Mythology & Folklore Syllabus 2003-04

Mythology & Folklore Syllabus • 2003-2004

Welcome to the Mythology & Folklore Unit for 6th grade at Salmon Bay School! I’m looking forward to a fabulous year of learning with each one of you this autumn. The purpose of this course is to give you an introduction to many myths and folktales from cultures in the Eastern Hemisphere while building on your language arts skills.

CLASS DESCRIPTION & ASSIGNMENTS:
The first two weeks of the course will focus on learning about myths and folklore from six different cultures. I will tell creation myths from Ancient Greece, Northern Europe, India, The Far East (Either China or Japan) and Sub-Saharan Africa. I will also tell a Russian fairy tale which contains mythological elements.
            Also during this time, you will construct a highly organized persuasive essay on the most useful supernatural or superhuman power that a divine being, heroine, hero, or person could have.
            After I have told all six stories, you will be assigned one culture whose folklore and myths you will study for the rest of the course with your reading team. During this time, you will also work with a writing team to write two stories: an original creation myth and some other original creative story inspired by themes from myth or folklore.
            Finally, your reading-team will present one story to our class (and, perhaps, to other classrooms) from your assigned culture. In addition, you will publish your original story in a class book of tales with your writing-team.
            That’s a lot of work to cover in six weeks! Assignments and projects may change as the course progresses. I do what I can to let the curriculum emerge as much as I can from your interests, and therefore the students may take us into uncharted territory. Remember that your teacher is learning too!

DAILY SUPPLIES:
You are expected to arrive prepared each day with the following items:
1. A three-ring binder with a Unit section and a supply of lined paper for assignments and activities.
2. A pencil and/or pen.
3. Your daily planner.
4. Any homework due that day
5. Any stories or books that you have found from the culture you will become an Expert on (this will apply after the second week of class).

CLASS ROUTINES:
During the first half of the class we will read or listen to stories; during the second half of the class we will write and edit stories and paragraphs we have written. Between reading and writing times, we will look at strategies that good readers and writers use. During that time, we’ll also learn some commonly used Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

HOMEWORK:
Homework will be assigned nearly every day. Homework projects could entail reading, writing, research, or just careful thinking. The stories that you study for this class might be acceptable reading material for your daily 30-minute reading requirement in your homeroom. Certain homeroom teachers may also let you read and write for this unit during your homeroom reading and writing times. Note: You must still do homework at home! However, your homeroom teacher may let you continue to work on your Myth & Folklore reading and writing in your homeroom class. Please check with your homeroom teacher.

QUIZZES:
About once a week, I will give you a quiz on the characters from the stories you are learning, the Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes we have studied so far, and the writing skills we have practiced in class. Some quizzes will be open note quizzes, and some may be assigned for homework.

GRADES:
You will be evaluated on the basis of your understanding of the stories you’re reading and listening to, so listen and read carefully. I encourage you to take notes on the stories for later reference and for quizzes. The weekly quizzes and your questions and conversations about the stories you read and hear will constitute one third of your grade.
Because I expect you to work at your highest level of skill and push yourself to learn, it takes a great effort to meet my expectations. It’s my job as your teacher to make that effort worth doing, and give you the skills and tools to do it well. The joy and wisdom that the world’s great myths and folk literature have to offer should be a strong motivation to read in this class. You will evaluate the growth of your writing, and this will constitute one third of your grade. You know when you are working hard to make your writing an example of your best work. That’s how to meet my expectations.
Finally, the quality of your participation in class will constitute one third of your grade. Since you will work in reading and writing teams, peer edit each others’ work, and share impressions about the stories we study together, the class will value your viewpoints and insights. Please share them in a way that builds a healthy classroom community.
To exceed my expectations, you must show me that you are willing to research and read more than what I require from each student. You must show me that you can find similarities and differences between the myths and folklore of different cultures. Finally, you must become a teacher yourself, and help the other students in the class with the quality of their writing, with the depth of their reading, and with the subtlety of their understanding. You can do this by actively editing other students’ writing and by asking probing questions, making predictions, and connecting what you read to your own life.