Lesson Purpose
Origin stories are the emphasis of this lesson. Big History focuses on the modern, scientific origin story of how the world got to be the way it is. Even though this particular origin story is the start of Big History, it's important to recognise that many different types of origin stories exist. Some are thousands of years old and some are newer. They come from varying cultures and religions, but one theme runs through all of them: It seems that all humans are interested in understanding their origin to some degree. In this lesson, you'll first use Universe Verse to introduce yourselves to the modern, scientific origin story of the Big Bang. Then, your class will investigate a variety of origin stories in groups. You'll also read about different origin stories and take part in two of our recurring Big History activities - the DQ Notebook and vocabulary. The lesson will end with students thinking more deeply about their personal origin stories.
The outcomes of this lesson are: 1.) To define the key course theme of origin stories; 2.) To explain the features of origin stories that Big History shares with traditional origin stories.
The outcomes of this lesson are: 1.) To define the key course theme of origin stories; 2.) To explain the features of origin stories that Big History shares with traditional origin stories.
Activity 1 - BANG! The Universe Verse Book 1
Activity Objectives
Universe Verse is an easy-to-read book. It’s a light way to think about the modern, scientific origin story. Also, it’s a great preview of the Big Bang. It’s easygoing and provides a gentle way into the heavier science that’s coming. Activity Tasks
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Activity 2 - Big Questions H2
Activity Objectives
This video is a very quick introduction to the idea that in Big History one of the most important things we do is ask big questions. The video discusses some of those kinds of questions, as well as how we might begin to answer them. Activity Tasks
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Activity 3 - Origin Stories Introduction
Activity Objectives
This activity has two purposes: First, you’ll start to become familiar with a very deliberate reading process that you’ll use throughout the Big History course. This will not only help you understand the readings for this course, but the skills you learn will also transfer to other classes. Second, you will become familiar with the idea of an origin story. Cultures around the world have their own origin stories, ways in which they believe and describe how the Universe came to be. It’s important that you understand that all origin stories should be respected, as they often relate to people’s cultures and beliefs. Big History is another one of these origin stories. Specifically, it is what many consider a modern, scientific origin story. Activity Tasks
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Activity 4 - Origin Stories Group Work
Activity Objectives
These origin stories are important for a number of reasons: They’re entertaining, instructive, and also useful, because they help us better understand the kinds of questions that origin stories answer and the motivations of humans in asking these types of questions. Activity Tasks
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Activity 5 - Cosmology and Faith
Activity Objectives
The content in this article offers you a chance to think about the philosophical and moral implications behind having various origin stories in our lives, and how we might think about the conflicts that arise from having different stories. It also helps you consider if and how we might reconcile those differences. Activity Tasks
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Activity 6 - The Driving Questions (DQ) Notebook
Activity Objectives
All lessons and units will end with some sort of assessment activity. These will usually be informative assessments that give you a sense of your current understanding of the course. In some instances, there will also be more formal, traditional summative assessments. The purpose of this particular assessment activity is so you revisit the driving question for the unit. Now that you have learned more about scale, you should revise your thinking and have a more in-depth response to this question. Make sure you use the new information that they have gained to support your answers. Activity Tasks
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Challenge Yourself! - Optional Activities
1. Just about any superhero movie you've seen is an origin story in disguise. How did Bruce Wayne become Batman? What put the spider in Spiderman?
2. Learn the origin story about how Bruce Wayne turned into Batman.
3. Test your knowledge of today's lesson with the short multiple-choice quiz below:
2. Learn the origin story about how Bruce Wayne turned into Batman.
3. Test your knowledge of today's lesson with the short multiple-choice quiz below: