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StorytimeMyths fact sheetTMTeaching ResourcesWHAT IS A MYTH? myth is a story from a long time ago.ASome myths are thousands of years old. In Greek, the word ‘mythos’ means ‘story’. There are myths from every culture in theworld, but the best-known ones are fromAncient Greece, Rome or from the Norsepeople of Northern Europe. ome myths try to explain how theSuniverse or natural world was created.These are called ‘creation myths’ or‘nature myths’. Here are some famous myths we’vefeatured in Storytime magazine: Perseus and Medusa (Greek, Issue 1) Thor’s Stolen Hammer (Norse, Issue 3) yths usually have heroes or heroinesMwho are gods or people with amazingstrength or super powers. The Hero Twins (Mayan, Issue 4) The Midas Touch (Greek, Issue 8) Theseus and the Minotaur he hero or heroine often has to go onTa journey to outwit or do battle with afrightening beast or monster.(Greek, Issue 12) Cupid and Psyche (Roman, Issue 17) Ra’s Secret Name (Egyptian, Issue 22)G ods and monsters are the two mainingredients of many myths.LESSON IDEASLearn about how people lived in Ancient Greece or Rome. What were their homes like?What did they wear and eat? Did children go to school? Write down three fascinating facts. Many old Greek vases have paintings of mythical heroes and beasts on them. Find someexamples and talk about them in class. Can you guess the story from the painting?Create a painting of your favourite myth in the style of a Greek vase.F or more ideas and helpful downloads, read our Create A Myth or Legend Sheet andhave a go at making your own myth using our Hero’s Quest Story Mountain. Also seeour Top 10 Sheets for character inspiration. storytimemagazine.com 2016

Storytimelegends fact sheetTMTeaching ResourcesWHAT IS A LEGEND?L egends are old stories, which have alittle bit of truth in them. They might bebased on a real event, place, personor a true fact from long ago, which gotexaggerated over the years. ome legends are famous all over theSworld – like the legends of King Arthur– but some are only well known in thelocal towns or counties they came from.L ike in myths, legends tell you how ahero or heroine solves a problem orbeats the bad guy. Not all legendshave monsters or beasts in them. Here are some of the famous legendswe’ve featured in Storytime: St George and the Dragon (Issue 2) Mermaid of Zennor (Issue 4) Sir Gawain and the Green KnightT he heroes and heroines in legendsaren’t gods, but they are courageous,strong or clever. Sometimes all three!(Issue 6) Finn MacCool (Issue 7) Robin Hood and the Silver ArrowT here are often magical people or beastsin legends, such as wizards, witches,fairies, giants, mermaids, dragons orknights – these can be bad or good.(Issue 9) Gilgamesh the Great (Issue 11) The Sword in the Stone (Issue 13)LESSON IDEASMaybe there is a local legend near you? Find a legend in your town, city or county andlearn all about it – it could be about a person or a fantastical beast. Write about thelegend and draw a picture too. There are many on the Mysterious Britain olktales/english-folktales.html Chooseyour favourite legend and use our Storytime Storyboard Sheet to turn it intoa comic strip.F or more ideas and helpful downloads, read our Create a Myth or Legend Sheet, andlearn about mythical heroes, gods, monsters and legendary heroes, creatures andbeasts using our Top 10 Sheets. storytimemagazine.com 2016

StorytimeTop 10: Mythical HeroesNameType of MythTMTeaching To kill 12 scary baddies in12 impossible LaboursTheseusGreekTo kill the Minotaur in King He had two fathers: theMinos’s impossible maze – sea-God Poseidon andthe labyrinththe King of Athens3PerseusGreekTo kill Medusa, the snakeheaded gorgonThe gods Zeus, Athenaand Hermes gave himmagical gifts to help him4JasonGreekTo bring back the goldenfleece to King PeliasHe was captain of theArgo and led a crewcalled the Argonauts56BellerephonGreekHe also caught thewinged horse PegasusOdysseusGreekTo kill the Chimera – abeast with three headsTo kill the Cyclops and findhis way home7AtlantaGreekTo kill the enormous anddeadly Caledonian BoarShe was later turned intoa lion by the goddessAphrodite8Romulusand RemusRomanTo get revenge for theirgrandfather and create anew cityThey were abandonedas babies and raised bya she-wolf9XbalanqueMayanand Hunahpu(The HeroTwins)10BeowulfAnglo-SaxonHis first labour was to killthe Nemean LionHe was famous for hiscunning mindTo defeat the lords of theThey later became theunderworld who had killed sun and the moontheir fatherTo kill the monster Grendel He fought three battlesand became a kingLESSON IDEASCan you name any more mythical heroes? What about heroes from your favouritebook or film? Draw a picture of your favourite hero in a superhero costume using ourHeroes and Gods Picture Frame. Canyou think of any real-life heroes? Talk about the role of firemen, lifeguards, policeofficers and doctors. What is their quest? Write a short biography for a mythical hero. Use our Storytime Biography Sheet andChecklist to help you. For more ideas and helpful downloads, read our Create a Mythor Legend Sheet. storytimemagazine.com 2016

StorytimeTop 10: Mythical GODSNameType of MythTMTeaching ResourcesGod or Goddess of Always carries 1Zeus(Jupiter)Greek (Roman) Sky and thunder – themost powerful god of allThunderbolts2Athena(Minerva)Greek (Roman) Wisdom, war and heroesHer shield – with Medusa’shead attached!345Poseidon(Neptune)Greek (Roman) The seaHis tridentCupidRomanLoveHis bow and arrowOdinNorseAll Norse gods, pluswar and poetryHis spear6FreyaNorseLove, beauty and warHer necklace78ThorNorseThunder and lightningHis magic hammerBrideCelticThe springSpring flowers910RamaIndianVirtueHis bowRaEgyptianThe sunHis solar chariotLESSON IDEASDraw a picture of your favourite mythical God in our Heroes and Gods Picture Frame. Do Gods and Goddesses eat and drink the same things as humans? Do they sleep?Do they have to tidy their bedrooms? Write about the day in the life of a mythical Godusing our Storytime Diary Sheet. Which God or Goddess do you think is the most powerful and why? Do a class tallyusing our Top of the Gods Survey Sheet. For one day or one week, change your classname to match the mythical God you voted for. Find out five facts about him or her. Do a mythical Gods investigation. Who was the Goddess of the Rainbow? Who was theGod of the Underworld? Who was the Goddess of Home? Who was the God of the Sun?Can you find out their names and find out more about them? For more ideas and helpful downloads, read our Create a Myth or Legend Sheet orsee our other Top 10 Sheets. storytimemagazine.com 2016

StorytimeTop 10: Mythical MonstersNameType of MythTMTeaching ResourcesWhat is it?Fact1CyclopsGreekOne-eyed giantThe Cyclops were theblacksmiths who madeZeus’s lightning bolts23MinotaurGreekHalf-man, half-bullIt lived in a maze calledthe labyrinthGorgonGreekSnake-headed woman4ChimeraGreekThree-headed beastA single look from agorgon could turn youto stoneIts first head was a goat,its second head was asnake and its third headwas a lion5CerberusGreekThree-headed dog678NemeanGreekHuge lionHydraGreekSea monster with manyheadsThrymNorseThe king of the giants910Jormundgand NorseGiant sea serpentGrendelA monsterAnglo-SaxonIt guarded the gatesof the underworldNot even arrows couldpierce its coatIt could grow back itsheadsHe was a frost giantwho wanted to marrythe Goddess FreyaIt wrapped its bodyaround the whole worldIts mother was afearsome monster tooLESSON IDEASCan you make up your own mythical monster? Use our Roll a Monster and Fold aMonster Sheets to help you. What special power will you give your made-up monster? Can you write a description for one of the monsters above? Describe how it looks, howit smells, how it feels and how it sounds.C an you rewrite a famous myth from the viewpoint of the monster? How did Medusafeel about having snakes on her head and Perseus coming to slay her? How did theMinotaur feel about being trapped in a maze by King Minos? Not all monsters are asmean as you think. For more ideas and helpful downloads, read our Create a Myth or Legend Sheet. storytimemagazine.com 2016

StorytimeTop 10: Legendary HeroesNameType of LegendTMTeaching ResourcesQuestFact1Saint George EuropeanTo slay the dragonHe is the patron saint ofEngland, but was born inTurkey or Israel2Robin HoodBritishTo rob money fromthe rich and give itto the poorHe was a brilliant archer wholived in the woods with hisband of Merry Men3King ArthurArthurianTo defend Englandagainst a SaxoninvasionHe was the only person whocould pull a magical swordfrom a stone4MerlinArthurianTo protect King Arthurfrom his enemies andgive him good adviceIn legend, Merlin createdStonehenge5Sir GalahadArthurianHe was the bravest KnightTo rescue his friendsand find the Holy Grail of the Round Table6FinnIrishTo make the Giant’sCauseway7GilgameshMesopotamian To defeat the monster,8Samson910He ate a special salmon,which gave him all theknowledge in the worldHumbabaIn legend, he was half-human,half-god, but he may havebeen a real kingBibleTo kill a lion and awhole army with ajawboneHe had super strength, butif his hair was cut, he lost allhis powersSinbadArabianTo sail the seas andfight bad guys andmonstersHe fought a magical seastallion, giant birds andsnakesWilliam TellSwissTo save the peopleof Switzerland froma bullying rulerHe was brilliant with acrossbow and could shootan apple from a man’s headLESSON IDEASGo on a legendary quest in your school! Pretend that corridors are rivers, stairs aremountains and other teachers are magical beings who can help you. What is yoursetting? What is the problem? Which fantastical beast do you need to do battle with? Learnthe names of the Knights of the Round Table. Can you design a coat of arms foreach knight? Can you design a coat of arms for your school?I magine you own a Legendary Hero Supplies shop and have a new magical item onsale – the best one ever. Design a poster for it on our Heroes and Gods Picture Frame. storytimemagazine.com 2016