Lesson 1: Indigenous & Norse Narratives Introduction

 Welcome to Unit 2; Indigenous & Norse Narratives!

Lesson 1: Unit Introduction & Some Narratives That we Remember and their Roots (Mon. Jan. 25)

-Read over the Big Ideas and Essential Questions of the Unit:

   -Why do people tell stories and tales (narratives, folk tales, legends, fables, proverbs)?

   -How do these stories and tales help people understand their world?

   -What lessons do we learn about people through these stories and tales?

   -How are these stories and tales from around the world alike and different?

   -How are these stories relevant/meaningful to me, in my life?

   -Why is it important for each generation to hear and to retell these tales?

    -“Knowledge speaks.  Wisdom listens.”

“Old stories are forever new. The people who first heard the traditional stories “listened to those tales because they loved them and told them to their children without realizing they were participating in the perpetuation of folk tradition. Listening. That is where it begins. As a child, I sat next to the potbellied stove in my grandparents’ general store listening to Adirondack tall tales, songs, and stories about logging” (Bruchac, in Young, Bruchac, Livingston, & Kurkjian, 2004, p. 783).

“Storytelling is a way people pass knowledge from one generation to another. Usually the first stories that we learn are from the world’s folk tales. These stories usually entertain us but also “transmit the values and wisdom of the culture, imbue a strong sense of right and wrong, and provide a reservoir of vivid images that become part of the individual’s imagination and even everyday language” (Cole, 1983, p. xvi).

-After reading these Unit questions and the quotes above, give some thought to the following questions:

   -Do you agree or disagree?  Why/why not? 

   -Do you typically think of stories in this way? 

   -Do you connect specifically to any one of these questions?  Why or why not?

-The following is a list of two groups of narratives:

Group 1: “The White Cat” (France), “Thousand-Furs” (Germany), “The Thoughtless Abbot” (Italy), “I Ate the Loaf” (Spain), “The Seal’s Skin” (Iceland), “The Story of King Frost” (Russia), “Intelligence of Luck” (Czechoslovakia), “The Donkey Driver and the Thief” (Arabia), “The Three Hares” (Turkey), “How Spider Obtained the Sky-God’s Stories” (Ashanti, Africa), “The Magic Tree” (Haiti), “Three Magic Oranges” (Costa Rica), “The Lost Woman” (North America T’suu Tina)?

Group 2: “Snow-White”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Rumpelstiltskin”, “Rapunzel”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Hansel and Gretel” (Germany), “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “The Pied Piper” (England), “The Three Billygoat’s Gruff” (Norway), “Wishketchahk”/“Wesakechak” (Canada), “Raven” (Canada)

Your Tasks:

1)   1) Click on the following link to take you to the Google Form

https://forms.gle/xcHF6GfVWq4L8Da27 

2)   2)Fill it in/answer the questions and click on the Submit button at the bottom of the form.  It will automatically be sent to me.

 Lesson 2: The Source and Role of Stories (Outcome CR 9.6) "The Gift of Stories, The Gift of Breath" by Joseph Bruchac (Mon. Jan. 25)

*Today we will consider the following questions: 

"Where do stories come from?" 

"What would it be like if people had no stories to tell?"

Your Tasks:

1) Open the Google Form and answer questions #1-4

https://forms.gle/RPaGWoV6S36XUJf59

2) Read the first sentence of "The Gift of Stories, The Gift of Breath" by Joseph Bruchac.  

Click here to find this story:

https://cchssk.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ela9-indigenous-the-gift-of-stories-the-gift-of-breath.pdf

3) Answer question #5 in the Google Form

4) Read the remainder of the short story

5) Answer question #6 in the Google Form and click on the Submit button at the bottom

Lesson 3: Indigenous Narratives, Voices Through Time (Outcome CR9.2) (Tues. Jan. 26)

-Some of the greatest and most wonderful stories ever told are very old but were never written down. One storyteller learned the story from another and, in this way, it was kept alive for hundreds of years. These stories have been handed down orally from generation to generation and reflect the cultural heritage and the cultural way of life of the people.

Your Tasks:

1) Read the following quote:

 “Old tales last because they teach so much – without hitting you over the head that you’re learning something worthwhile. In American Indian cultures, traditional tales are used instead of physical punishment to correct the behaviour of children. Stories as lessons stay longer and sink deeper” (Bruchac in Young, Bruchac, Livingston, and Kurkjian, 2004, p. 783).

2) Answer questions regarding oral and traditional narratives in this Google Form: 

https://forms.gle/7fNrBaMDUoFu2Upb7

3) Click on "Submit" at the bottom of the Google Form and your answers will automatically be sent to me!

 Lesson 4: "Tlingit National Anthem" (Tues. Jan. 26)

(Outcomes CR9.2, CR9.6)

-This narrative tells of the migration of the Tlingit people from the interior of the Yukon and British Columbia to the Pacific Coast. It was usually presented at a potlatch, a traditional gift-giving ceremony, and contains important historical information for these people.

Your Tasks:

1) Read "Tlingit National Anthem" (below)

2.) Answer the questions in the Google Form: https://forms.gle/7CnDFUB5bMXRXyG47

 Lesson 5: Tricksters (Wed. Jan. 27)

-In many societies, a common element is a character utilized as a vehicle to teach or illustrate values, beliefs, and ideas considered important to a culture. This character is used to show what happens when we are bad (e.g., greedy) and gives us a chance to see the consequences. In some societies, this character is referred to as the "trickster". Indigenous narratives share many of the characteristics of tricksters in other cultures (e.g., Loki in the Norse oral tradition).

-Tricksters frequently share the characteristics of both human and spirit entities and generally have a great curiosity that often leads to trouble. The character can be honest or deceptive, kind or cruel, charming or mischievous, all qualities possessed by human beings. In addition, tricksters may assume supernatural powers in order to teach a valuable lesson. The trickster is a clever and ideal mechanism within the oral tradition for illustrating a moral lesson and passing on important values.

Your Tasks:

1) Read "How Rocks Were Born" (below)

2) Write a pattern poem about Wolverine in this google form: https://forms.gle/cf1oEU5QE27PMWbM6

Organize your poem in five lines, like this:

Title: Wolverine

Line 1: 1 word (A key quality Wolverine posesses) (a noun)

Line 2: 2 words that describe him (adjectives)

Line 3: 3 action words (things he does) (verbs)

Line 4: 3 words that describe HOW he does the things you listed in line 3  (adjectives-These are usually words that end with "-ly")

Line 5: 4 word conclusion (a word that describes Wolverine, and then a statement such as "protector of lands" (just as an example)

*Refer to images here to help you with ideas for adjectives and adverbs:

 Lesson 6: Important (and Interesting) Traditional Heroes, Monsters, and Legends: (Thurs. Jan. 28)

Your Tasks:

1) Before Reading:

Think about this: Do heroes and monsters exist in our daily lives or world?  Do you know any real-life heroes or monsters from their personal experience or from the worlds of sport, history, medicine, science, or politics? Why are they heroes or monsters? What does it take to be a hero or monster?

2) Read "Irraweka, Mischief Maker" retold by Philip Sherlock:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/136CpSbS_nPJVQGyqUdIDmAPjFFOPYhFcAl6sOzKffe8/edit?usp=sharing

3) Use the following Google Form to respond to the text: https://forms.gle/Jp8TqZRgaG9XWQMg6

Lesson 7: Another Type of Narrative: Vision Quest Stories (Fri. Jan. 29) (Ourcome CR9.2)

-“It is good to be reminded that each of us has a different dream” (Crow proverb). Vision quest stories emerge from a personal spiritual journey involving special powers and natural gifts.

-“To go on a vision quest is to go into the presence of the great mystery” (Lakota proverb).

Your Tasks:

1) Consider this: Before Reading:

-A vision quest is a sacred ceremony in which an individual goes to a secluded place to fast and meditate. It is usually done by an adolescent boy and it is hoped that the quest will give one a glimpse of the future and the direction that one needs to take in one’s personal journey through life.

-Think about this: What makes a vision quest appealing and important to teenagers?

2.) Read "A Mountain Legend" by Jordan Wheeler.  Click here to access the story: https://nalaatsi.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/a-mountain-legend-jordan-wheeler.pdf  

During Reading: Consider this: Why is Jason anxious to prove himself? Why are all young people anxious to prove themselves?

3) After Reading: Answer the comprehension questions in the Google Form here: https://forms.gle/ijP2wcZC2yhcTBeA8

 Lesson 8: Listening to An Explanation of How the Norse World Was Created (Mon. Feb. 1)

Background Information about the Norse People:

-The Norse (or Norsemen) were the Germanic people of what is now Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. They sailed the seas to trade and raid. They were called Northmen (or Norse) for their land of origin (in the North) and also Vikings (meaning “pirates”) for the terror that they were repudiated to spread. They were believed to have crossed the North Atlantic and to have settled Iceland about 93 AD, Greenland about 982, and visited North America about 15 years later. Leif Ericsson is thought to have put ashore at Helluland (a mountainous area, likely Baffin Island), Markland (likely Labrador), and Vinland (possibly Newfoundland). Evidence of the Norse having visited and lived in Newfoundland is found at L’Anse aux Meadows. They traded and fought with the local people (likely Inuit) and are given the credit for European discovery of America and for the first European colony on Canadian soil.

-Norse narratives are “stories concerning the gods of the Norsemen and formed part of their religion. The narratives illustrate the behaviour that was admired or condemned by the gods” (Evans & Millard, 1986). Norse narratives were told to explain how the world came to be, the existence of people and animals, and the mysteries of nature. The explanation usually involved gods or godlike beings. 

-The Norse, like others, wondered about the beginning of the world and how people came to be. They told stories to explain the mysteries of the universe. The Norse used “scalds”, or poet storytellers, to transmit their stories orally in the form of poetry. This poetry described the creation of the world, the relation of the gods to humans, the downfall of the gods, and the new heaven and new earth

Your Tasks:

1) Read "The Beginning of all Things" here: https://www.studenthandouts.com/00/200004/beginning-of-things-nordic-germanic-creation-story.pdf

2) Think about these questions, as they will prepare you for our next lesson: 

The Norse story of creation begins with ice. This is a part of nature not included in other creation stories. 

Why would ice be a natural part of the Norse story?  What elements of the Norse way of life come through in their stories?  What natural phenomenon does this story try to explain?

 Lesson 9: Stories of Norse Gods and Goddesses (Tues. Feb. 2)

-Many of the Norse narratives tell of conflicts between gods and monsters. The gods gradually bring order to the chaos that the monsters and giants constantly try to create

-As you listen to/read these stories, consider the motives or reasons for the characters’ actions. Why do the characters behave as they do? What do their actions reveal about human nature? 

Your Tasks:

1) Read/listen to/watch the following stories about the Norse gods:

Loki: "Loki the Betrayer"https://www.dltk-kids.com/world/norway/children-of-odin/loki-betrayer.htm

"The Myth of Loki and the Master Builder" https://youtu.be/MTz2f9yjmK8

Thor: "Thor and Loki in the Giants' City" https://youtu.be/e6XeP9gQPmg

Baldr: "The Fate of Baldr, the Most Beloved of the gods" https://youtu.be/0p-cjTgSe2c

Odin: "How Odin Lost His Eye" https://jaclynhughes.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/how-odin-lost-his-eye.pdf

2) -Loki was originally a Frost Giant, but he found favour with Odin because of his sharp mind and tongue. For this reason he was allowed in Asgard. He could change his shape at will; sometimes he helped the other gods but more often he played tricks on them. Because of his cunning and magical tricks, Loki was a central figure in many of the Norse myths

3) Imagine this: you are Loki's psychiatrist.  Loki is being put on trial for all he has done.  Write a strong paragraph (minimum of 5 sentences, strong opening and concluding sentence, etc.) to tell the jury about Loki. What is the trickster like? How does he deserve to be treated?  What are your recommendations for his future?

Write your paragraph in the following Google Form:   https://forms.gle/apL3nqLSi2pFACeL6

 

 Lesson 10: Unit Wrap-Up Activities (Wed. Feb. 3 - Fri. Feb. 5)

-Choose ONE activity from EACH of the categories ( Oral, Written and Multimedia) below 

-Email your work to me at erintosh2020@gmail.com!

   *Oral

     -Make a dramatic tape recording of one of the episodes from a narrative that you have studied

     -Using any of the traditional narratives, write or improvise a comedy scene that brings out the less desirable traits of humans

   -Some modern stories have monsters in them.  Tell a story you know that has such creatures in it

     -Select a scene from one of the narratives and create a dramatic skit

     -Create a hero or heroine and invent a quest for him or her. Tell his or her story

   *Written

     -Make a comparison of the elements of a short story in two of the myths/legends we studied this unit. What common elements exist in both?

     -Write a letter to … (a hero from one of the stories)

     -“Many traditional narratives are a source of information about etiquette, customs, and traditions.” Find examples of each in the story

     -“By understanding the myths, we will understand ourselves better.” Do you agree with this statement by Isaac Asimov? Why or why not?

     -Create a short poem based on an event in one of the narratives

     -Write a gossip column in which you cover some of the amusing and interesting activities of a community in one of the narratives. Or, if you prefer, try writing a column of advice to the character

     -Assume the personality of an important figure from one of the narratives and write a letter to another important figure from another of the narratives

     -Assume the identity of one of the important figures and write some entries for a journal or a diary, giving the day-by-day experiences you might encounter. Use your imagination and attempt to reflect the personality of the character

     -Invent a story of your own to explain thunder, lightning, rain or snow, or the reason for clouds

     -Many narratives have creatures such as giants, dwarfs, and monsters. Rewrite a narrative from the perspective of one of these creatures

     -Pretend you once lived in the 1700s but you have come back to life in the year 2011. What story might you invent to explain the smart phone, supersonic jet, or an ATM if no one told you what they were or how they work? (from Tell Me a Tale)

     -Revise the plot of one of the narratives so that it results in a very different ending 

   *Multimedia

      -Design and write a class newspaper based on the news events surrounding an event of great importance in one of the traditional narratives (e.g., Ragnarok). Write complete ads, comics, and sports from a Norse point of view, the day after the cataclysm has taken place

     -Create and illustrate a children’s book for one of the narratives

     -Make a story map for one of the narratives

     -Illustrate one of the narratives that you found most interesting

 Mon. Nov. 30 - Wed. Dec. 2

-No new work for these days

-These are the last 3 days of the Quad, and then you will be moving on to Quad 2 (Dec. 3 - Feb. 29).  During Quad 2, you will be taking Math (with Mrs. Whitstone) and Art/Phys. Ed. (with Mr. Mercredi)

-Please try to get all Unit 1 and Unit 2 assignments finished and handed in to me ASAP!

Have a great weekend!!