Our next Reading journey is into the past as I have decided to dip into a little passion project of mine and explore a few selected Native American Legends and discuss and analyze themes, patterns, and literary elements. I am excited to offer a taste of our rich Native history before 4th grade where they embark on some wonderful projects around the life and history of the diverse tribes that occupied (and continue to occupy) this land.
Upon building our familiarity with the legends and the patterns of such storytelling, we worked together to create a list of repeated words, patterns, and themes that come up. We are now using this list to analyze and begin to understand the life and meaning behind such legends. My curiosity is teased with the sometimes unique and contrasting storytelling patterns while also amazed at the connections we are able to make with some of the stories. It turns out that Northwest Native Americans have a legend about a great flood along with other legends that seem to explain the thawing of the ice age through the allegory of "a war with snow".