Teacher's Guide for DIG TM : 'Fact or Fiction?'
October, 2006
Teachers' Guide prepared by Polly Flaum Zieper, B.S., M.Ed. Mrs. Zieper is
a fifth grade teacher in Weston, Florida.
Objectives: to increase historical perspective, to increase understanding of the role of myths and
legends as literary forms, to improve map skills, reading comprehension, and verbal communication skills
Before reading this issue: Assess the students' understanding of the following terms: warriors,
warfare, obelisk, supernatural, oracle, excavate. Define and discuss where necessary.
'Women Warriors', pp. 6-8
Read the article aloud with the class. Students make a chart on lined
paper, titled, 'Women Warriors:
Fact and Fiction'. They reread the article independently, noting examples
of facts and myths
regarding women warriors, and writing these examples on their charts.
'Fact or Fiction?', p. 9
After reading the article, hold a class discussion. What is a myth? Before
written language, why were
stories made up or exaggerated? Have students give examples of myths
mentioned in the story.
'Where's Atlantis?', pp. 10-11
After reading the article, put students into small groups. Each group
conducts research on the story of
Atlantis, using library and internet resources. Groups can retell the
legend of Atlantis, identify it's
possible location, and discuss any facts about Atlantis they discovered
while researching. The
following web sites may be helpful:
http://www.askforkids.com
http://www.activemind.com/Mysterious/Topics/Atlantis/story.html
http://skepdic.com/atlantis.html
Groups present their research to the class in the form of an oral report.
'Poison Arrows', p. 12-14
1. What does 'biological warfare' mean?
2. How do we know that ancient peoples used biological warfare against
their enemies?
3. How did Hercules finally defeat the Hydra monster?
4. According to ancient myths, what type of weapons did Hercules develop?
5. What lesson did Philoctetes learn about these weapons? What lesson can
modern armies learn
today?
'Cleopatra's Needles', p. 15
Have students read about the 30 Egyptian obelisks still standing today:
http://members.aol.com/Sokamoto31/obelisk.htm
'Mystery At Delphi', pp. 16-21
1. Where is the Delphic Oracle?
2. Name 3 unusual features of the earth that are located at Delphi.
3. The article mentions that an archeologist, a geologist, a chemist and a
toxicologist went to Delphi
to investigate. Explain the jobs each of these professionals holds.
4. Who was Pythia? Was there only one Pythia?
5. What do scientists now believe caused Pythia to speak in a strange code?
'Defending China', pp. 22-23
Have students view a photo of the Great Wall of China:
http://www.photo.net/photo/2000pcd1670/great-wall-34.4.jpg
Lead a class discussion about the Great Wall. What was the purpose of the
wall? What is the wall
used for today? What was it like to build the wall? Do you think that
building walls to protect a
country from its enemies is a good idea? What would be the advantages and
disadvantages of such
a wall?
'The Truth About Crater Lake', pp.26-27
Ask students to separate fact from fiction by making a chart based on the
article:
Crater Lake Facts---Crater Lake Fiction
After reading the article, students record statements in either the fact or
the fiction column. Students
read their entries aloud. Discuss with the students how one can try to
discern fact from fiction.
'Where's the Cat?', pp. 28-29
Discuss with the class: Look at the photo of the sailors of the USS Lehigh.
What do they seem to be
feeling or thinking? Why would the crew of the USS Monitor have brought a
cat aboard their ship?
What purpose would it serve?
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