Create Your Own PlanetCreate Your Own Planet

You’re on it half the time anyway You’re on it half the time anyway

What is expected of youWhat is expected of you

Students in groups of two or three, are Students in groups of two or three, are required to create their own alien civilization. required to create their own alien civilization. You must include information on your You must include information on your societies demographics, history and culture. societies demographics, history and culture.

I will give you a picture of your planet for you I will give you a picture of your planet for you to use in this project.to use in this project.

This plan will involve poetry, essays, myths, This plan will involve poetry, essays, myths, heroes, predicting outcomes, comparison and heroes, predicting outcomes, comparison and contrast, and persuasive writing.contrast, and persuasive writing.

Layout of your projectLayout of your project Day One and Two – We will look over Day One and Two – We will look over

and choose the planet best suited for and choose the planet best suited for your project. First we need to think your project. First we need to think about what an “alien concept” is.about what an “alien concept” is.

In groups you need to discuss and In groups you need to discuss and invent a distinctive, new alien race. I invent a distinctive, new alien race. I will give you a handout to help guide will give you a handout to help guide you in this process. There are many you in this process. There are many things you need to think about in this things you need to think about in this process…process…

Continued…Continued…

Provide a complete physical description of Provide a complete physical description of your invented species. Pay close attention your invented species. Pay close attention to detail in how they look. It should also to detail in how they look. It should also include personality traits that makes them include personality traits that makes them different from humans. different from humans.

Next, create a history for your species. Next, create a history for your species. Think long term for this and about such Think long term for this and about such things as cities, towns, the way they live things as cities, towns, the way they live (what houses look like) government, family (what houses look like) government, family structure etc. structure etc.

Continued…Continued…

Please note – Your race does not have the Please note – Your race does not have the ability for space travel, as well as limited ability for space travel, as well as limited military strength and cannot wipe out a military strength and cannot wipe out a civilization. How they travel and what their civilization. How they travel and what their weapons are is up to you. weapons are is up to you.

Next, create a system of beliefs for your race Next, create a system of beliefs for your race and it’s culture. Try to base these beliefs on and it’s culture. Try to base these beliefs on alien culture, using mythology. Describe any alien culture, using mythology. Describe any methods of worship they may use. methods of worship they may use.

Continued… Continued…

Make sure you have a name for your Make sure you have a name for your “alien people.” Refer to the handout with “alien people.” Refer to the handout with the example on it for any questions, and the example on it for any questions, and feel free to talk to me. However, try to feel free to talk to me. However, try to keep your “world” away from others in the keep your “world” away from others in the room as these will be presented and we room as these will be presented and we want everything to be original.want everything to be original.

Day Three – Myths of OriginDay Three – Myths of Origin Myths of Origin is a story of how your Myths of Origin is a story of how your

planet was created. There is usually an planet was created. There is usually an archetypal hero – archetypal hero –

Unusual circumstances of birth; sometimes in danger or born into royalty

Leaves family or land and lives with others

An event, sometimes traumatic, leads to adventure or quest

Hero has a special weapon only he can wield

Hero always has supernatural help The Hero must prove himself many times while on

adventure The Journey and the Unhealable Wound

Hero experiences atonement with the father When the hero dies, he is rewarded spiritually

Continued…Continued…

I will read aloud a few examples of I will read aloud a few examples of creation myths from the internet. You will creation myths from the internet. You will also be provided with an example of what also be provided with an example of what these myths are to look like. these myths are to look like.

http://library.thinkquest.org/11606/http://library.thinkquest.org/11606/Sindex.htmlSindex.html

Day Four – Heroes and MythsDay Four – Heroes and Myths

Please note that the myth of origin does not Please note that the myth of origin does not necessarily have to be how the planet necessarily have to be how the planet itself. The myth could be the tale of how itself. The myth could be the tale of how certain tribes came to be on your planet, certain tribes came to be on your planet, or how the first food was created. A myth or how the first food was created. A myth of origin is just that… the story of how of origin is just that… the story of how SOMETHING was created. However, you SOMETHING was created. However, you are required to have an archetypal hero for are required to have an archetypal hero for your planet is some way. your planet is some way.