Native America: Understanding the Past through Things

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 06.04.08

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Rationale
  3. What is a Myth?
  4. Religion and Human Sacrifice
  5. Writing and Literature
  6. Popol Vuh
  7. Brief Look at Inca Civilization 1200-1534 A.D.
  8. Inca Wealth
  9. Inca Human Sacrifice
  10. Inca Writing System—Khipu—Destruction and Impact on Literature
  11. Mythology of the Inca—Common Features
  12. Inca Myth Choice #One—"The Rod of Gold"
  13. Inca Myth Choice #Two—"The Boy Who Rose to the Sky"
  14. Inca Myth Choice #3—"Why the Fox Has a Huge Mouth"
  15. Inca Myth Choice #4—"The Mouse Husband"
  16. Other Tools Used in This Unit
  17. Fun Notes/Activities on This Unit
  18. Classroom Activities
  19. Pennsylvania Academic Standards
  20. Works Cited and Resources for Teachers
  21. Resources for Students
  22. Appendix A

Mythology of the Inca and Maya

Janelle A. Price

Published September 2006

Tools for this Unit:

Inca Myth Choice #3—"Why the Fox Has a Huge Mouth"

This story does not fit the hero's adventure structure, but for two reasons it is important for the unit. The first is to demonstrate that people have always enjoyed humor. The fox is punished for not keeping his word and the reader is left with not only a good story, but several humorous images. Think of the fox with the huaychao or bird's bill stuck on it's face, dancing skunks, and the fox's grin and one cannot help but shake his or her head in amusement. This would be a good story to have students illustrate by making cave paintings. Cave paintings are flat and more simply drawn, which will help alleviate the students' "I can't draw" moans. The exercise will also allow them to visualize before writing about a story.

The second reason the story is important for the unit is that it does not fit the hero's writing structure. The story is an animal tale or fable in the tradition of Aesop's Fables. The animals are personified and the tale teaches a moral lesson. Students need to realize that not all myths and stories will fit the structure. This does not diminish the work. They will find, though, that overwhelmingly most stories will have elements of the journey or the archetypes.

"Why the Fox Has a Huge Mouth" is also a tale of justice, and thus, a good social lesson. The fox does not keep his word and is punished for it. What better way to teach children the lessons of keeping one's word and a sense of honor.

Comments:

Hayden O'rourke

February 28, 2019 at 3:53 am

Inca Children at Work and Play

Dear Yale National Initiative, I wanted to thank you for creating a great lesson on having students use picture analysis skills and background knowledge of children for this activity. I really think the requirements and assessment anchors are well thought out and have a clear goal in the end. My only suggestion is if there is a way to make the images bigger?

Add a Comment

Characters Left: 500

Unit Survey
Feedback