What you need:
Several short myths from different cultures (Preferably Greek, Roman and Norse, as per California Language Arts standards, but you can expand upon that)
The Activity:
Have your students read aloud a series of myths from different cultures, then discuss some of the hallmarks that make these myths unique. Ask the question: how might you identify which culture a particular myth came from? What makes it stereotypical of that culture?
Once you’ve hashed out the identifying factors, have your students write their own myths using certain hallmarks– and then have the other students try to identify which culture it might have fit with. Explain the similarities between this and writing within a genre. Discuss hallmarks within genres (space ships and science fiction, magic and fantasy, etc.)
