2. What are origin stories?

Activity 1 - What are Origin Stories?

Activity Tasks

What are origin stories? Read this worksheet and write a definition in your books.
What are 'oral traditions'? Does your family or culture have any oral traditions that have been passed down to your generation?
Look closely at the two images here and discuss the following with a partner:
1. Where do you think each of the creation myths are from?
2. What clues are there to help you decide?
Discuss - Which origin stories do you believe in?
Discuss - Why do we as humans need origin stories?

Activity Tasks

Watch the intro to the film Moana, which is based on the Polynesian origin story. As a class, fill in the first column of this table to consider which Ultimate Questions the origin story answers.
Divide into four groups. The choices are:
1. Norse - worksheet / video
2. Aborigine - worksheet / video
3. Chinese - worksheet / video
4. Inca - worksheet / video
Using the resources above and the Big Myth website, each group will answer the questions on this table. A runner from each group should write their answers on the table on the whiteboard.
Discuss - Are there any significant similarities or differences among the stories?
Discuss - why do you think people create and tell origin stories?

Activity Tasks

Using Google Maps, locate where the Polynesian Island are in the world. What are the key geographical features of the islands? How would you describe the features?
How do you think the early peoples of this Pacific region have been influenced by...
1. The landscape; ocean; natural hazards; wildlife?
Watch the Moana intro story again from Activity 2. Which aspects of the Polynesian origin story are linked to or influenced by the geography of the area?
Read again the origin story that you explored in Activity 2. Research the geography of the country your story is from and identify at least 3 ways in which the story is influenced by the natural world.

Activity Tasks

You will now write your own origin story (of no more than 600 words) based on one of four unique geographical areas. Choose between either: Forest; Snow; Savannah; or Mountains. Your story must refer to or use the geographical features of these areas.
Your origin story must also contain and explain the following five common features of origin stories:
1. What was there in the beginning?
2. Who is the supreme being or god?
3. How did the world come into being?
4. How did animals and humans come into being?
5. Why does pain and suffering occur?
Refer to this or this example of an origin story to help generate some ideas.