The Four Natural The Four Natural Elements of LifeElements of Life

EarthEarth, , AirAir, , FireFire, , WaterWater

By: Amanda BurlesonBy: Amanda Burleson

Understanding the Importance Understanding the Importance of the Four Elements of Lifeof the Four Elements of Life

Ancient peoples had a deep connection with fire, Ancient peoples had a deep connection with fire, earth, air, and water.earth, air, and water.

““It is often said that all things including human It is often said that all things including human beings themselves, were created by beings themselves, were created by combining fire, earth, air, and water. So, in a combining fire, earth, air, and water. So, in a very real sense, those elements are related to very real sense, those elements are related to us. Just as we all have four grandparents, and us. Just as we all have four grandparents, and our lives come from their lives, so we might our lives come from their lives, so we might describe fire and earth, water and air as our describe fire and earth, water and air as our four ancestors.”four ancestors.”

--Four AncestorsFour Ancestors/Joseph Bruchac/Joseph Bruchac

Getting a Deeper Getting a Deeper Understanding of the ElementsUnderstanding of the Elements

In order for students to have the In order for students to have the most valuable learning experience most valuable learning experience possible and to be able to possible and to be able to understand the elements included understand the elements included in the folk tales and poems, I want in the folk tales and poems, I want them to find synonyms and the them to find synonyms and the etymologies for each element.etymologies for each element.

Folk talesFolk tales

Fairy TalesFairy Tales Cumulative TalesCumulative Tales MythsMyths Trickster TalesTrickster Tales FablesFables Pour quoi TalesPour quoi Tales LegendsLegends Hero TalesHero Tales

PoetryPoetry

Go Inside PoemGo Inside Poem 2 Haikus2 Haikus Poem for Two VoicesPoem for Two Voices 2 Concrete Poems2 Concrete Poems Animal PoemAnimal Poem Favorite Place PoemFavorite Place Poem(all poems must (all poems must

contain at least one contain at least one of the four elements of the four elements of life)of life)

Web-SitesWeb-Sites http://salemos.tripod.com/index-81.htmlhttp://salemos.tripod.com/index-81.htmlThis web site provides information on all four of the elements of life and the importance of This web site provides information on all four of the elements of life and the importance of

these elements to ancient people.these elements to ancient people. http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/papers/elements.htmlhttp://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/papers/elements.htmlA web site that explains the symbolism of the elements in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels.A web site that explains the symbolism of the elements in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. http://www.mythinglinks.org/ct~FourElements.htmlhttp://www.mythinglinks.org/ct~FourElements.htmlA resourA resourcce for teaching folklore, mythology, and the arts. This web site contains a special e for teaching folklore, mythology, and the arts. This web site contains a special

section for primary and secondary teachers and includes other links to information like section for primary and secondary teachers and includes other links to information like teaching tolerance in conjuteaching tolerance in conjunnction with studction with studyying the beliefs of other cultures.ing the beliefs of other cultures.

http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/AGEDE/Intro.htmlhttp://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/AGEDE/Intro.htmlAnother web site that provides information on the four elements and their importance to Another web site that provides information on the four elements and their importance to

ancient people and their way of life.ancient people and their way of life. http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/RainbowCrow/games.htmhttp://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/RainbowCrow/games.htmA web site that includes activities to go along withA web site that includes activities to go along with Rainbow Crow Rainbow Crow, a folktale about how fire , a folktale about how fire

came into existence.came into existence. http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/sms/pklaene/haiku.htmlhttp://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/sms/pklaene/haiku.htmlA haiku web quest which includes all four elements. This web quest is designed for seventh A haiku web quest which includes all four elements. This web quest is designed for seventh

grade but may be easily adapted to meet the needs of children in grades 3-5.grade but may be easily adapted to meet the needs of children in grades 3-5. http://www.donaldboyes.com/learn-to-read-scripts/battle.htmhttp://www.donaldboyes.com/learn-to-read-scripts/battle.htmThis web site contains a short play about the folktale, This web site contains a short play about the folktale, The Battle of the Wind and the RainThe Battle of the Wind and the Rain.. http://www.storyarts.org/library/aesops/stories/north.htmlhttp://www.storyarts.org/library/aesops/stories/north.htmlA great web site for anyone who is teaching storytelling and folktales. This web site A great web site for anyone who is teaching storytelling and folktales. This web site

contains lesson plans and great links too!contains lesson plans and great links too!