observed
Vocabulary for Additional Support
- origin
- the beginning of something
- sacred
- connected to religion or treated as holy
Material List
- The Lightning Thief, Chapter 1
- Unit 4 Lesson 1 Student Edition
- 3 Column Chart graphic organizer
Routines
- Think-Pair-Share
- Whole Class Discussion
- Quick Write
Lesson Sequence
Lesson Texts
Short-Form Text
What Are Myths?
Tanu Wakefield, Newsela staff
Read text
