Ashleigh Saulmon
English 8-4
2/25/09
The Supernatural Worksheet
THE SUPERNATURAL
Aim: What is the Supernatural?
Learning objective: To use critical thinking in explaining the concept of the
supernatural
Many people talk about the supernatural world or supernatural events. We have prepared
a chart with some situations. Read each story and decide whether this event is natural or
supernatural, based on your experience. Use the right column of the chart to write the
reasons that support your opinion
Situation
Natural or
Why?
supernatural?
1. Your best friend was absent from
school yesterday. Today she came
back with a cast leg. She said she had Natural
a car accident, but she can't
remember anything.
Anyone can get in a car
crash. It can happen to
anyone at any time.
2. This little kid is followed by a
gang of classmates determined this
time to catch him and beat him up
well. The kid jumps some trash cans
in the school yard. The others corner
Supernatural
him. There's no escape. He jumps
again and all of a sudden he realizes
that he is on the rooftop. He later gets
reprimanded by the principal for
walking on the school roof.
A little kid can’t jump from
the ground to the rooftop of
a school building without
the help of a divine power.
3. In my dream grandmother told me
that 2,6, and 7 are my lucky numbers.
Natural
I played the lottery the next day and I
won 5,000 dollars!
This can happen to anyone.
Many people see things in
dreams.
4. The leader saw the enemy
approaching. His own people were
weary and discouraged. They
wouldn't last a minute the emperor's
disciplined and well-armed troops.
Supernatural
Just in front of him the sea was calm,
deep, and endless. It prevented any
escape from death and captivity. But
he knew what to do. He stroke the
No one can split the ocean
waters unless they are
helped by a strong, divine
power.
Ashleigh Saulmon
English 8-4
2/25/09
The Supernatural Worksheet
land with his cane and all of a sudden
the waters departed. There was now a
path in the middle of the sea where
his people could walk away from
danger.
5. His great-great-grandfather at the
beginning of time was the prairie
buffalo, the one that gives his tribe
strength and courage to battle
enemies and storms. Every Indian
knows this fundamental fact and
respects the buffalo and all living
animals.
Supernatural
This is an Indian belief,
and most of their beliefs are
supernatural.
Give examples of a natural event and another example of a supernatural event. What
about an event you are not sure of? Use your own life and experience. Write at least an
event and be prepared to motivate why you placed that event in one of these three
categories.
Natural event
Supernatural event
You are not sure?
Short description:
Short description:
When I was in 4th grade we
had to conduct and create a
About two years ago, my
science fair project which we
grandpa died from drowning
could enter into the science
in the creek beside his house.
fair. Since, I forgot to tell my
He was going down to the
parents about the science fair
creek to empty the ashes from
when only had about two
his fireplace, but when he lost
weeks to complete my
his footing he fell right into
project. Surprisingly, my
the freezing cold water.
project ended up winning first
place.
Rationale:
Rationale:
Short description:
When I lost my cell phone, I
asked my grandma were it could
be. She said that something was
telling her it was in my mom’s
car. Later, when I went to look
for it in my mom’s car, it was
exactly were she said it would be.
Rationale:
I believe this circumstance in
I believe this circumstance is
I don’t know if it was a
my life was supernatural
natural because this could
coincidence
that my grandma
because I don’t think my
Ashleigh Saulmon
English 8-4
2/25/09
The Supernatural Worksheet
have happened to anyone.
project was that great.
knew exactly where my phone
was, but it was almost like
someone unseen had told her.
Aim: How Do Some People Explain the Supernatural?
There are numerous ways of explaining the supernatural. Let us present one of them.
There are two different worlds that stay separated most of the time. Sometimes, not quite
often, these two worlds come into contact. This is when supernatural creatures visit the
natural world for a short time.
Natural World
Supernatural World
In the world of fairy tales and ancient myths, there is also the possibility that the most
powerful heroes find a way to the supernatural world: they slay dragons, they battle
monsters and witches, and they even visit the world of the dead. Gilgamesh, Hercules,
and Orpheus went there to prove their power or to search for answers.
Ashleigh Saulmon
English 8-4
2/25/09
The Supernatural Worksheet
Some of you saw Harry Potter, the movie, or you read the book. Remember Fluffy, the
three-headed dog that guards the Sorcerer's Stone? Fluffy is in fact Cerberus, the monster
whose only weakness is the sound of music. This is how Orpheus convinced him to let
him into the Underworld to look for his dead wife, Eurydice.
Written Assignment:
1. Do you know of any other way of explaining the supernatural? Suggestion: Use this
quote to draft another possible answer:
"The supernatural is the natural not yet understood"
Copied from Internet January 4, 2009: http://www.teachnetlab.org/fklane/dracula/dracula/I.%20The%20supernatural.htm
Many people are confused on the concept of having two worlds: a Natural and
Supernatural. This could be because it is a very hard thing to wrap your mind around.
No one really realizes when they are watching TV or movies that there are different
supernatural circumstances that happen.
A way to describe the supernatural world to other people is to have them watch
the television show, Supernatural. This show is about two brothers who travel the
country looking for their missing father, who is obsessed with finding the evil spirits that
killed his wife. Although, when the boys set out to look for him they also have to battle
evil spirits along the way.
http://www.tv.com/supernatural/show/30144/summary.html