Arts Midwest World Fest

Part 5, Lesson 2: Religions of Mexico - Origin Myths of Native Peoples

Overview:
Students will be introduced to the religions of Mexico through a mini-lesson focusing on the origin myths of native peoples.

Objectives:
Students will read two creation myths deriving from indigenous peoples of Mexico: the Maya-Quiche creation story "The Popol Vuh," and the Nahua (Aztec) "Creation of the Universe." They will compare and contrast the stories with a third creation myth from another area of the world.
Students will gain an appreciation and understanding of origin myths.
Students will examine whether geography has an effect on the origin myths of a culture.

Grade Level:
Elementary through high school

Time Required:
One to two class periods

Materials:
Three origins myths (see links in the resources sections)
Teachers may direct students to the Student Resources Pages where they can follow relevant links without having access to lesson plans.

Procedure:

Divide the class in half and give one half the Maya-Quiche creation story and the other half the Nahua creation story. Either assign the stories the night before or give students time to read the stories in class. Lead both groups through a series of questions designed to focus their attention on the elements of the stories, such as:

Who creates the world in each story?
What is created first?
What existed before the earth was created?
In this way, encourage students to examine the elements of the story and find similarities and differences, which can be charted or noted in a Venn diagram.

Once students have finished comparing the two stories of Mexico, either give them a copy of a third origin myth or let them choose a third origin myth from the Internet or a book of world mythology. (see resources section for links to world myths)

Have students go through the same process with the third myth. Encourage them to look at the elements of the myth for similarities and differences. They could add these to a chart also.

Ask students to consider whether any aspects of geography might have contributed to the creation of the myths. Are there details in the myths that connect each myth to its location? What makes the myth, "The Popol Vuh," uniquely Mayan, for example?

Extensions:
Depending on time and age level, students could write an origin myth of how something came be, such as rainbows, orchids, violins, or geckos.

Students could illustrate one of the origin myths they have read.

Resources:
(Links will open in new windows.)

Origin myths of Mexico's native people
Mythology and Legends of the Nahua People

The Maya-Quiche Genesis
The Popol Vuh

Encyclopedia Mythica is an online encyclopedia of mythology, folklore and legends. It's a great reference for a lesson on myths.

The Minneapolis Institute for the Arts' site on world myths and legends in art. Art can be viewed by culture or theme, such as creation or hero myths.

Hispanic Myths, Legends and Folktales [PDF]. A bibliography of print resources available on Latin American myths.

Mexico

III: MEXICAN CULTURE

Part 5, Lesson 2: Religions of Mexico - Origin Myths of Native Peoples