Storytellers Unit
Some of the oldest forms of literature are folktales, fairy tales, myths, and legends.
Typically the traditions and beliefs of a culture are often revealed by these tales.
This interdisciplinary unit concentrates on a thorough study of culture such that
we will be focusing on a variety of stories from different cultures. We will examine
how these tales reflect various aspects of these different cultures. We will also look
for similarities and differences. Through our discussions, class activities, journals,
and homework, you will develop a clear understanding of these concepts:
1. Culture is a collection of arts, beliefs, customs, and institutions created
by a specific group of people at a certain time.
2. Our current culture has been influenced by many past cultures.
3. Each culture has several different aspects
4. Cultures change and are influenced by other cultures.
During this unit, you will be given an opportunity to read several different types of
myths and tales. Each week there will be one or two required selections that we
will read and discuss together as a class. In addition, you will be given reading
workshop time to read additional selections of your choice; you will earn points
each day for participating in reading workshop. During reading workshop time,
you may read a “choice” selection piece or work on a journal entry. However,
please recognize and realize that there will be times where you will have to
complete a reading and/or journal for homework. All assignments and
selections are listed in this packet, so it is important that you keep it in
your literature binder at all times. You will also get a list of journal
topics for you to choose from that should also be kept in your binder at
all times.
Each day in class, you are to have your binder and materials. On some days we
will have mini-lessons and activities, other days we will read aloud or read a
required assignment, and on other days, you will read a selection of your choice.
Some of these selections are in the blue literature book, some are in the mythology
books in the room, and others are copies and are in the crate in the file folders.
You may take any books and/or copies out of the room to do for homework, but
YOU MUST SIGN OUT THE BOOKS OR COPY WITH MRS.
SIMMONDS. After reading a required selection, you will be asked to respond in
a journal or with a graphic organizer. After reading a selection of your choice, you
will be asked to respond to a journal entry.
There will be two “checkpoints” of when these journals and graphic organizers will
be due. For each checkpoint date you need to turn in the set number of journal
entries by the date from your choice of reading and the specific assigned graphic
organizer or journal entry from a required reading. The two dates are:
• MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010 – 5 reading choice journals
and the specific assigned reading graphic organizers/journal
entries
• WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2010 – 1o reading choice
journals and the specific assigned reading graphic
organizers/journal entries
 Each journal entry is worth 10 points and each required assignments will
be worth 20 points.
It is VERY important that you use your class time wisely and pace yourself at home
as well so that you are not overwhelmed when it is time for each checkpoint date.
My goal is for you to have fun, discover new ideas, think deeply about your
reading, and develop a clear understanding of culture.
At the end of this unit we will be watching a mythology movie – if you do not have
all of your journal entries turned in you will be excluded from the movie and
will have to finish any missing work.
Below is a list of stories you can read. All stories with an * must be read when Mrs.
Simmonds assigns them. All others you will read by choice. You must read the
total number of required stories in parenthesis for each group.
Greek Myths (choose and read four)
*The Twelve Labors of Hercales
Folktales (choose and read two)
The Creation of the Titans and
*The People Who Could Fly
the Gods (MBblue)
The Old Grandfather (LB)
Aeneas’s trip to the Underground (MBblue)
Gombei and the Wild Ducks (LB)
Prometheus (MBblue)
Waters of Gold (LB)
Odysseus and the Cyclops (MBgold)
The Pumpkin and the Snake (LB)
The Trojan Horse (MBgold)
Kelkalfi’s Secret Something (LB)
Jason and the Golden Fleece (MM)
Lazy Peter and the Three Cornered Hat
(LB)
Phaeton (LB)
Cupid and Psyche (copies)
Native American Myths (choose/read two)
Northern European Tales (choose/read two)
*Scarface
*Beowolf
Ochigeas and the Invisible Hunter
Thor and the Bride (copies)
Saynday Gets the Sun
Death of Balder (copies)
Coyote and the Thundering Rock
Gods of the Northworld (MM)
The One Who Sees Things Right
Heroes of the North (MM)
Two Feathers and Turkey Boy
How Odin Lost His Eye (LB)
Fairytales (choose and read one)
Fables
*The Fitting of the Slipper
*Aesop’s Fables
The Emperor’s New Clothes (LB)
Asian Myths (choose/read two)
African Myths (choose/read two)
(Use Asian Myth Book)
(Use African Myth Book)
*The Wish for Power
*How People Came to be Different
The Friend’s Gift
Tortoise Cracks His Shell
The Kind Fool
The Snake and the Princess
Why Bats Fly at Night
Why Bats Fly Upside Down
Why Folks Must Die
Key
* = Required to read – will be worked on in class
LB = found in literature
MBblue = found in blue myth book
MBgold = found in gold myth book
MM = found in Myths and Meaning
Please keep this sheet in your binder. It will answer many of your questions.
Also, you will need a 3-prong folder for this unit to keep all your materials
in.  We will work on the layout of this together in class.