Introduction to Origin Stories
STUDENT MATERIALSSTUDENT MATERIALSS-1INTRODUCTION TO ORIGIN STORIESOER PROJECT / ORIGIN STORIES Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Introduction to Origin Stories”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/PurposeIn this activity, you will become familiar with the idea of an origin story. Cultures around the world have their own origin stories, ways in which they believe and describe how the Universe came to be. It’s important that you understand that all origin stories should be respected, as they often relate to people’s cultures and beliefs. Big History is one origin story that attempts to tell the story of how we got here by using scientific evidence to tell a 13.8-billion-year story connecting the origins of the Universe to our lives today.ProcessStart by filling in the sections on the Origin Stories Comparison Worksheet using the information from the “A Big History Origin Story” article. Use the Three Close Reads process if your teacher suggests doing so - this will help you to better understand the article. You’ll fill in the rest of the chart when you get to the rest of the Origin Stories.
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-2INTRODUCTION TO ORIGIN STORIESOER PROJECT / ORIGIN STORIESDirections: Use this chart to highlight the differences - and any similarities - between the origin stories you read.Big HistoryChineseJudeo-ChristianIroquoisSource of the worldOriginator of the worldHow the Earth formedAge of the EarthFirst life formsHow humans formedRelationship between humans and animals / plants
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-3INTRODUCTION TO ORIGIN STORIESOER PROJECT / ORIGIN STORIESMayanGreek ZuluEfikSource of the worldOriginator of the worldHow the Earth formedAge of the EarthFirst life formsHow humans formedRelationship between humans and animals / plants
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-4THREE CLOSE READSOER PROJECT Directions: Before each of the three reads, look at the “Pay Attention to” and “Questions” columns for the reading. Write your answers in the third column.Article Title: Article Author: Overall question or idea to think about as you read:Reading 1: Skimming for GistThis reading is more of a skim—it should help you get the general idea of the reading.Pay attention to ...QuestionsYour answersTitle and headings What is this article going to be about? Images, image captions, graphs, tablesHow do these add to your idea of what the article is going to be about?
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-5INTRODUCTION TO ORIGIN STORIESOER PROJECT / ORIGIN STORIESReading 2: Understanding ContentIn this read, you will pay attention to the information that most helps you understand the article. Pay attention to ...QuestionsYour answersVocabulary Are there words you don’t understand or recognize? Underline and write down the words, then follow your teachers directions for how to look up and define those words. Major ClaimWhat is the main idea of this article? This could be a thesis statement or the primary focus of the article.Analysis and EvidenceWhat evidence does the author use that supports or extends the main idea? Provide 2-3 examples.Claim TestersWhat claim testers did the author use when providing support for the major claim? Name one claim tester (authority, intuition, evidence, logic) and explain how it was used.
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-6INTRODUCTION TO ORIGIN STORIESOER PROJECT / ORIGIN STORIESReading 3: Thinking Conceptually The third reading is really about understanding how the article relates to the unit driving question or other questions and ideas from the course. Your teacher may give you some sentence starters to help you respond to these questions.Pay attention to ...QuestionsYour answersSupport What from this article confirmed what you already knew about Big History, the unit driving question, or the question or idea you thought about as you read?ExtendIn what ways did this article deepen your thinking about Big History, the unit driving question, or the question or idea you thought about as you read?ChallengeHow did this article change or challenge your thinking Big History, the unit driving question, or the question or idea you thought about as you read.