For Educators: Mythic Creatures
For thousands of years, fantastical creatures have been embedded in the human experience through legends and fables, ancient art, and even in the accounts of early naturalists. Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids includes spectacular sculptures, paintings, and textiles, along with a number of cultural objects ranging from medieval tapestries to shadow puppets to ceremonial masks and helmets from around the world which brings to light surprising similarities as well as differences in the ways peoples around the world have envisioned and depicted these strange and wonderful creatures.
Educators Guide and Materials
Downloads
More Resources for Educators
Use these free online resources to further explore themes presented in the Mythic Creatures exhibition.
Article
Science World: Mythical Creatures Revealed
From fire-breathing dragons to magical unicorns, take a look at four legendary mythical creatures. Then find out what scientists think may have sparked belief in these imaginary animals.
Article
SuperScience: Mythical Creatures Revealed
For centuries, people around the world have told stories about dragons, unicorns, and mermaids. See what may have inspired people to believe in these legends.
Activity
Early Explorers & Mistaken Identities
Setting sail without a map wasn't the only concern facing European explorers. Their heads had also been filled with tales of monsters lurking in the oceans' depths.
Activity
Investigate Mysterious Creatures
The elusive giant squid was first described 500 years ago by Scandinavian sailors. Investigate what we've learned--and what still remains unknown--about this mysterious deep-ocean creature.
Activity
Who Owns These Bones?
What can scientists know about a creature by examining its bones? And what can they only guess at? Show students with this hands-on activity.
Activity
Mermaid Migration
Follow mermaids around the world and throughout history to see first-hand how cultures share and reinterpret mythic creatures.
Activity
Mythic Mystery Map
Does a dragon always breathe fire? Can a unicorn have colorful, shiny scales? Find out how well you know your mythic creatures with this map challenge.
Activity
Make Your Own Mythic Creatures Stationery
Showcase the fire of your opinions or let your imagination take flight with these colorful, ready-to-print stationery files.
Reference List
Mythic Creatures Online Resources
Continue tracking mythic creatures through the art they've inspired and the science they've helped shape with this collection of related Web sites.
Reference List
Mythic Creatures Booklist: Middle & High School
Unicorns and dragons and Sasquatch, oh my! Continue the investigation of fantastic creatures with this mythological menagerie of books.