Parodies, satires, and modern day adaptation are rich with literary elements. They are valuable assets for teaching students about literature. Through creative writing, students learn to use literary elements in context, committing them to memory.
During a unit on Egypt or Egyptian mythology, you can have students create their own Egyptian god or goddess. They can turn themselves, someone they know, or even a celebrity into a god or goddess. Students will create storyboards depicting their new god or goddess. Some things that must be included are the domain, power, symbol, and weakness.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create your own Egyptian god or goddess, including a story about them.
Student Instructions
Gather students in small groups and encourage creative thinking by having them brainstorm unique god or goddess concepts together. Collaborative discussion helps students spark new ideas and supports those who may feel stuck.
Have students explore actual Egyptian gods and goddesses to inspire their creations. Comparing domains, symbols, and myths gives students a solid foundation and deepens their understanding of mythology.
Demonstrate selecting a domain (like sun, wisdom, or music) and a related power for a sample god. Think aloud about how the domain connects to strengths or magical abilities to make this step concrete for students.
Show images of traditional and modern symbols, and discuss common weaknesses from myths. This helps students add depth and originality to their gods or goddesses.
Offer story starters or graphic organizers to help students outline their god’s backstory. Encourage imaginative details to make each origin story unique and memorable.
Students can create a modern Egyptian god or goddess by choosing a character (themselves, someone they know, or a celebrity), assigning a domain, powers, symbols, and weaknesses, and developing a story about their character's origin or adventures. Using storyboards helps them visually represent their ideas and apply literary elements.
Key elements include the deity's name, domain (area of influence), powers, symbols, and weaknesses. A creative story—such as an origin tale or adventure—should also be included to bring the character to life and demonstrate understanding of mythology.
Modern adaptations help students engage with classic literature, understand literary elements, and foster creativity. By reimagining ancient myths in a contemporary context, students develop critical thinking and make meaningful connections to the curriculum.
Storyboards allow students to visualize their character's traits, powers, and story. Using images and brief text, students can outline key events and characteristics, making the creative process more engaging and helping them organize their ideas clearly.
By inventing a new Egyptian god or goddess and crafting a story, students apply literary elements like characterization, symbolism, plot, and conflict in context, which reinforces understanding and retention through hands-on practice.