What makes a myth, a myth?

I've scrapped the storytelling activity. My reasons?
-not all of you are willing to share your stories
-some of you claim you don't have stories
-and it might get hard to get at the deeper meanings of some

So, let's move on: What makes a myth, a myth? We already know that they hold cultural importance, but are there similarities about the characteristics and purposes of myths that can help us identify a myth when we come across one?

You will read a short myth in class today. But there's a twist. Not everyone is reading the same myth. You will compare your notes of your myth with a group who took notes on the other myth. YOUR MISSION: To find similarities and come up with a list of characteristics and purposes that you think all myths might have have in common.

Step One: Read the myth (read it again, if your group members haven't finished yet)

Step Two: Work together to record notes on an index card (see the board)

Step Three: Make sure one group member copies notes from the card to their journal.

Step Four: You will trade cards with another group (a group who read a different myth).

Step Five: Make a list of common characteristics/purposes

Step 6: Make an inference: What do all myths have in common: uses? and characteristics?