A Myth Written with Stars
Overview: This project will cover multiple subjects including Astronomy, English, Multimedia, and Historical Literature. The project will start with learning about myths (Historical Literature) and the significance of them in past societies. Then the students will go on a camping trip for four days with an expert in Astronomy, mapping out and learning about constellations (Astronomy). The students will then return to school and in groups of two or three will create their own constellations, in addition to a history of their constellation. Those same groups will then write a myth about their constellation (English). Lastly, the class will vote on which myth is the best, and then produce a full-length movie, no less than 30 minutes long (Multimedia).
Essential Questions:
Deliverables:
Learning Goals:
Essential Questions:
- How can a movie effectively teach an audience about a specific topic (myths)?
- What is the significance of myths in history?
- Can people learn well from myths/Are myths valuable?
Deliverables:
- A Movie (at least 30 minutes in length)
- An original constellation (with its significance and history)
- An original myth about the constellation
Learning Goals:
- Teamwork
- Perseverance
- How to write a myth
- How to make a movie
- Significance of myths/constellations in history
- How to structure a myth/What goes into a myth?
Astronomy: In Astronomy, students will be going on a camping trip with their class. Students will get into groups of 3 or 4 and share a tent. The camping trip will last 4 days, during which students will be learning about Astronomy. During the day, the students will be meeting with an expert (who will also be camping with them) and have different classes/lessons about Astronomy. During the night, students will be observing constellations and the sky. Some of the nights, if not all, they will have access to a telescope so they can see stars and planets "up close and personal." During these observations, the astronomer on site will be able to explain things and answer questions.
English: When the students get back from the camping trip, each group will design a constellation. After creating their constellations and coming up with histories for them, they will be tasked with writing a myth about them. Students will learn about how to write a myth, and then have to write their own (2 to 5 pages). Each partnership will brainstorm different ideas for their myth, and then share them with other groups to get feedback. Next, they will write a first draft of their myth. The students will go through 2 or 3 drafts before the final one is due at the end of week 7. After turning them in, each myth will be read aloud in class. Once each one has been read, there will be a class-wide vote to see which one will be made into the movie.
For Historical Literature and Multimedia check out Amanda's project page.
English: When the students get back from the camping trip, each group will design a constellation. After creating their constellations and coming up with histories for them, they will be tasked with writing a myth about them. Students will learn about how to write a myth, and then have to write their own (2 to 5 pages). Each partnership will brainstorm different ideas for their myth, and then share them with other groups to get feedback. Next, they will write a first draft of their myth. The students will go through 2 or 3 drafts before the final one is due at the end of week 7. After turning them in, each myth will be read aloud in class. Once each one has been read, there will be a class-wide vote to see which one will be made into the movie.
For Historical Literature and Multimedia check out Amanda's project page.
Project Timeline:
Week:
Week 1:
Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5-7: Week 8: Week 9: Week 10-14: Week 15: Week 16: |
What's Due:
Learn about myths
Prep for camping trip Camping trip Create constellation and begin brainstorming for myth Write/edit/finalize myth Pithes/vote for best myth/assigning movie roles Prepping for movie (costuming, scripting, assigning actors) Movie filming/editing/final due at end of week 14 Last minute movie changes/prep for exhibition Exhibition |
Learning Strategies:
Presentation/Exhibition:
Assessment:
- Visual: Looking through telescope, reading myths, story-boarding movie
- Hands-On: Making own constellations, helping control telescope, mapping constellations, working with movie equipment
- Auditory: Listening to teachers and experts talk about astronomy, history of myths, hearing myths read out loud
Presentation/Exhibition:
- Display movie at an exhibition for a large audience
- Use wall to display all myths and constellations written and created in class
Assessment:
Product:
Movie: (100 points)
______________________________________________________________ Constellation: (50 points) ______________________________________________________________ Myth: (50 points) ______________________________________________________________ |
Criteria:
At least 30 minutes long
Has logical flow Follows original myth Creative Well edited ______________________________________________________________ Obvious effort put into painting Believable history Creative shape/drawing ______________________________________________________________ 2-5 pages Incorporates constellation Has a moral ______________________________________________________________ |
Download the project outline:
a_myth_written_with_starstpolfinal.doc | |
File Size: | 49 kb |
File Type: | doc |