Myth 2. Thor

This Key Stage 2 lesson on the myth of Thor, the Norse god of thunder, offers an exciting blend of storytelling and Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) skills, making it a valuable resource for teaching myth structure, historical perspectives, and critical thinking skills.

Key Features:

• Exploring Thor’s Myth: Pupils are introduced to Thor’s story, focusing on how myths were used to explain natural phenomena. Through the lens of this Norse myth, pupils will understand how people historically explained thunder and lightning before scientific explanations were available.

• Integrated EBL Skills:

  • Collaboration: A partner-based activity prompts pupils to discuss questions about Thor’s myth, promoting teamwork and the ability to articulate ideas.
  • Thinking Skills: The lesson includes higher and lower-order questions, helping pupils analyse the myth and compare it with others, like King Midas, to understand different types of mythological storytelling.
  • Self-Assessment: Pupils are encouraged to review their own written myths explaining why the sky turns dark, assessing both the quality and clarity of their work and identifying areas for improvement.
  • Independent Learning: Individual activities include writing a myth and reflecting on how people once used stories to understand the world around them.

• Creative Writing Task: Pupils are tasked with writing their own myth to explain a natural phenomenon (why the sky turns dark at night), reinforcing their understanding of the myth structure and encouraging creative thinking.

Five-Minute CPD for Teachers: Self-Assessment
Included is a quick CPD activity on self-assessment, supported by educational research on its benefits, such as increased pupil reflection and ownership of learning. Teachers are prompted to reflect on the impact of self-assessment on pupils, with a checklist to guide classroom implementation.

This resource brings together literacy, history, and critical thinking, making it a robust, engaging lesson for KS2 classrooms. It requires minimal preparation and provides pupils with a memorable learning experience that emphasises historical understanding and evidence-based skills.