Urban Legends
Objective: This worksheet aims to introduce students to the concept of urban legends, their characteristics, and how they spread, encouraging creative storytelling and critical analysis of narrative elements.
Content and methods: The worksheet begins by having students listen to a voice message (audio content) that refers to an urban legend and asks them how they would respond to it. It then defines urban legends as modern myths often passed off as true, involving supernatural events or eerie figures, and spreading through word of mouth or the internet, evolving over time. An example is provided to illustrate these characteristics. The worksheet lists common characteristics of urban legends, such as spreading through word of mouth, containing a moral lesson, including horror or humor, being presented as true, involving common fears, featuring anonymous sources, and changing over time. Students are then tasked with identifying these features in the story from the initial voice message. The main creative activity involves students working in groups to create their own urban legend, incorporating as many of the listed characteristics as possible, and then presenting it to the class in a convincing and scary manner.
Competencies:
- Listening comprehension and initial critical response
- Understanding and identifying characteristics of urban legends
- Creative writing and storytelling
- Collaborative teamwork
- Oral presentation and persuasive communication skills
Target group: 6th-10th grade
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Target group and level
6th-10th grade
Subjects
Urban Legends
The voice message
Imagine you are listening to the following voice message that a friend has just sent you. How would you respond?
Urban Legends
The story that the voice message refers to is an urban legend. Read the following infobox to learn more about this phenomenon.
Urban Legends: Slenderman
Urban Legends are modern myths that are often passed off as true and frequently involve supernatural events or eerie figures. They spread through word of mouth or the internet and change over time.
Example: The legend of Slenderman is particularly well-known on the internet, especially in forums and social media platforms. It originated in 2009 from a post on the Something Awful forum. The legend describes Slenderman as a tall, faceless figure wearing a black suit, who stalks and abducts children. He is often depicted as having tentacle-like appendages and is said to lurk in forests or abandoned places.
Characteristics of urban legends
Characteristics of Urban Legends
- Spread through word of mouth
- Often contain a moral lesson
- Include elements of horror or humor
- Usually presented as true stories
- Frequently involve common fears and anxieties
- Feature anonymous or unreliable sources
- Change and evolve over time
Tell your own urban legend
Now it’s your turn: Get together in groups of four and come up with your own urban legend. Make sure to include as many features from the infobox as possible. Then present your idea to the rest of the class and try to make the story as convincing and scary as possible – just like a real urban legend!