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We are surrounded by normalcy. We have our normal lives, normal activities, and normal relationships. Even though we can't always explain exactly what "normal" means, we usually take for granted that our lives will be normal and thus, accompanied by safety and stability. Until...
The light darkens....
The night cools...
Something
Something
Something
Rises......
BUH - BUH - BUHHHHHHHH....A MONSTER!!!!!
Guiding Questions
What are monsters?
What is normal?
How do monsters challenge normalcy?
What qualities do monsters have?
How have humans created monsters through history and the arts?
Why do monsters appeal to us?
The Process:
- Students will learn about what monsters are, categories of different monsters, and what monsters can represent.
- Students will create a monster using the qualities and characteristics of monsters from different cultures, media, and time periods.
- Students will choose a topic of interest for monsters and develop a substantial project idea. The student will create questions to guide their work and document their process.
- Students will work alone or with a partner, document their process, and present their work.
Topics related to monsters (courtesy 21stcenturyschools.org):
- The "monster" through history
- Civilization, monsters, and the monstrous
- Children, childhood, stories and monsters
- Comedy: funny monsters and/or making fun of monsters (e.g. Monsters Inc, the Addams Family)
- Making monsters; monstrous origin stories
- Mutants and mutations
- Technologies of the monstrous
- Fear and scare
- Iconography of the monstrous
- The popularity of modern monsters: the mummy, Frankenstein, Dracula/vampires, Zombies
- The monster in media (television, cinema, radio)
- The monster in literature
Monsters in legend
Behemoth
Cerberus
Charybdis
Chimera
Cyclops
Dragon
Hydra
Jinn
Kelpie
Leviathan
Gorgons
Midgard Serpent
Minotaur
Scylla
Troll
Beast of Gévaudan
Bishop-fish
Canvey Island Monster
Cryptozoology
Demon
Fouke Monster
Freak
Ghoul
Homo monstosus
Kaiju
Lake monster
Legendary creature
Movie Monsters
Fantasy Fiction Monsters
Mutant
Mythological hybrid
Ogre
Orc
Sea monster
Swamp monster
Tarasque
Yōkai
Web Sites:
Monsters - web site created by Dr. Michael A. Delahoyde of Washington State University. Here you will find many resources organized into categories such as General Resources, Early Monsters, Classic Monsters, Animals and Insects, and Other Monstrosities.
Strangescience.com - links with info on dinosaurs, monsters, sea monsters, dragons, and more.
Stone age man's terrors still stalk modern nightmares - did you know that werewolves and vampires are as old as art? Article from The Observer, UK.
Monsters and Imaginary Beasts through all cultures and through time.
Monster Quest on the History Channel
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