Lessons & Units :: Genre Studies: Myths 1st Grade Unit

Lesson 1: Nature

Lesson Plan

The Golden Flower

The Golden Flower
Learning Goal
Explain that myths include aspects of nature.
Identify aspects of nature in a myth.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Unit Example Chart, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: The Golden Flower by Nina Jaffe and Little Bear, You’re a Star! retold by Jean Marzollo, chart paper, markers

  • Teacher Modeling

    will introduce myths. I will explain that one characteristic of myths is that they include details or aspects of nature in the story. I will add “Nature” to my Characteristics of Myths Chart. (Example Chart is provided in Unit Teacher and Student Materials.) Nature is any detail that is not made by humans, but come from the Earth. Trees, animals, flowers, and the sky are part of nature. Since humans did not make the natural world (like they would build a building or pave a road), myths were stories to explain how nature came to be. I will model identifying nature details by doing a picture walk of The Golden Flower by Nina Jaffe. I will look for details in the text that are not made by humans, but come from the Earth. I can use the pictures and the text to help me find examples of nature. For example, in The Golden Flower, I will identify the forests, pumpkin, oceans, and fish in the book’s pictures. I will add the title and examples to my chart.

  • Think Check

    Ask: "How do I identify examples of nature in a myth?" Students should reply that you look for details in the text that are not made by man but come from the Earth. You can use picture clues and textual details to help you identify nature in the myth.

  • Guided Practice

    will read Little Bear, You’re a Star! retold by Jean Marzollo and work together to identify nature images and details in this myth. For example, we will identify the stars in the sky and discuss how man did not make or arrange the stars in the sky. We will explain how aspects of nature can be found in many myths.

  • Independent Practice

    will illustrate one example of nature in Little Bear, You’re a Star! Using your illustration, you will explain how you know this book is a myth. Your teacher will add the title of the book and your examples to the chart. (Independent Practice Worksheet is provided.)

Build Student Vocabulary tossed

Tier 2 Word: tossed
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story “So with a flash of lightening, [Zeus] turned the bears into stars and tossed them by their tails into the sky.”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Toss means to throw lightly or casually. If something is tossed, someone throws or flings it through the air without much care for aim or power. Zeus turned the bears into stars and threw them up into the sky, not thinking about where they would land or how powerful his throw was.
Students repeat the word Say the word tossed with me: tossed.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts I like to toss a ball back and forth just for fun. My mother tosses the ingredients in a salad. I tossed my backpack on the seat of the bus before I sat down.
Students provide examples What have you tossed? Tell me about it by saying, “Once I tossed_____________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? Tossed.
Additional Vocabulary Words proud, delicious

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading Little Bear, You’re a Star!, explain that a constellation is a group of stars in the sky that make a pattern. People have noticed that the stars make certain shapes, like a bear. This myth explained why the stars have those shapes by telling a story about bears (who were once humans), who were tossed into the night sky. Show students the “Stargazers Guide” in the back of the book and point to Little Bear and Big Bear. Share other examples of constellations in the sky (for example, the Big Dipper). Tell students to try and spot the constellations in the sky when the stars are bright.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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