Dreamtime+Stories

1. Identify a specific location on the Earth. It should be a natural place – not a building or a bridge or anything man made. Write a brief description of that place. What do you see? What do you smell? What other landforms are around it? Is it unique or look like other places? 2. Skip some space. Brainstorm ways in which that place came to be. Think creatively not literally. Come up with at least 10 different possibilities. 3. Now, skip some more space. Using your best fourth grade imagination and your most experienced and reflective ninth grade mind list at least 6 ideas for characters. You’ll probably need to think of at least on that has the supernatural power to create. Consider what kind of traits these characters have and maybe even write a brief character sketch of each. You need to get to know them a bit, so be sure to include things like their favorite foods, their powers, where they came from, names, what they look like and definitely how they act and interact. 4. Okay, skip some space again. Now, what’s the problem? Yeah, you actually need to have a problem. Look back at those Dreamtime stories that you read. Find where at least one of the characters faced a problem or had to deal with a conflict. Identify a conflict or problem. Remember, your conflict or problem should be universal and timeless (food, getting along, etc). In resolving the conflict, your characters should illustrate a proper relationship or fundamental law that the culture requires for continued existence. 5. Yep, time to skip space again. Now its time to get started with the big picture for real. You have your characters, your setting, your selected natural spot and your problem that your characters will face. Write a quick story map or plan of how these things all fit together. Remember, after you have introduced your characters to the natural spot and the problem/conflict that they will face relating to the creation of that spot you need to help them solve that issue. Be sure to in someway resolve the problem/conflict in a way that seems both ordinary and powerful. (Write the solution down somewhere, just so you can’t forget it) Remember that these stories were told not read. Think about how people are and how they talk and listen. Should you use huge words? Are your details helping to create useful images or is there extra baggage hanging on for the ride? How does your story reflect the values of the Aboriginal people? Is it true to your own ideas? Dreamtime Story Rubric || 1-2 3-4 5 || I Did Something I turned in something and it was not complete. ||  Acceptable, Nothing More. I have demonstrated either: -little to no planning using the steps provided on my planning sheet or -a planning sheet with ideas and decisions that are not consistent with my Dreamtime story || I Wowed Them! It is clear that I used the step-by-step planning guide to plan my Dreamtime story. I have attached my planning sheet and my final product reflects the decisions that I made during planning. || ||  I Did Something I had a story. It seemed to have lost its truth or moral. ||  Acceptable, Nothing More. There seems to be a truth or moral somewhere in or around my Dreamtime story. However, it is not clear that the characters, their problem or solution helped to illustrate this truth or moral. ||  I Wowed Them! My Dreamtime story includes an important lesson or truth. Through the problem or the solution the characters reveal an important truth that is necessary for life and community. || ||  I Did Something I have a story. It has a character. ||  Acceptable, Nothing More. I either: -have less that 2 characters or -failed to develop one or more of my characters into something that is interesting and represents human qualities or values. ||  I Wowed Them! There are at least 2 characters included in my Dreamtime story. Both of the characters are interesting and represent human qualities or values. || ||  I Did Something I have a story. It has some land in it. ||  Acceptable, Nothing More. My story attempts to show the Aborigines' relationship with the land but I have left some ends untied or have not included all the details my reader needed to have to understand completely. ||  I Wowed Them! My Dreamtime story clearly illustrates the Australian Aborigines appreciation of and relationship with the land. I have described at least one important landform and explained how that place came to be. || ||  I Did Something I have a story. I should have self edited and had a peer look at it. ||  Acceptable, Nothing More. Self and peer editing caught my main content, spelling and grammar errors but there remain enough that my reader is distracted. 7-8 issues remain. ||  I Wowed Them! My Dreamtime story has been self and peer edited so that my reader is not burdened by content, spelling or grammar errors. No more than 3-4 issues can be found in the writing. || ||  I Did Something I have a story. I didn't know there were length requirements and it shows. ||  Acceptable, Nothing More. My story is either: -more than 50 words short or -more than 50 words over the limit || I Wowed Them! I have adhered to the length requirements. My Dreamtime story is between 150 and 300 words. || ||
 * Aboriginal Dreamtime Story Assignment **
 * On a document to be turned in with your final product, go through the following steps. **
 * **Important, go back and read over your ideas for step #2. The method or means of the creation (step #2) of that landmark you identified in step #1 should be the problem/conflict faced or the solution used by your characters. **
 * **Go back and check on Step #2- your problem or solution should be the method or means by which that landform identified in Step #1 was created. **
 * // Important thoughts to keep in your mind… //**
 * **Remember, Aboriginal Dreamtime stories reflect a central idea that events and or the metaphysical beings involved in these events leave certain “symbolic footprints” on the places at which they occur. Your story must reflect this idea. **
 * Step-by-step planning **  ||
 * Step-by-step planning **  ||
 * Truth or Moral **  ||
 * Truth or Moral **  ||
 * Characters **  ||
 * Characters **  ||
 * Relationship with the Land **  ||
 * Relationship with the Land **  ||
 * Polish **  ||
 * Polish **  ||
 * Length **  ||
 * Length **  ||