Activity: Myth Busting!

What is a myth? A myth is a story that people tell about what happened in the past. Myths are not historical facts; they are popular fictions. Myths are stories that become beliefs because they get passed down through generations. They have great staying power because they embody the ideals and values of that society. In the case of national myths, they are usually inspiring stories about a country’s past that become important national symbols or representations. Myths shape a country’s representation of itself and its history, whether that be in monuments, museums, history textbooks, or popular media.

How can one tell if something is a historical fact or a historical myth? Being able to separate fact from fiction is an important skill to have. Being a good historian means comparing multiple sources of information to try and piece together historical evidence about what happened in the past. Evidence from the past isn’t neutral. Often, the evidence was made by someone in the past who had a particular point of view. Understanding that people’s perspectives are shaped by who they are is also an important consideration when looking at primary sources.

1. Compare different accounts of one historical event from a myth-busting standpoint. Do you think these are myths? Why or why not. Use one of the examples listed below or find your own.
   • The “Discovery” and “Founding” of America
   • The First Thanksgiving
   • The Self-Made Man and the American Dream
2. Develop a list of primary sources and other ways to gather evidence about the myths. You might look at written documents and should also consider artworks, objects, oral histories, and beyond.
   • For a framework to support exploring truth claims from different perspectives, check out “True for Who?” a thinking routine developed as part of the Visible Thinking project at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
3. As students investigate the above topics, pose the following questions:
   • Where did you learn about this or first hear it?
   • What purpose might it serve?
   • Where or how is this myth reinforced?
   • When did it start? What was the political, social, or economic climate like at the time?
   • What facts, statistics, or experiences might contradict this myth?
   • How does this myth affect different groups of people?
   • What are the implications of this myth continuing?