Review: Week 11

My favorite thing after reviewing this weeks announcements was the clock that helped slow your breathing. I struggle with anxiety and I learned in therapy  a similar trick. I think this not only regulates your breathing, but it can also help calm your mental state as well.

Breath Clock

Wikipedia Trails

For this Wikipedia tail assignment, I first searched catacombs, which I saw on the class twitter page. I learned about how catacombs were passageways for religious use and also burial grounds that are under ground. I then went on to learn about underground cities that are in place as a place for living or a safe refuge under the normal towns or streets. That then took me to underground living, which is where people chose to live underground in caves or built structures. Lastly I found myself at Icelandic turf houses. These I had seen before but never knew they were called this. They are made out of wood or stone and look like the picture below.

Icelandic Turf House

Week 11 Story: The Polar Bear

Story:

                A long time ago there was a group of men that were sent out every year in early April and didn’t come back until late October. These men were sent to fish in a lake up north where there is said to be the best fishing in the land. When they were sent they were told to make sure and come back before the first day of November. If they chose to wait till after that, there will be little to no chance making it back alive. There is said to be a creature that comes and destroys anything and everything in its path. This creature only comes out during winter but is deadly to anything that stands in its way.

                On this year’s trip, there was a young man by the name of Johnathan. He was the youngest of the group but was one of the smartest that the community has ever seen. They made the trip and with little problems they were able to collect thousands of fish to bring back to the community. It was the last couple days of October and Johnathan decided to question why they were letting one creature control their food source and everything they have worked for. He told the other guys that he would be staying behind to try and defeat the creature.

                It was the day his comrades were leaving and he was nervous but very excited to start this journey. He made his way to his new home in a teepee for the rest of the winter. A few days passed and he hadn’t heard anything abnormal. Then one day on his way back from fishing for the day he heard a noise coming from a few hundred yards into the forest. He decided to get into his teepee quickly and stay there the rest of the night.

                In the middle of his deep sleep, he was awoken by a banging on the side of the teepee. He grabbed his weapons and ran outside to see what he could find. He found what looked like a polar bear and was able to shoot the bear and kill him. After realizing that the fear that everyone had faced was dead he gathered up the bear and decided to take it to his community to show them his accomplishment. His community was so excited the elected him the leader. The village was so thankful and was able to fish throughout the whole year without any issues.

Authors Note:

                This story started as an American Indian fairy tale that was told to children for generations. Instead of a polar bear, it was a spirit in the North wind that was the problem. The original story had a man who defeated him by wrestling and the wind didn’t bother them ever again. I wanted to switch it up by making it real life instead of a fairy tale. I think that by doing that the reader could be more interested and relate to it better. 

Bibliography: 

               American Indian Fairy Tales

Image: 

               

                                                Polar Bear

Reading notes: American Indian Fairy Tales: Part B

Reading B:

·         Snowing with no wind.

·         Warm and cheerful in Lagoos teepee.

·         A mouse came in as they were waiting for him to speak.

·         A person went to go and swat at it when someone stopped him.

·         He was told that he was friendly and that he shouldn’t be afraid.

·         He encouraged hunting versus killing an innocent animal.

·         He started a story.

·         People used to eat berries and trees but never animals.

·         The witches were guarding the fire and the wolf and coyote came and stole the fire.

·         The animals seemed to rule the earth because people were not able to eat.

·         There were only a young boy and girl left on the earth.

·         The boy was small and the girl was afraid a bird would grab him if she wasn’t by him.

·         She told him she made him a bow and arrow and she told him to start taking care of himself.

·         Winter was coming and he needed a coat.

·         He missed the birds that he wanted their feathers.

·         He kept practicing.

·         He shot 10 birds and that was enough!

·         She made him the coat out of the feathers.

·         He slept and the feathers started to dry out

·         He made a snare to catch the sun.

·         She cut her hair to let him use.

·         He caught it and it stayed where he put it.

·         The animals were confused since the sun didn’t rise like normal.

·         The dormouse was told to go and release the sun and he went and nibbled the noose.

·         He became ashes

·         He was huge but was down to the size of a mouse because of the burning sensation. 

Bibliography: 

American Indian Fairy Tales

Image: 

Mouse

Reading Notes: American Indian Fairy Tales: Part A

Reading A:

·         Lagoo was wise and old.

·         He knew the secrets of the woods and fields and he also spoke the language of the animals.

·         He lived outdoors.

·         He also knew the stories told to him by his grandfather.

·         The children were all a fan of him.

·         He made necklaces for the girls and bow and arrows for the boys.

·         He would also tell them stories.

·         Winter was the best time for stories.

·         He compared the wind two a person and said you could almost see him.

·         A little girl asked if the wind could hurt them.

·         He told her to have no fear. The fire will frighten him away.

·         Tribe of fishermen in the North.

·         The king of the cold land where no one could live in the winter.

·         The king wished there was snow all year round.

·         He was no match for the south wind.

·         The south wind was always around Summer.

·         Finally, the fishermen had to go south because the north wind was taking over for winter.

·         The men tried to tell their diver that they needed to leave and he laughed at them.

·         He had the idea to cut a hole in the ice and catch fish with a line instead of a net.

·         They were amazed but still didn’t think he could last the cold and encouraged him to come with them.

·         They left him and expected to never see him again.

·         When they were gone he did everything his own way.

·         He was walking home one day when the north wind spotted him.

·         The wind decided he was going to knock his wigwam down and blow out his fire.

·         Instead it made a blanket with the snow and warmed everything up.

·         The north wind became furious.

·         He made it in but was sweating because of the hot fire.

·         Finally, the wind asked him to come outside and wrestle.

·         The man won and the wind ran away.

·         The kids knew not to interrupt Lagoo.

·         A little girl asked him if the mountains were always there.

·         He told her he wondered the same thing.

·         He asked if they knew the story of the big rock.

·         In the time where animals and humans lived together.

·         There was nothing to fear in this area.

·         All the wild animals were free and not caged up.

·         The animals played with them and taught them how to do things including swimming.

·         Some children were swimming for a long time and they got cold and tired and decided to hang out on a rock.

·         They fell asleep.

·         The rock started to grow and raise itself.

·         Their family was searching for them and couldn’t find them.

·         They asked the coyote and he offered to help.

·         He smelt them and told them they were on the rock.

·         No animal could help as of now because they couldn’t climb the rock.

·         A worm asked if they could climb and try.

·         The worm was able to make it and wake the kids up after a whole month.

·         He helped them get down.

·         Hunter with ten beautiful daughters.

·         Many men came to court them.

·         9 were soon married and only one was left.

·         The best was last.

·         She had a spirit of her own.

·         No one was good enough.

·         She said even though they were all handsome she wanted what was inside to count more.

·         She finally met a poor ugly man and she married him.

·         He was a poet.

·         He was the son of the king of the evening star.

·         He grew beautiful and strong and youthful all while his wife was turning old and wrinkly.

·         He told her how much he loved her and how that would not change.

·         Her sisters grew jealous of her new good-looking husband.

·         All of the people that made fun of him were turned into birds and out in a cage for him to keep. 

Bibliography:

American Indian Fairy Tales

Image: 

Fire