Today’s checklistToday’s checklistTake up homework on

punctuating quotationsCreation myth group

presentations Common elements among

creation myths◦Placemat and fishbone

From creation myths to Pourquoi tales

Creation mythsCreation mythsBased on the creation myths that

you have seen/read, what do you consider to be the most important elements of a creation myth?

Make a list of the most important elements on a placemat, then flip the placemat with your partner to compare ideas.

From creation myths to From creation myths to Pourquoi tales Pourquoi tales Pourquoi tales are written to

explain why things are the way they are and usually describe something in nature, especaily animals.  Pourquoi tales are old legends told to explain why certain events happened.  These tales often start in the past and end when the explanation is revealed.

Why mosquitoes buzz Why mosquitoes buzz in people’s earsin people’s ears

Listen to/watch this West African PourquoiTale.

The middle of the story consists of the 3D’s—description, dialogue, and details—as well as action.

Any details that you add should be important to help readers/listeners to understand the story and move it along. The students’ stories are, after all, modeled on folktales, and folktales tend to err on the side of much less detail than literary stories.

Think of the two or three best solutions and pick the one that works best.

Developing charactersConsider:

◦species; personality; appearance; gender; name; age; job; important event in the character’s past

Ideas for Pourquoi Tales ♦ Why Owl Has Big Eyes ♦ Why Dogs Howl at the Moon ♦ Why Snake Has No Feet or Hands ♦ Why Geese Fly in the Shape of a V ♦ Why Birds Have Many Colors ♦ Why Roses Have Thorns ♦ Why Pigs Have Curly Tails ♦ Why There are Rainbows ♦ Why There Are Oceans ♦ Why Some Trees Lose Their Leaves and Others are

Evergreen ♦ How Jellyfish Came to Be ♦ Why the Big Toe is So Much Bigger than the Other

Toes ♦ Why Porcupine Has Quills

Start with the endTo begin your pourquoi tale, you

must start at the endWhat are you going to explain in

your tale?

Cultural elements in Pourquoi TalesConsider the Pourquoi Tales of

Native groups that you have readWhat cultural elements are

represented in these tales? Brainstorm a list of other cultures

important aspects of these cultures ◦E.g. Language is important to French

Canadian culture and heritage

The Creator’s Game: Lacrosse or BaggatawayLacrosse is an important element

of Native culture and heritage◦A Pourquoi Tale on the development

of the game exists – this is no coincidence!

Lacrosse: A History of Canada's Game | CBC Archives

Baggatway

Important cultural elements “Culture is the widening of

the mind and of the spirit.”- Jawaharlal Nehru

“Bordage” means “ice stuck to the bank of a river” in French

This word is not recognized in French spoken in France

What does this suggest about the culture of Quebecois people?

Write your own Pourquoi TaleUsing the graphic organizer, you

can ensure that you have all of the elements of your Pourquoi Tale.

Consider this a checklist for your final submission!

Tips for writing with a partner1. Recognize your partner’s efforts

and include his/her input2. Criticize carefully and tactfully3. Divide the work evenly4. You say tomato, I say tomato…

- Avoid unnecessary bickering over minor issues