Objective: 

Students will analyze how modern fiction draws on themes from myths and traditional stories and create their own written remix of a myth. They will also compare the tradeoffs associated with different Creative Commons licenses to determine how they want their remix to be shared and reused by others, considering the balance between protecting their creative rights and fostering innovation.

Materials Needed: 

• Copies of a myth or traditional story 

• Writing materials

• Comparison chart of Creative Commons licenses

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Students discuss how modern fiction often reuses and reinterprets themes, characters, or plot structures from traditional stories and myths, similar to how coders reuse and remix existing code. 

  • Explain how Creative Commons licenses allow creators to protect their work while giving others the ability to remix or reuse it. 

  • Introduce different types of licenses (e.g., allowing modification or restricting commercial use) and explain their tradeoffs.

• Group Activity: 

  • In pairs, students will read a traditional myth and then brainstorm how they might remix it into a modern story by changing key elements (such as setting, character motivations, or ending). 

  • After creating their written remixes, students will discuss how they would want others to use their creations. 

  • Each pair will review a comparison chart of Creative Commons licenses and choose one for their story, explaining their reasoning.

• Reflection and Discussion: 

  • Students will share their remixed stories and the licenses they chose. 

  • Lead a discussion on how licensing decisions can impact creativity and collaboration, and what tradeoffs they considered when choosing how to protect their work while allowing others to build on it.

Equity and Access: 

Provide a clear chart or guide explaining the different Creative Commons licenses for students to reference when choosing their license.

Real-World Application: 

Discuss how licensing decisions affect creators in various fields, from software developers to artists, and how different licenses foster innovation while respecting creators' rights.

CS Practice(s): 

• Foster an Inclusive Computing Culture: Students consider the societal impact and ethical considerations of different Creative Commons licenses on how their remixed stories can be shared and reused, balancing protection of creators’ work with the ability for others to remix and innovate.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS ELA-Literacy W.8.a

• CA CS 6-8.IC.20

• CA CS 6-8.IC.23

Objective: 

Students will analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths or traditional stories. They will use a block coding platform (Scratch, App Lab, etc.) to create an interactive project that visually compares the original myth with its modern adaptation, highlighting how the material is made new. Students will remix existing code from other groups’ programs to enhance the visual and interactive elements of their comparison. Students provide attribution for the source of their remixed code.

Materials Needed: 

Computers or tablets 

Copies of a modern work of fiction and the myth or traditional story it draws from

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Students discuss how modern fiction often borrows themes, characters, or events from traditional stories or myths, and reinterprets them to create something new. 

  • Introduce the idea of remixing, both in literature and in programming, where existing material is reused and transformed. 

  • Explain that students will use a coding platform to create an interactive comparison between a myth and a modern story, and will be able to remix code from other groups’ programs to improve their own program.

• Creating the Interactive Comparison: 

  • In pairs, students will read a myth or traditional story alongside a modern work of fiction that draws from it (e.g., a novel that reimagines a Greek myth). 

  • They will identify key themes or character types shared by both works and then use a coding platform to create an interactive project that compares these elements. 

  • For example, they might code a side-by-side comparison of a hero’s journey in both texts, using interactive buttons to highlight how certain plot points or themes are reinterpreted. 

  • Students will remix existing code to add animations or clickable elements that showcase their analysis. 

  • Students have been learning about Creative Commons licenses and are sure to provide attribution for the source of their remixed code.

• Testing and Refining: 

  • After building their interactive comparisons, students will test their projects to ensure that the connections between the modern work and the myth are clearly presented. 

  • They will refine their code, making sure the interactive features function smoothly and effectively convey how the modern story reinterprets traditional themes or characters.

Equity and Access: 

Provide pre-built coding templates with comparison structures for students to build upon and modify.

Real-World Application: 

Discuss how creators across all fields—literature, film, art, and technology—remix existing ideas to make new works, showing that innovation often builds on the past.

CS Practice(s): 

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students remix existing code to create interactive visual comparisons, demonstrating how modern fiction reinterprets traditional themes from myths.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS for ELA-Literacy W.8.a

• CA CS 6-8.AP.16

• CA CS 6-8.IC.23