Myth Vs

Myth Vs. Reality

Goals:

1. Students will learn that there are a number of different interpretations to every story.

2. Students will determine which of the theories about Hawaii, either the myth or the scientific

explanation, is most relevant to their own interpretation.

Resources/Materials:

1. Various books about Oahu and island formation

Aten, Jerry. (1990). 50 Nifty States.. Carthage, Illinois: Good Apple, Inc. (ISBN 0- 86653-532-2)

Russ, David. (1994). The Complete Oahu Guidebook.. Davis, California: Indian Chief Publishing House. (ISBN 0-916841-26-X)

Time:

Approximately 1 hour

Procedure:

1. The instructor will read a number of different myths about the formation of the Hawaiian

islands aloud to the class. The teacher may also choose to provide a handout with the

different myths on it so that the students can refer back to that information.

2. The students will then be given an article to read. The article will reveal the scientific

explanation of how the islands came into being.

3. After the students have listened to the myths and read the assigned article, they should then

make a chart which reveals the similarities and differences between the different myths and

the scientific explanation.

4. After the students have created their own individual charts, they should then assemble into

small groups to share their ideas with other members of the group. The group itself should

come up with a collaborative chart with the similarities and differences between the two types

of stories.

Assessment:

1. Both group and individual charts will be assessed. (Criteria for Success = Each group should

have listed at least 3 similarities and 3 differences between the two stories. The individual

charts will receive credit if turned in.)

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

1. Science - How volcanoes came to form Oahu.

2. Language Arts - Compare and contrast, reading for meaning, drawing conclusions.

Possible Extensions:

1. Students may act out the creation stories of Oahu.

2. Students may choose to draw an illustration of one of the myths about Oahu's formation.