"Writing for a Purpose: Myths and Legends” is an educational resource thoughtfully crafted to assist Key Stage 2+ children in comprehending the essential elements and objectives of crafting mythical and legendary stories. This resource provides a comprehensive explanation of myths and legends and their primary features. A myth or legend is a form of storytelling that often involves gods, heroes, and extraordinary events, imparting cultural beliefs and values. The key components of this genre include creating a captivating mythical world, developing legendary characters, and crafting a narrative that weaves together imagination and cultural significance. The resource also incorporates a sample myth or legend to illustrate how these elements can be effectively employed. The story features mythical elements, legendary characters, and a narrative that captures the essence of cultural beliefs. Designed for integration into English lessons, this resource introduces children to the enchanting realm of myths and legends, offering guidance on constructing a compelling narrative. Teachers can utilize this resource to initiate discussions on the unique characteristics of mythical storytelling, provide tips on imaginative writing techniques, and present examples to inspire children in their creative writing endeavors. Furthermore, this resource serves as a versatile tool for promoting cross-curricular writing. Children can apply the storytelling skills acquired from crafting myths and legends to create similar pieces in various subjects, injecting creativity into assignments related to history, literature, or other disciplines. In summary, “Writing for a Purpose: Myths and Legends” is a valuable resource that aids children in developing their writing skills and understanding diverse writing genres, particularly the captivating art of storytelling through myths and legends.

This resource is suitable to teach different type of traditional stories, compare them.

What is a myth fact sheet What is a legend fact sheet Top Tens: mythical heroes, mythical gods, mythical monsters, legendary heroes, legendary beasts Create a myth or legend Hero’s Quest Story Mountain Three Picture Frames Heroes and Gods, Mythical Monsters and Legendary Creatures Storytime Biography Sheet and Checklist Storytime Diary Sheet Top of the God Survey Roll a Monster! Fold a Monster! Myth or Legend Sheet Myth and Match Game

Myths and legends unit with lesson plans

This session was delivered over a three hour period to prospective year 6 students along with high ability year 7 students. This allowed new pupils to engage with their older peers and get an understanding of life at high school in a fun and interactive way. Pupils are introduced to one another through some simple but effective ice-breaker tasks before exploring a myth or legend from a specific culture allowing excellent links to SMSC to be made. Pupils then work together to delve into language and higher level vocabulary before creating their very own myth or legend. The resources and accompanying workbook are included! This could easily be broken down into 3/4 lessons to be delivered in the classroom and may prove an excellent starting point for pupils who are engaging with a myths and legends scheme.

This lesson introduces beginning language learners to the legend of El Cadejo (Central America) in a way that promotes using legends to learn about culture in a deep and meaningful way. This lesson asks students to consider some complex ideas and make connections between the products, practices, and beliefs of Hispanics around the world. These activities promote higher-level thinking that would be beyond the grasp of most students in the target language, so the lessons are done in English to make sure they are attainable. These lessons make perfect sub plans as they require no prep and little to no Spanish language production. Students begin by reading the legend of El Cadejo and illustrating the legend to demonstrate comprehension and understanding. Students are then asked to analyze several paintings created by a Guatemalan using the El Cadejo motif and explain the elements that are common to the paintings and the story. Students are then introduced to the Mayan belief of spirit animals. They are given some examples of nahuales (spirit animals) and asked to choose an appropriate animal based on their characteristics. Finally, students will read the lyrics to a song called "El Cadejo" and list words from the song that relate to the legend and support their conclusions with word meanings and rationale. This Product Includes: -El Cadejo Legend (version 1) -Illustration Activity -Art Activity -Mayan Nahual Spirit Animal Activity -Music Lyric Activity

Mythical creatures top trump cards for myths and legends literacy block in Y3 and Y5. Good for a speaking and listening activity. (Edit the criteria on each card to suit your needs.) Template included for your own creatures or for the children to create their own.

These are fun and engaging activity sheets for the story ‘Rona and the Moon’. Plenty of activities to pick-and-choose from. Simply print and you’re ready to go! A great addition to a unit study on Māori Myths and Legends. Most of the activity sheets can be used with any retelling of this story. There are a few activities that were made using the story written by Peter Gossage. These activities are marked with an asterisk (*). Activities: ♦ Cloze – fill in the missing words * ♦ Word search * ♦ Order events in the story * ♦ Order steps and draw pictures to make Rona’s hangi * ♦ Graphic organiser – research facts about fishing with a hīnaki * ♦ 30 second talks – oral language activity * ♦ Drama – Freeze frame cards * ♦ Music – Sound effect cards * ♦ Storyboard – with words * ♦ Storyboard – without words ♦ Write a poem (noun, verbs, adjectives, synonym) ♦ Acrostic poem ♦ 5 senses – what a character may see, hear, smell, etc ♦ Thought bubbles - what a character may be thinking ♦ Story outline – problem, response, action, outcome ♦ Trifold – beginning, middle, end (paper foldable) ♦ Art – draw Rona and the tree on the moon ♦ Newspaper article – write and draw ♦ Graph – tally chart and block graph ♦ Bookmark ♦ Character traits ♦ Wall ball – write and draw ♦ Diorama – write and draw (paper foldable) ♦ Art – decorate the moon in the same style as the illustrator ♦ Pattern art ♦ Book cover – design a new one ♦ Book dust jacket ♦ Story review ♦ Flap booklet - write and/or draw. With and without headings. ♦ Holiday suitcases – needs and wants ♦ Postage stamp design ♦ Award design ♦ T-shirt design ♦ Flip-flap booklet – write facts/fibs about the moon (paper foldable) ♦ Postcard ♦ Comic strip ♦ Reporter questions ♦ Email writing ♦ Letter writing ♦ Selfie photo drawing ♦ Text writing ♦ Gift giving – think and write ♦ Missing poster ♦ Is / Can / Has - brainstorm ♦ Binoculars – draw and write ♦ I-pad – draw picture ♦ Party plan ♦ Bedroom plan ♦ Bingo board templates ♦ Graphic organiser – what to do if you get upset ♦ Poster design – how to deal with anger instead of speaking unkindly ♦ Reading challenge Answer sheets are provided for the following activities: word search, ordering the steps of Rona’s hangi, cloze, and ordering events in the story. Designed on A4 size paper. The word search is also included in my Maori Myths and Legends Word Search resource. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

This lesson introduces beginning language learners to the legend of El Silbón (Colombia, Venezuela) in a way that promotes using legends to learn about culture in a deep and meaningful way. This lesson asks students to consider some complex ideas and make connections between the products, practices, and beliefs of Hispanics around the world. These activities promote higher-level thinking that would be beyond the grasp of most students in the target language, so the lessons are done in English to make sure they are attainable. These lessons make perfect sub plans as they require no prep and little to no Spanish language production. Students begin by reading the legend of El Silbón and illustrating the legend to demonstrate comprehension and understanding. Students are then debriefed on the concept of "Familismo" in Hispanic culture and are asked to reflect on how the characters in the legend display or do not display the traits of "Familismo". Students are then shown two posters for an event that takes place yearly in Venezuela and references the character "El Silbón". They are asked to assess the posters to draw conclusions about the event and then use that to create an additional poster of their own creation. Finally, students will read a second and slightly different version of the legend. They will be asked to reflect of how both versions of the story demonstrate the desirable and undesirable behaviors of children in Hispanic culture. This Product Includes: -El Silbón Legend (version 1) -Illustration Activity -Familismo Activity -Poster Activity -El Silbón Legend (version 2) -Cultural Reflection Activity

A range of myths and legends resources and activities including Ancient Greece. The presentation can be used to find out about Greek gods and goddesses. Plenty of writing activities including news report style. Lots to interest and entertain.

A fabulous resource to have in New Zealand classrooms when studying Māori Myths and Legends. Great for a follow-up activity after reading the story, or to have as an early-finisher task. 12 word searches. Eleven of the word searches have a Māori themed border or panel that can be coloured after finding all of the words. One word search has a flame/fire themed border (How Maui Found the Secret of Fire). These word searches are designed to go with the fabulous stories written by Peter Gossage. These books are commonly found in NZ schools and are also easily available for purchase in book stores. If you are not sure what these books look like, I suggest you do a quick image search on the internet (I'm not able to include an image here due to copyright restrictions). The words used in the word searches are taken from the stories in these books. The 12 Word Searches: ♦ How Maui Slowed the Sun ♦ The Fish of Maui ♦ How Maui Found his Father and the Magic Jawbone ♦ How Maui Found his Mother ♦ In the Beginning ♦ How Maui Defied the Goddess of Death ♦ How Maui Found the Secret of Fire ♦ Battle of the Mountains ♦ Pania of the Reef ♦ Rona and the Moon ♦ The Giant of Lake Wakatipu ♦ Hinemoa and Tūtānekai Each word search is on A4 size paper and can easily be reduced to A5 if necessary. There are 16 words to be found on each word search. ANSWER SHEETS are included. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

These are fun and engaging activity sheets for the story ‘The Fish of Māui’. Plenty of activities to pick-and-choose from. Simply print and you’re ready to go! A great addition to a unit study on Māori Myths and Legends. Most of the activity sheets can be used with any retelling of this story. There are a few activities that were made using the story written by Peter Gossage. These activities are marked with an asterisk (*). Activities: ♦ Cloze – fill in the missing words * ♦ Word search * ♦ Order events in the story * ♦ Drama – Freeze frame cards * ♦ Music – Sound effect cards * ♦ Storyboard – with words * ♦ Storyboard – without words ♦ Write a poem (noun, adjectives, verbs, thought, synonym) ♦ Acrostic poem ♦ 5 senses – what a character may see, hear, smell, etc ♦ Thought bubbles - what a character may be thinking ♦ Trifold – beginning, middle, end (paper foldable) ♦ Newspaper article – write and draw ♦ Graph – tally chart and block graph ♦ Bookmark ♦ Character traits ♦ Wall ball – write and draw ♦ Diorama – write and draw (paper foldable) ♦ Art – decorate the jawbone in the same style as the illustrator ♦ Pattern art ♦ Book cover – design a new one ♦ Book dust jacket ♦ Story review ♦ Flap booklet - write and/or draw. With and without headings. ♦ Holiday suitcases – needs and wants ♦ Postage stamp design ♦ Award design ♦ T-shirt design ♦ Flip-flap booklet – 4 flaps (paper foldable) ♦ Postcard ♦ Comic strip ♦ Reporter questions ♦ Email writing ♦ Letter writing ♦ Selfie photo drawing ♦ Text writing ♦ Gift giving – think and write ♦ Is / Can / Has - brainstorm ♦ Binoculars – draw and write ♦ I-pad – draw picture ♦ Party plan ♦ Bedroom plan ♦ 30 second talks – oral language activity ♦ Bingo board templates ♦ Jawbone – what would you like to catch? ♦ Drawing – sea creature in the shape of the North Island ♦ Graphic Organiser – hīnaki fishing – research and write notes ♦ Graphic Organiser – traditional Māori fishing – research and write notes ♦ Graphic organiser – fishing rules ♦ Poster design – fishing safety ♦ Reading challenge Answer sheets are provided for the word search, cloze, and ordering events activities. Designed on A4 size paper. The word search is also included in my Maori Myths and Legends Word Search resource. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

For anyone teaching the Ancient Greeks or Greek Myths here are 3 easy to deliver, creative dance lessons that will have your students active, fire their imaginations and develop their creative skills and team working. The first lesson uses the sailing ship crashing onto the island of Crete; the second explores the maze and the third lesson uses the theme of the battle. These could be developed further by being linked together to creative the narrative & then further still by being repeated in reverse order to show Theseus leaving the maze and returning home. The lessons come with suggestions for instrumental music that can be accessed through itunes or YouTube. If you require any further help or support I deliver inset to help your school devise and deliver high quality dance lessons linked to curriculum themes.

Myths, Legends, Fables and Fairytales PowerPoint. Teach folktales and traditional tales: myths, legends,tall tales, fables, and fairytales. The slides discuss differences between myths and legends, tall tales, fables, and fairy tales. Examples of some famous tales and famous authors are mentioned. Myths are explanations for how ancient people understood their worlds, like Thor and Zeus. Legends were stories passed along that had a basis in truth, but were not real, like King Arthur and Robin Hood. Fables were told to teach lessons, most famously by Aesop. And folk tales and fairy tales were both passed down as stories for the children. Fairy tales we now enjoy were collected from oral tradition and written down in the 1800's. For instance, Hans Christian Andersen is remembered especially for his tales of The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Ugly Duckling, while the Brothers Grimm are known for Cinderella, Snow White, and The Frog Prince. Everything is presented against a beautiful castle background and sound effects have been added for interest.

This lesson introduces beginning language learners to the legend of La Llorona in a way that promotes using legends to learn about culture in a deep and meaningful way. This lesson asks students to consider some complex ideas and make connections between the products, practices, and beliefs of Hispanics around the world. These activities promote higher-level thinking that would be beyond the grasp of most students in the target language, so the lessons are done in English to make sure they are attainable. These lessons make perfect sub plans as they require no prep and little to no Spanish language production. Students begin by reading the legend of La Llorona and illustrating the legend to demonstrate comprehension and understanding. Students are then debriefed on the class system that existed in colonial Mexico and serves as a tie in to the legend itself. Students are then asked to reflect on the social hierarchy within their school building to gain a greater understanding of the feelings and motivations of the lover of La Llorona in the legend. Finally, students will read a second and slightly different version of the legend from Texas. They will be asked to compare and contrast the two versions and reflect on the cultural differences between the two groups. This Product Includes: -La Llorona Legend (version 1) -Illustration Activity -Social Class in Colonial Mexico Activity -Social Hierarchy in Schools Activity -La Llorona Legend (version 2) -Venn Diagram Activity

These are fun and engaging activity sheets for the story ‘Hinemoa and Tūtānekai’. Plenty of activities to pick-and-choose from. Simply print and you’re ready to go! A great addition to a unit study on Māori Myths and Legends. Most of the activity sheets can be used with any retelling of this story. There are a few activities that were made using the story written by Peter Gossage. These activities are marked with an asterisk (*). Activities: ♦ Cloze – fill in the missing words * ♦ Word search * ♦ Order events in the story * ♦ Drama – Freeze frame cards * ♦ Music – Sound effect cards * ♦ Storyboard – with words * ♦ Storyboard – without words ♦ Write a poem (noun, verbs, adjectives, synonym) ♦ Acrostic poem ♦ 5 senses – what a character may see, hear, smell, etc ♦ Thought bubbles - what a character may be thinking ♦ Story outline – problem, response, action, outcome ♦ Trifold – beginning, middle, end (paper foldable) ♦ Newspaper article – write and draw ♦ Graph – tally chart and block graph ♦ Bookmark ♦ Character traits ♦ Wall ball – write and draw ♦ Diorama – write and draw (paper foldable) ♦ Art – decorate the heart in the same style as the illustrator ♦ Pattern art ♦ Book cover – design a new one ♦ Book dust jacket ♦ Story review ♦ Flap booklet - write and/or draw. With and without headings. ♦ Holiday suitcases – needs and wants ♦ Postage stamp design ♦ Award design ♦ T-shirt design ♦ Flip-flap booklet – 4 flaps (paper foldable) ♦ Postcard ♦ Comic strip ♦ Reporter questions ♦ Email writing ♦ Letter writing ♦ Selfie photo drawing ♦ Text writing ♦ Gift giving – think and write ♦ Missing poster ♦ Is / Can / Has - brainstorm ♦ 30 second talks – oral language activity ♦ Binoculars – draw and write ♦ I-pad – draw picture ♦ Party plan ♦ Bedroom plan ♦ Bingo board templates ♦ Water safety – write some rules ♦ Water safety – design a poster ♦ Reading challenge Answer sheets are provided for the word search, cloze, and ordering events activities. Designed on A4 size paper. The word search is also included in my Maori Myths and Legends Word Search resource. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

The fantail (pīwakawaka) features in many Māori myths and legends. This craft activity can be used for any of the stories (or alternatively, for a study on New Zealand birds). Students write or draw on the tail fan and then attach it to the bird. You can add as many tail fans as you wish. Two Options: ♦ Attach the tail fan(s) to a bird that has been cut out. ♦ Attach the tail fan(s) to a bird that is on a sheet of paper (you will probably need a long-armed stapler for this option). Two Sets of Templates: ♦ Fantail facing right. ♦ Fantail facing left. Writing / Drawing Suggestions: ♦ Write facts about fantails. ♦ Draw your favourite part of the story. ♦ Give the story a rating out of 10 and give a reason. ♦ Write about the story (plot, setting, characters, message, etc). ♦ Draw a fantail and add labels. ♦ Write about where you’d like to fly to if you were a fantail. ♦ Write vocabulary from the story (English / Te Reo). The tail fans are completely blank (no lines for writing). If you would like lines, then I suggest you draw some before photocopying. Designed on A4 size paper. Approximate size when cut out is 23cm by 16cm. The Templates (right and left facing): ♦ Bird with page border, tree branches and the word ‘pīwakawaka’. ♦ Bird. ♦ 1x feather tail fan and 1x blank tail fan. ♦ 2 x feather tail fans. ♦ 2 x blank tail fans. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

This lesson introduces beginning language learners to the legend of El Basilisco Chilote (Chile) in a way that promotes using legends to learn about culture in a deep and meaningful way. This lesson asks students to consider some complex ideas and make connections between the products, practices, and beliefs of Hispanics around the world. These activities promote higher-level thinking that would be beyond the grasp of most students in the target language, so the lessons are done in English to make sure they are attainable. These lessons make perfect sub plans as they require no prep and little to no Spanish language production. Students begin by reading the legend of El Basilisco Chilote and illustrating the legend to demonstrate comprehension and understanding. Students are then introduced to the concept of "folk illnesses" which, like the legend, blame illness on supernatural forces and treat them in unconventional ways. Students will learn about 3 common "folk illnesses" and be asked to consider some of the less conventional treatments or myths surrounding sickness in their own culture. In the following activity, students are asked to propose a more "scientific" explanation for the folk illnesses mentioned in the legend and in the second activity. They are also asked to consider reasons why indigenous cultures may resist the treatments and explanations of modern medicine. Finally, students will be introduced to the Mercado de Brujas in La Paz (Bolivia) and the many items it sells to aid in rituals and folk medicine. Students will translate a list of 10 Spanish items to English based on their prior knowledge of vocabulary and use of a dictionary. This Product Includes: -El Basilisco Chilote Legend -Illustration Activity -Folk Illness Activity -Higher Order Thinking Activity -Mercado de Brujas Activity

These are fun and engaging activity sheets for the story ‘How Māui Slowed the Sun’. Plenty of activities to pick-and-choose from. Simply print and you’re ready to go! A great addition to a unit study on Māori Myths and Legends. Most of the activity sheets can be used with any retelling of this story. There are a few activities that were made using the story written by Peter Gossage. These activities are marked with an asterisk (*). Activities: ♦ Cloze – fill in the missing words * ♦ Word search * ♦ Order events in the story * ♦ Similes – write and draw 4 similes * ♦ Drama – Freeze frame cards * ♦ Music – Sound effect cards * ♦ Storyboard – with words * ♦ Storyboard – without words ♦ Write a poem (noun, adjectives, verbs, thought, synonym) ♦ Acrostic poem ♦ Jawbone – decorate and write ♦ List – write a list of possible jobs people had to do during the short days ♦ 5 senses – what a character may see, hear, smell, etc ♦ Thought bubbles - what a character may be thinking ♦ Story outline – problem, response, action, outcome ♦ Trifold – beginning, middle, end (paper foldable) ♦ Art – draw a face on the sun ♦ Newspaper article – write and draw ♦ Graph – tally chart and block graph ♦ Bookmark ♦ Character traits ♦ Wall ball – write and draw ♦ Diorama – write and draw (paper foldable) ♦ Art – decorate the sun in the same style as the illustrator ♦ Pattern art ♦ Book cover – design a new one ♦ Book dust jacket ♦ Story review ♦ Flap booklet - write and/or draw. With and without headings. ♦ Holiday suitcases – needs and wants ♦ Postage stamp design ♦ Award design ♦ T-shirt design ♦ Flip-flap booklet – 4 flaps (paper foldable) ♦ Postcard ♦ Comic strip ♦ Reporter questions ♦ Email writing ♦ Letter writing ♦ Selfie photo drawing ♦ Text writing ♦ Gift giving – think and write ♦ Is / Can / Has - brainstorm ♦ Binoculars – draw and write ♦ I-pad – draw picture ♦ Party plan ♦ Bedroom plan ♦ 30 second talks – oral language activity ♦ Bingo board templates ♦ Graphic organiser – staying safe in the sun ♦ Poster design – how to be sun smart ♦ Reading challenge Answer sheets are provided for the word search, cloze, and ordering events activities. Designed on A4 size paper. The word search is also included in my Maori Myths and Legends Word Search resource. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

These are fun and engaging activity sheets for the story ‘The Giant of Lake Wakatipu’. Plenty of activities to pick-and-choose from. Simply print and you’re ready to go! A great addition to a unit study on Māori Myths and Legends. Most of the activity sheets can be used with any retelling of this story. There are a few activities that were made using the story written by Peter Gossage. These activities are marked with an asterisk (*). Activities: ♦ Cloze – fill in the missing words * ♦ Word search * ♦ Order events in the story * ♦ Drama – Freeze frame cards * ♦ Music – Sound effect cards * ♦ Creative drawing – 2 headed dog * ♦ Storyboard – with words * ♦ Storyboard – without words ♦ Write a poem (noun, verbs, adjectives, synonym) ♦ Acrostic poem ♦ 5 senses – what a character may see, hear, smell, etc ♦ Thought bubbles - what a character may be thinking ♦ Story outline – problem, response, action, outcome ♦ Trifold – beginning, middle, end (paper foldable) ♦ Newspaper article – write and draw ♦ Graph – tally chart and block graph ♦ Bookmark ♦ Creative thinking – giant killing plan and equipment needed ♦ Character traits ♦ Wall ball – write and draw ♦ Diorama – write and draw (paper foldable) ♦ Art – decorate the footprint in the same style as the illustrator ♦ Pattern art ♦ Book cover – design a new one ♦ Book dust jacket ♦ Story review ♦ Flap booklet - write and/or draw. With and without headings. ♦ Holiday suitcases – needs and wants ♦ Postage stamp design ♦ Award design ♦ T-shirt design ♦ Flip-flap booklet – 4 flaps (paper foldable) ♦ Postcard ♦ Comic strip ♦ Reporter questions ♦ Email writing ♦ Letter writing ♦ Selfie photo drawing ♦ Text writing ♦ Gift giving – think and write ♦ Missing poster ♦ Is / Can / Has - brainstorm ♦ 30 second talks – oral language activity ♦ Binoculars – draw and write ♦ I-pad – draw picture ♦ Party plan ♦ Bedroom plan ♦ Bingo board templates ♦ Water safety – write some rules ♦ Water safety – design a poster ♦ Reading challenge Answer sheets are provided for the word search, cloze, and ordering events activities. Designed on A4 size paper. The word search is also included in my Maori Myths and Legends Word Search resource. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources