The Process and Resources
Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone
The entire group must use the Internet links below to find out how stories can be interpreted through dance and art. As the choreographers, you are responsible for taking the ideas of your myth and giving them life. Through the movements you design, you will tell a story without using words. You may use music to accompany your dance or you may want to create your own chant. To perform the duties of this task well, you must employ a lot of creativity. Your dance should be 3-5 minutes long.
In addition to a dance, you are also required to create simulated cave drawings to tell your story in "stone." You will hang your drawings on the wall of your classroom--as though if it is the wall of a cave. To make your paper look like a stone wall, you should take a large roll of light brown paper, or paper painted light brown, wrinkle it up and flatten it out. You will want to do your drawings in pencil first, then go back over them with a fine point black marker.
All members of the group are required to visit the information linked below to answer these questions:
Dance Links
- Pow Wow Dancing: An introduction to Native American dancing styles.
http://www.powwows.com/dance/- African Music and Dance: Explores what Africans wear and their dancing patterns. It also provides pictures and tells the viewer why their expressive dancing is important.
http://www.cnmat.berkeley.edu/~ladzekpo/
Drawing Links
- An Extraordinary Archaeological Find: About the discovery of a decorative cave. It gives examples of work found on the cave's walls.
http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/chauvet/en/- Art from Down Under: Many examples of original Aboriginal cave drawings.
http://Members.aol.com/Art1234567/Abart.html
Instructions:Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching a ConsensusThe optimal group size for this WebQuest is 3-4 members. Each member must select a role. Each person should choose one of the cultures below. Make sure each culture is represented. As you read your stories take note of the questions provided on the Worksheet (PDF).
Native American
Asian
- Umbriel Creation Stories: Read the Hopi creation myth.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/umbriel.htm- A Dakota Legend of Creation: The Dakota Indians.
http://www.bluecloud.org/32.html- MicMac Creation Story
http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/lore21.htmlAfrican
- Ariel Creation Stories: Read the Chinese and Hindu creation stories.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/ariel.htm
- Umbriel Creation Stories: Read the Japanese creation stories.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/umbriel.htm
- Pan Gu: Ancient Chinese Creation Stories
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/ariel.htm#CHINESEEuropean
- Miranda Creation Stories: Read the African creation stories.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/miranda.htm- Ophelia Creation Stories: Read the Shillluk and Vodun creation stories.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/ophelia.htm
- Cordelia Creation Stories: Read the Scandanavian creation stories.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/cordelia.htm- Oberon Creation Stories - Read the Hungarian and Judeo-Christian creation stories.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/oberon.htm
Now that you have read your assigned stories, answered the questions, and written your descriptive paragraphs, it is time for you to come together and discuss the important elements of a creation story. You must take turns to describe the stories you have read to each other. Each member has their own specific expertise in a certain culture and must use this knowledge to educate the entire group. Once you have discussed your cultural creation stories, you are to come up with your own group story. When you have agreed upon the elements of your creation story, you must choose one member to word process it.Once your story has been written, as a group, you will choreograph a dance that expresses the meaning of your story. You will all also be responsible for the cave drawings that tell the events of your story through pictures.