Literature Extension: Creation Myths
Goal
Learners will hear stories about the world starting from darkness or emptiness (an abyss), imagine their own story, and compare this to how the Big Bang also begins with “nothing” and then creates everything.
1. What Is a Creation Story?
“A long time ago, people told stories to explain how the world began. These are called creation stories. Can you think of how the world started?”
2. Read a Generic Example of an Abyss Tale
“A long time ago, there was only dark water everywhere. No land, no animals, no people — just water and darkness. Then, a little light appeared, and the earth and sky began.”
3. Talk About the Story
Ask: “What was there at the start?” (darkness, nothing)Say: In these stories, the world began from emptiness or darkness, sometimes called an abyss.
4. Read Together Two Simple Creation Myths
Suggested (but could be substituted for any other creation myths)
- Gaia: Goddess of the Earth
- Pangu Separates the Sky from the Earth: A Chinese Creation Myth by Anita Yasuda
A long time ago, scientists tell us the world began with a big event called the Big Bang. At first, there was nothing — just emptiness, like a dark, empty space. Then, BOOM! Everything started—light, stars, planets, and eventually our Earth and us!How is this like the creation myths you’ve heard?
6. Imagination Time: What Would You See?
Ask learners to close their eyes and imagine a big dark space with nothing in it. Then imagine something coming out — like light, stars, or land. Discuss or draw their ideas.
7. Make Your Own Beginning Story
Help kids create a short story about how the world started from darkness or emptiness.“What was the dark place like? What came out of it? What did the world look like?”They don’t need to physically write the story down, but might enjoy if you wrote it down for them so that others could read it (and feel free to share it in the discussion!)
8. Closing
Say: “People long ago told stories about how the world began from the dark and empty abyss. Scientists tell us what we know about the beginning of the universe — the Big Bang — it starts with nothing and creates everything we see! All these stories help us wonder about how special the world is.”