WebQuest

Introduction: Folklore and modern science provide alternative explanations for the features of the natural world. You will study pairs of stories relating fact and folklore about volcanoes, stars, owls, and snakes.

Essential Question:

How are myth and science alike?

Consider this quote:

Prime discoveries in science and technology, the very dreams that blister sleep, boil up from the basic, magic ring of myth. -- Joseph Campbell

Myth and science are more alike than commonly believed. Both myth and science use metaphor. The idea of "scientific law" is a comparison of the regularities of nature to obedience to the laws people obey. Think about the similarities of myth and science. Brainstorm 8-10 words you associate with "Myth" and 8-10 words you associate with "Science". Then form a single statement that compares myth with science.

Unit Questions:

How are the fact and folklore of volcanoes alike?

Read "Loo-Wit, the Fire-Keeper" (pp. 490-494) & "Volcano" (pp. 498-508)

How are the fact and folklore of stars alike?

Read "The Seventh Sister" (pp. 514-519) & "Scanning the Heavens" (pp. 524-528)

How are the fact and folklore of owls alike?

Read "The Story of Owl" (pp. 531-534) & "Owls" (pp. 538-542)

How are the fact and folklore of snakes alike?

Read "How the Snake Got Poison" (pp. 545-548) & "Snakes: The Facts and the Folklore" (p. 550)

• metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing becomes another thing
• myth: a story that usually explains something about the world and involves gods and other superhuman beings
• origin/creation myth: a story that explains how something in the world began or was created
• metamorphosis: in literature, a magical change of someone or something from one shape or form to another
• informative writing: facts about a real-life event or phenomenon
• cause and effect: how one event is connected to another
• personification: describing an object as if it had human qualities
• how-and-why tale: a story that explains how something came to be and why it is the way it is
• morals: messages about how to live and behave
• compare and contrast: how two things are the same and different
• oral tradition: folktales, songs, and poems that have been passed on orally over generations

Task: Working in teams, read about the fact and folklore of volcanoes, stars, owls, or snakes. Use books and links to add to your knowledge. Prepare a presentation project and report back to the class. Choose one of the following formats for your presentation -- brochure or website. Create a brochure or website that clearly illustrates the fact and folklore of your topic and how they are alike.

Information Sources: These are links to different sites that will help you research and learn more about the fact and folklore of volcanoes, stars, owls, and snakes.

Volcanoes

• Volcanoes!
• Volcanoes Online
• Volcano World
• MTU's Volcanoes Page

Stars

• Stars
• The Constellations and Their Stars
• Astronomy -- Seek the Stars!
• Astronomers

Owls

• MacBride Raptor Project
• The Aviary: Owls
• Information on Owls
• Owls

Snakes

• Venomous Snakes
• Snakes of North America
• King Cobra

Citing Sources

• Works Cited -- MLA Style . . . for bibliographies
• Nueva Research . . . information about doing research including interactive forms where you can cut and paste citations into your bibliography

Process: Follow these steps to complete your project.

1. Agree on a first and second choice of topics with your team members.
   • Volcanoes
   • Stars
   • Owls
   • Snakes
2. Get your topic choice approved by Mrs. Pérez.
3. Read and discuss the two stories related to your topic.
4. Use books and links to research more information on your topic.
5. Decide on a format for your project.
   • Brochure
   • Website
6. Complete a storyboard for your project to include:
   • summary of myth or folk tale
   • summary of informational article
   • graphics to illustrate both summaries
   • explanation of how the fact and the folklore of your topic are alike
   • source information for summaries, graphics, facts, & quotes
   • names of designers or webmasters
7. Get your storyboard approved by Mrs. Pérez.
8. Assign a job to each team member.
9. Begin the creation of your project.
10. The grade for your project will be based on the rubric for your chosen format. Review it often as you work on your project.
    • Brochure Rubric
    • Website Rubric
11. Continue working until project is complete.
12. Get your final project approved by Mrs. Pérez.
13. Be prepared to present your project to the class on the Due Date: April 29th.

Guidance: Here are some questions to think about as you work on your project.

1. Is each teammate doing his/her share of the work?
2. Is the layout of your project clear?
3. Are all words spelled correctly?
4. Are all your sources correctly cited?
5. Have you reviewed the rubric and compared your final project to it?

Conclusion: Discuss the following questions with your team members after you finish the project. Be prepared to discuss them with Mrs. Pérez.

1. What did you learn by doing this project?
2. How has technology helped your learn more about how myth and science are alike?
3. What will you remember longer and better about myth and science because you used technology?
4. What other topics would you like to explore in myth and science?
5. How could you investigate your topic or others in myth and science further?
6. What other sources besides the Internet could you use?
7. What did you like best about creating your project?
8. How will this project help you in other classes?

Extension: Observational Writing