Learning about the Universe in Kindergarten and Primary School – Through Tales About the Origin of Celestial Bodies

Abstract

A child’s curiosity is directed towards discovering the entire world; however, this desire to know everything can easily be lost if, even in the earliest stages of public education, teachers consistently reveal only isolated details of this mysterious world from a single perspective. This study focuses on celestial bodies, their formation, and their characteristics as reflected in the origin myths of the world’s peoples. The origin myths of celestial bodies combine the realistic and mythical aspects of world explanations, containing elements of fantasy alongside real ones. Anthropomorphic characters make the difficult-to-understand world comprehensible
and thus safe, thereby helping humans find a home on Earth.

The study outlines several origin myths and then documents a storytelling session based on three of them. The sessions aim to offer a variety of activities and draw upon various branches of the arts—not only drama, but also visual arts, music, and dance.