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Spark
Lesson 1: What Makes a Myth?
California CCSS: Focus Standards
California CCSS: Supporting Standards
ELD Standards
In this lesson
Today you will
Cite textual evidence to explain what myths are and what purposes they serve across cultures.
Use evidence-based sentence frames with because and the academic verb reveals to explain how a text conveys cultural ideas.
Use the morpheme -logy to determine the meaning of mythology.
Essential Questions
Why do cultures tell stories about gods, monsters, journeys, and transformations?
How do stories from different cultures explore danger, courage, or the unknown?
Texts used in this lesson
Short-Form Text
What Are Myths?
Tanu Wakefield, Newsela staff
Read text
Lesson Sequence
You are starting a new unit about myths and the worlds they build. People in many cultures have used stories to explain mysteries, danger, and powerful forces they could not fully understand. By the end of this unit, you will compare myths and modern stories like The Lightning Thief to explain why these stories still matter.
Think-Pair-Share
Directions: Write mythology in your Personal Dictionary. Circle the part that names the story, underline the part that means “study of,” and then turn to a partner to build the word’s meaning together. Partner A shares first, then Partner B adds on.
What does the word mythology mean, and how is that different from just one myth?
Based on the word mythology, why might myths be important in a culture?
In this lesson, we are reading like investigators. As we read What Are Myths?, we are looking for repeated ideas that help us understand what myths do.
Whole Class Discussion
Directions: As you read, find details from the article that fit each category and record them in the 3-Column Chart graphic organizer.
Label each column in the chart as indicated:
Column 1: Explains the world
Column 2: Reflects beliefs and values
Column 3: Includes supernatural elements
Pulse Check (RI.6.1, RI.6.4) |
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Which statement best matches the definition of myth students built from today’s reading? A. A myth is only an exciting made-up story created to entertain readers. B. A myth is a traditional story that helps explain the world, reflects cultural values, and often includes supernatural elements. C. A myth is a true biography about a famous ancient person. D. A myth is a scientific text that proves how natural events happen. |
Quick Write
Directions: Answer this question using examples from the text.
What is a myth, and what in today’s texts helped you figure that out? Write 3–4 sentences and include at least two specific details from What Are Myths? or the Greek excerpts.