To help students understand why, in the absence of scientific understanding, human beings have created mythology to explain natural phenomena, and to encourage an appreciation of this literature. Mount St. Helens Illustrate an original myth. Students explore the function of myths. Indian tribe, students do a practice exercise in which, as a group, they write a simple myth to explain rumblings from Mount St. Helens. After reading a sampling of Northwest Native American myths on the subject, students analyze the various identities that have been assigned, in past times, to mountains and other natural features.
Students illustrate and prepare their myths for an audience.
Evaluation of students' myths should relate to writing skills currently being taught in class, as well as effort, originality and creativity displayed. The mountain, quiet and serenely beautiful for as long as anyone can remember, has recently begun to change. Occasionally, light-gray puffs that seem different from other clouds have been appearing around the peak. Strange rumblings that seem to come from deep within the earth have been heard. Nothing in the legends and lore of the tribe explains these occurrences.