Stories from the Stars

Stories from the Stars

Students learn how astronomical events have inspired myth-making across Native American cultures.

• Tell students that ancient peoples from many cultures looked to the sky and created stories to explain their world and themselves. Explain that they often had strong reactions to such unexplained phenomena as meteor showers and passing comets. Share with students further information about Native American comet myths. (PDF file)

• After students read Native American Comet Myths, lead a class discussion about comet myths in Native American cultures. According to what they read, what are some of the commonly-held or shared beliefs? How do some beliefs about comets and meterorites differ from tribe to tribe?

• Tell students that they will now read a Pacific Northwest Indian myth (PDF file), called Dancing Coyotes, about shooting stars.

• Help guide student reading by asking students to think about the following questions as they read:

Why do you think that Coyote says that the stars are "dancing" in the sky?

Why does Coyote shoot so many arrows into the sky?

What happens when Coyote get tired?

• As a culminating activity, invite students to use their imaginations to create their own, original myth about a comet passing close by Earth, or about a discovery of a meteorite. Ask them to describe what it is, what it could mean, and how it makes them feel.Students may also want to include illustrations with their myth.

• Have students send us their completed myths and drawings so we can publish them in the Gallery.

Related Reading:

For further exploration of sky myths, students might enjoy reading Coyote Places the Stars <link toReading Bookcase> by Harriet Peck Taylor and Her Seven Brothers <link toReading Bookcase> by Paul Goble (Bradbury Press, 1988).

Related Link:

Magic Mountain Meteorites

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