2.2 Reading Projects-Unit 2

Overview

Consider again the question posed at the beginning of this unit: So, what experiences have shaped who you are and how you interact with nature?

For your reading project for this unit, choose ONE of the following choices and click on the related page in this book to get more details:

A. Choose a local issue pertaining to nature and the protection of it. It can be with regards to the land or wildlife. Write a letter urging your local government to take action on the issue.

B.  Write a creation myth that relates to your city.

C. Create a photo album containing pictures of you enjoying nature and/or pictures that represent your feelings towards nature. Perhaps you were on a hike, bike ride, got a photo of a wild animal or a fantastic scenery. Include a well written paragraph with insight as to why you chose the picture you included in your album. You can use the paragraph you wrote as part of your learning guide for activity 2.6 as a starting point.

Choice 1: Letter

Choose a local issue pertaining to nature and the protection of it. It can be with regards to the land or wildlife. Write a letter urging your local government to take action on the issue. You will need to do some research first. Try a local newspaper's website to start with or do a search that includes the name of your province or town or area + words like nature trust conservancy or environmental issues. 

Organization: Your letter or email  should include a greeting, 2-3 paragraphs and a closing.

Content: Explain briefly why you are writing, include two specific examples (direct quote or description) from your choice. Share something about yourself.

Conventions: Use proper punctuation and sentences.

Choice 2: Creation Myth

Write a creation myth that relates to your city.

Creation myths are not just stories where something gets created; they are explanations of

• how life came to exist,
• how the world was formed.

There are a lot of components that go into an interesting myth:

• the cosmogony (the process of how the world was actually created),
• the characters involved, how they interact with each other,
• the environment

We can all admit that some of the myths sound pretty strange and outrageous, but that’s okay. After all, explaining how life is created is not easy.

In this assignment you will be a creator and you will be creating your own myth: a creation myth. It’s your turn to describe how your city came into existence. You can create the myth in any way you like, but try to remember some of the traditional elements of a creation myth. Will there be good and evil? Will there be action? Will it be “real,” or outrageous? Do you have a cosmological plan? Will you create just the world, or will you add creatures? And don’t cheat and say that aliens dropped us here;

Content: Is original and creative, not a regurgitation of a myth that already exists. Includes evidence of the connection to your city. Be sure to include a title.

Organization: 1 page typed, double-spaced. Is an organized piece of writing, does not jump around.

Conventions: Proper punctuation and sentences.

Choice 3: Photo Album

Create a photo album containing pictures of you enjoying nature and/or pictures that represent your feelings towards nature. Perhaps you were on a hike, bike ride, got a photo of a wild animal or a fantastic scenery. Include well written 2-3 paragraphs with insight as to why you chose the picture you included in your album. You can use the paragraph you wrote as part of your learning guide for activity 2.6 as a starting point.

Content: 5-10 pictures with the theme of nature in a creative presentation and 2-3 paragraphs.

Organization: Paragraphs need topic sentences, 2-3 supporting sentences and conclusions. Pictures are creatively formatted as an original creation ie. don't just cut and paste from the internet.

Conventions: Proper punctuation and sentences.