A Myth is Born
	Snapshot "Look, Ms. Bullfinch! Our myth is finished. We took turns writing each part. Do you like how we made it end?" Sara proudly holds out her little book with both authors' names enblazoned on the front. Her writing partner is located miles awayÑtheir story is a joint, online creation. Now, it is ready to join the class library. UNIT OF PRACTICE Invitation How can we help students to understand the role of mythology in Ancient Rome and Greece? How can we provide students with opportunities to work together and develop their collaboration skills? This unit gives students the opportunity to write original myths with a partner over the Internet. Situation This unit takes place in the computer lab. Students in two different classrooms are paired and write an original myth, collaboratively. Tasks Students begin by selecting a myth from a book in the school library or from myth collections availble on the Internet by using the Ancient Civilizations Web Pack. Students analyze their mythÑthe characters, setting, rising actions, climax, falling actions. Each student is assigned a distant partner and, together, they write an original myth. Taking turns in the Aspects word-processor, they add to their myth, and peer edit the draft. Interactions Students work in a large group setting for the introductory parts of this unit. The remainder of the unit involves students working with a distant partner to write an original myth. Standards This unit meets local standards for the English curriculum which calls for students to be engaged in process writing, learn about myths as a form of literature, and use the Internet as a tool for communication. It also responds to standards which call for students to read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres; to apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts; to use a variety of technical and informational resources; and to use spoken, written and visual language to accomplish their own purposes. This unit also meets standards set by the National Council for the Social Studies which call for students to have experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments; and provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves in and over time. Assessment: Students are assessed on the degree to which they include mythical elements in their stories, the degree to which they collaborate with their partners, and the overall quality of the finished product. Tools This unit depends on the following tools: ¥ Computers equipped with an Internet connection, printers ¥ Ancient Civilizations Web Pack; Aspects Getting Started This unit provides a new way to teach your students about myths through collaborative, creative writing. To successfully carry out a unit like this, you'll need to do the following: ¥ Introduce this unit by helping your students understand why myths were written, comparisons between Greek and Roman myths, and the essential elements in all myths. ¥ Student Research: Allow students to use the Ancient Civilizations Web Pack to find myths to read and study. It has excellent links to both Greek and Roman myths, as well as links to sources about Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. ¥ Finding a Partner: The "How To..." section of this guide gives you tips on where to go to find partners as well as suggestions about setting up a collaborative activity online. ¥ When students are ready to begin writing their own myths, you can use Aspects to faclitate their collaboration. The Chat window in Aspects allows them to meet each other and brainstorm some ideas for their writing. You'll want to practice using Aspects prior to using it with your students. ¥ Publishing: Students will draft their myths online with their partner. The resulting text can be saved and published in your favorite word processor.