1. Myths and Legends
5th Grade Narrative
Created by Mrs. Taylor
ISNP
2012

2. What is a legend?
• Legends are set in the present or recent past.
Legends are supposedly true and are used to scare,
teach, inform, or entertain.
• While they may be true, they tend to be changed or
exaggerated over time.
• Legends are handed down from generation to
generation, usually through oral tradition.
• Examples: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round
Table, Robin Hood

3. What is a legend?
• Legends explain why a natural
occurrence happens.
• Many Native American tribes
have their own legends.

4. What are some other legends?
Bigfoot
(Sasquatch)
Did you know Bigfoot was
believed to live in the forests
of Washington State?

5. The legend of Johnny Appleseed
He spread apple
seeds wherever he
went.

6. The Legend of Davy Crockett
The King of the
Wild Frontier

7. Let’s take a look at a few legends…
• http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/legends/
how-butterflies-came-to-be.htm
• http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/coymake.
htm
• http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/kanpouc
h.htm

8. What is a Myth?

9. Myth
• A traditional or legendary story, usually
concerning some being or hero or event, that
people believe is true.
• Usually contains non-human characters
(deities or demigods).
• Explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of
nature, or how something came to be the way it is.

10. Examples of Myths
• http://greece.mrdonn.org/greekgods/pandor
a.html

11. Persephone and Demeter
http://greece.mrdonn.org/greekgods/demeter.html

12. Echo and Narcissus
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.e
du/students/mmar
assa/mythology/ec
ho.html

13. Creating your own Myth or Legend
• Choose something from the map your myth or
legend will explain.
• Choose characters (myth = non-human,
legend = heroic).
• Complete a story map/planning sheet.
• Your solution MUST explain the phenomena
you chose from the map and how it came to
be.

14. If you choose to write a MYTH….
• Your characters (non-human) MUST have
supernatural powers of some kind.
• Your myth MUST explain how or why
something in this world happened of exists.
• Your title MUST include “How _________ got
_________” or something similar.

15. If you choose to write a LEGEND….
• Your characters MUST have realistic human
qualities (HERO).
• Your myth MUST explain how or why
something in this world happened of exists.
• Your title MUST include “How _________ got
_________” or something similar.