Find and Twist the Myth- Among the Real Things

Name:______Date:______Pd:_____

FIND AND TWIST THE MYTH- AMONG THE REAL THINGS

As we have studied already, as man has evolved they have started to figure out how and why some of the more unexplainable parts of our world came to be, but we didn’t always the knowledge we do now.

To explain the unexplainable or give people more knowledge, fear or love of their rulers and gods or countless other reasons- myths would be created to do the explaining.

Now it is your turn!

The assignment:

You are to choose one of the following REAL things listed below and create an original mythical story to explain why it’s still in our world today.Minimum 3 paragraphs &1.5 double spaced, typed paragraphs, 12 points TNR or Calibri font.

To achieve the total points possible, you must use some of the facts about each thing listed in this packet, and then give each fact a mythical reason for being here.

You must also either tell us why this thing is still here, what lesson it is providing for humans and what will/could happen to it in the future.

For example:The Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench or Marianas Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans. It is located in the western Pacific Ocean, to the east of the Mariana Islands. The trench is about 2,550 kilometres (1,580mi) long. It reaches a maximum-known depth of about 10.91 kilometres (6.78mi) (35,800 ft) at the Challenger Deep, a small slot-shaped valley in its floor, at its southern end, although some unrepeated measurements place the deepest portion at 11.03 kilometres (6.85mi).

The Mariana Islands were claimed by Spain in 1668. Spain established a colony there, and gave the islands the official title of Las Marianas in honor of Spanish Queen Mariana of Austria, widow of Philip IV of Spain. The islands are part of the island arc that is formed on the over-riding plate, the Mariana Plate, on the western side of the trench.

MYTH (STORY) EXAMPLE:

It was the final day of the epic battle between the three brothers, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades- it would all end and the boundaries of the earthen world would be set until the end of mankind when the Gods would rule the earth again. There is one part of our world where the end of this battle is still an evident reminder of the conclusive outcome. The Mariana Trench as it would renamed around 1668 by the Spanish held a much more suitable name for thousands of years prior to the Spanish seafarers. The deepest spot of the ocean was known as “Hades Descent” for thousands of years.

The battle among the three God-brothers for who would rule the earth after the Titans raged on for what seemed like an eternity, but it was only after two of the three brothers joined forces against the third that the balance of the battle would be altered. In an allegiance that would affect not only the human world in landscape but also in the way that humans behave emotionally, Zeus and his brother Poseidon made a loosely formed allegiance against their brother, Hades. Hades fought the two as mightily as he could but always considered the weakest in strength; Hades came up with a much more divisive plan using his wit and logic.

Hades knew that the other two brothers would never remain allies for long and as a result he retreated to the sea with both brothers giving chase. As Zeus and Poseidon tried to capture and kill Hades, Zeus threw his powerful lightning bolts at Hades, but they had little effect due to the water, however Poseidon was able to use his powers to shield the lightning charges from the water and they were cast again at Hades. Hades was as elusive as a spirit and the hundreds of bolts cast his way all missed but instead were crashing against the sea floor making a cavern larger and larger with each strike. As the cavern created by Zeus’ bolts grew deeper, Hades swam inside until he reached the bottom and couldn’t go any further- he was trapped by his brothers. Just before he knew they would move in for the killing strikes, Hades cursed them for turning on him and warned them that they would never get along and they would constantly battle of the land and sea of the human world, but Hades had greater plans for all of them. Through this deep crevice in the earth’s crust, Hades would establish the underworld and create a place where he could collect the souls of the earth and tempt them with all of the evils of our world just as he had baited and tempted his own mighty brothers to create this opening and opportunity for him.

This is why to this day; Zeus is known to have powers only over the land of the earth and Poseidon over the seas along. It is Hades however who with elusiveness can come into our thoughts and actions make us do evil things. He lures and tempts us to act as he did so we will not reside in the world of his brother’s rule, but instead join him in his world- the Underworld.

This is why to date only four expeditions have successfully been to the bottom of “Hades Descent” and each of the accounts from this barren environment are the same; “very little life exists there,” “scary”, “eerie”, “not fit for humans”. This is also why is so difficult to get to- we are not mean to be there. The other two brothers did make a pact to try as hard as possible to keep an eye of “Hades Descent”, but they know that their brother will come back through there, he doesn’t have to, and he has other ways to affect both humans and the gods- through temptation and sin.

YOUR OPTIONS:

1. STONEHENGE

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English countryside. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stonesset within earthworks. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.

Archaeologists believe the iconic stone monument was constructed anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC.

2. LIGHTNING BUGS/FIREFLIES

Fireflies, also known as glow worms, tend to be brown and soft-bodied. The most commonly known fireflies are nocturnal. Fireflies hibernate over winter during the larval stage, some species for several years. Some do this by burrowing underground, while others find places on or under the bark of trees. They emerge in the spring. After several weeks of feeding, they emerge as adults. Most fireflies are quite distasteful and sometimes poisonous to predators.

3. CENTIPEDES

Centipedes are arthropods. They are elongated animals with one pair of legs per body segment. Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs from under 20 to over 300. Centipedes have an odd number of pairs of legs for example, 15 or 17 pairs of legs (30 or 34 legs) but never 16 pairs (32 legs).A key trait uniting this group is a pair of venom claws or formed from a modified first appendage. Centipedes are a predominantly carnivorous. Centipedes can be found in a wide variety of environments. Worldwide there are estimated to be 8,000 species of centipede, of which 3,000 have been described. Centipedes have a wide geographical range, reaching beyond the Arctic Circle. Centipedes are found in an array of terrestrial habitats from tropical rainforests to deserts.

4.THE PLATYPUS

The platypusis a semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia. It is one of the five species of the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. It is the sole living representative of its animal family and genus.

The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals, the male platypus having a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unique features of the platypus make it an important subject in the study of evolution.

5. THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST

The Amazon Rainforest is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon River Basin of South America. This basin encompasses 7-million square kilometers or more than 3-million square miles. This region includes territory belonging to nine nations. The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests, and it comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.

Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich areas on the planet. As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity, meaning there are more types of living things here than any other region of the world. This is the largest collection of living plants and animal species in the world.

The region is home to about 2.5million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2,000 birds and mammals. To date, at least 40,000 plant species, 2,200 fishes, 1,294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the region.]

The biodiversity of plant species is the highest on Earth with some experts estimating that one square kilometer (247acres) may contain more than a thousand types of trees and thousands of species of other higher plants. The rainforest contains several species that can pose a hazard. Among the largest predatory creatures are the black caiman, jaguar, cougar, and anaconda. In the river, electric eels can produce an electric shock that can stun or kill, while piranha are known to bite and injure humans. Various species of poison dart frogs secrete poisons through their flesh. There are also numerous parasites and disease causing species. Vampire bats dwell in the rainforest and can spread the rabies virus. Malaria, yellow fever and other fatal illnesses can also be contracted by humans traveling in the Amazon region.

5. STUDENT CHOICE: Please run your idea by Mrs. Small first

READ, RESEARCH, PLAN AND WRITE

STEP 1: READ EACH OPTION AND HIGHLIGHT OR UNDERLINE ANYTHING FROM THE FACTS THAT MAY BE TWISTED INTO OR CHANGED INTO A MYTH LIKE THE EXAMPLE ABOVE.

Topic Choice ______

Interesting ‘stuff’ from the facts that you can use ______

STEP 2: “The Twist”. PLAN HOW USE ANY OF THE THINGS YOU HIGHLIGHTED OR UNDERLINED IN YOUR STORY.

______

STEP 3: ON A SEPARATE PAPER, TYPE A NEW STORY TO EXPLAIN WHY THESE THINGS OR PLACES ARE AROUND US. (why this thing is still here, what lesson it is providing for humans and what will/could happen to it in the future)

Name:______Date:______Pd:_____

Twist a Myth Rubric Writing Rubric

______/30 points

Reminder: Due to turnitin.com by 6pm on ______

______/ 2 pts- Correct length and paper set up

(Minimum 3 paragraphs, 1.5 pages, double spaced, 12 Calibri/ Times New Roman font)

1