Unit Guide

Using Origin Stories to Create our Own Narratives

Michelle Wiedenmann

This curriculum unit is 10 days, accommodating a 90-minute block schedule built within our final topic of the year “Tales They Tell” focusing on origin stories, folktales, and fairytales. With this unit, I want my students to start thinking about who they are and where their identity originates from by thinking of their own personal origin stories. We will first learn of what origin stories by learning through examples using example origin stories of Indigenous people, particularly of those people who live in Delaware. By hearing/reading some of the identity stories of the Lenape and other indigenous groups, we can discuss how these groups of people have faced struggles and yet continue to persevere and use their past to help shape who they are moving forward. This will hopefully encourage them to share about their personal struggles and shape their own identities and origin stories. Students will incorporate technology to create videos, voice recordings, illustrations, and narrative writing that will help them share their personal stories focusing on use objects, a place, and personal encounters/memories.