Lesson 6: turtle legends

   

objectives:

        Children will be able to explain what a legend is. They will be able to create a new moon (month) for the calendar using something from nature. They will be able to explain how the Native Americans used the turtle in keeping track of the seasons.
 

materials:

            Story: Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back by Joseph Bruchac
        Story maps
        Large white construction paper 12x18
        Water color paints
        Selection of legends and folk tales
        Daily newspaper and class calendar
 

introduction:

             Explain to the children that legends are stories passes down from grandparents to parents and so on, from one generation to another. Native Americans, like other cultures, often told stories to tell of great events. The thirteen scales on a turtle's back were said to tell of the thirteen moon cycles in the Native American year.
 

procedure:

              The children will listen to the story. They will be asked to choose something from nature-plants, animals etc. They will create a new moon for the calendar based on this natural part of everyday life in the seasons. They will write their final copy at the top of the large paper and illustrate under the story using water color paints. Each one will become a page in a class big book called: The New Moons.
 

closing:

            Children will choose a legend or tall tale from the selection available and complete a story map on the story.
 

enrichment:

           Children will track the phases of the moon by looking in the newspaper and on the calendar. They will staple cut-outs of the moon phases to the classroom calendar for one month.
 

assessment:

            Teacher will observe the legends and story maps and discussions.
   
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