Origin Stories Lesson Plan 3
4Lesson Extension Opportunities Use the additional materials below to extend or modify your Origin Stories lesson plan. Video: Written in Stone: PetroglyphsHow do stories get passed down? And what counts as a written source? Many societies, including the Ancestral Pueblo of the American Southwest, are often said to have left behind no written sources. Yet, at sites across the Southwest, hundreds of thousands of petroglyphs stand out as reminders that there are many types of historical evidence.Article:“Cosmology and Faith”Our ancestors used stories and myths to gu ide their understanding of the universe. Now, scientific discoveries have provided context to the origins of the Universe and life. This article examines the intersection of science and faith, and how each contributes to the stories we tell. Article: “Overview of Belief Systems”The creation of belief systems probably begins with humanity itself, and as communities grew larger, these systems changed. This article traces the development of universal and portable belief systems and the big questions that have been asked along the way. Article: “The Vatican Observatory”Since 1891, the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo has been used to study the night sky, producing research that bridges theology and science. This article explores the history behind the creation of this observatory and how the research produced there has contributed to answering the big questions about how our Universe came to be and our place in it. Graphic Biography: “Dr. Wu and the Left-Handed Universe”Chien-Shiung Wu is today known as the “First Lady of Physics.” Yet, many people don’t know her name. She disproved one of the fundamental laws of physics and helped us understand why our Universe exists at all.Graphic Biography: “Revealing the Dark: Vera Rubin”Vera Rubin’s observations revealed that our Universe is mostly made of matter we cannot see. Her work was met with skepticism, but she transformed astronomy. Today, astronomers still debate Rubin’s “dark matter” what it means for the big questions about our origins.A detail from Dr. Wu graphic biography.