Stories in the Stars
*This course is intended for lower elementary students
Class Schedule
Wednesdays 9:00-9:50 am PST
January 8, January 15, January 22, January 29, February 5,
February 12, (no class February 19), February 26, March 5
Note: Classes are listed in PST, click below to convert time to your time zone.
Course Overview
Pareidolia or the practice of “seeing familiar objects or patterns in otherwise random or unrelated objects or patterns,” has long been practiced by humans and most likely you if you’ve ever seen a unicorn made up of clouds or a face in a rock! Pareidolia was practiced by many ancient civilizations as they looked to the sky, wondering about shapes that were created by connecting stars. From this curiosity, many cultures created constellations and stories that went alongside these constellations.
In this class we will look at how some of these early constellations emerged in early Greek, Chinese, and Hawaiian cultures and study the myths that were created in conjunction with them. Then, students will have the opportunity to create their own constellation and myth. We will have daily writing mini-lessons, but students should have an initial foundation of writing skills to take this class (able to brainstorm story ideas and generate 3-5 paragraph long stories as a minimum please!).
Student Outcomes:
- Develop critical thinking skills by comparing and contrasting different versions of myths associated with the same constellation.
- Analyze and interpret various myths and legends from different cultures related to constellations.
- Cultivate creativity by inventing original myths or stories inspired by constellations.
- Develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between mythology, astronomy, and human culture through writing and discussion.
Student Experience
Global Citizen
Writer
Researcher
Literary Analyst
Your Teacher: Sarah Merkt
Sarah Merkt has worked as a teacher and curriculum designer for over 12 years in gifted schools in both Asia and America. She holds her certification in Middle Childhood Education from Xavier University. Most recently, she worked for 4 years at The Nueva School in Hillsborough, CA. She is a passionate advocate for gifted students and their parents and strives to infuse best practices into her curriculum in the classroom. She currently serves as Program Manager and Learning Consultant at Cresconova.
