Comparing Origin Stories
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 1.3ACTIVITY COMPARING ORIGIN STORIES1Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Comparing Origin Stories”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/PurposeComparing origin stories will help you seethe similarities and differences inhow people created stories about how everything began.Process1.Start by reading the “Big History Origin Story” article. As you read, highlight or underline information that helps you answer the following questions:•What was the Universe like “in the beginning,” before the events of the story?•How was Earth created?•What was the first life on Earth and how did it come to be?•How did humans come to be, and what is our part in the story?2.Now, select an origin story that interests you. As you read, highlight or underline the information that helps you answer these questions.•In the origin storyyou picked, what was the world like “in the beginning,” before the events of the story?•Who created the Earth in this story? How did they do it?•What was the first life on Earth and how did it come to be?•How did humans come to be, and what is our part in the story?3.What are the similarities and differences between the Big History origin story and your chosen story?SimilaritiesDifferences4.Using “The ________ Origin Story” comic (on the next page), illustrate and write a comic explaining the origin story you learned about. Use the information that you highlighted or underlined to add words and drawings to the comic page.
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 1.3ACTIVITY COMPARING ORIGIN STORIES2
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 1.3ACTIVITY COMPARING ORIGIN STORIES35.When everyone has finished, move around the class and exchange origin stories with other students, using your comics to explain the main points to each other.6.After you’ve learned about all the other origin stories, complete the following prompts:All origin stories ...Many of the origin stories ...