What is an origin story?
Very simply, an origin story is a story of how something began.
Origin stories are found in every culture throughout the world, and
have been told for a very long time. Origin stories have two
purposes. They are told to instruct and to entertain the listener. Most
origin stories involve something to do with nature and attempt to
explain how something peculiar, or different, in nature began. They
are also be used to warn children about the dangers found in their
natural environment. Many early cultures, like Native American
cultures in the United States, and other tribal cultures throughout the
world, did not have written languages. Because of this, many original
origin stories were told orally, by word of mouth, and passed down
from generation to generation.
Origin stories almost always include fact, which are the parts of the
story that the teller would have seen or known; and fantasy, which
are those parts of the story that the storyteller made up. In a time
before the scientific study of nature, the fantasy part of the origin
story would help explain something odd in nature or something that
needed to be avoided. But just as important as the educational value
of origin stories, is the entertainment they give the listener or reader.
Whether the story involves humor, or adventure, origin stories help us
remember the story because they are fun to listen to and read, and
therefore, they become memorable.
The stories about Mr. Turtle and Mrs. Mockingbird follow the tradition
of original origin stories. Although they were recently written, entirely
made up, and created with a great deal of fantasy, you will also find
facts intermeshed throughout both stories. Most importantly, I hope
you will enjoy listening to them or reading them yourself! Their
purpose is to put a smile on your face, bring joy to your heart, and to
remind you of the importance of origin stories to past cultures. So in
my best “Southerneese” let me say, “I hope y’all enjoy the stories of
‘How Mr. Turtle Got His Shell’ and ‘Why the Mockingbird Has
Many Voices.’ ” They were created with a bushel full of love just for
y’all, the listener and reader! So imagine, Once Upon a Time Y’all,
when nature could have been very different. Now sit back and enjoy!
Activities to Help You Understand Origin Stories
1. Why is the term “origin” appropriate for the types of stories in this book?
The story attempts to explain the origin of a particular feature of each
animal – i.e.… turtle’s shell & mockingbird’s varied songs
2. What purpose would an origin story have in a past culture?
An origin story would help explain something that a society could not
explain through observation – it could also be used to educate children
to potential dangers, and to entertain
3. Why is it logical that origin stories were created?
People want to be able to explain things they don’t understand - They
can also confirm cultural beliefs about certain animals (like snakes are
evil) – Origin stories confirm what people observe and fill in the answers
to features or events that can’t be explained through observation
4. List some components that would be common to all origin stories.
They instruct and entertain – they include fact and fantasy – they
usually deal with nature
5. Why were so many origin stories spoken, but not written?
Many early tribal cultures did not have a written language, but instead
strong oral traditions where children were educated through stories told
by their elders
6. Look individually at the “Turtle” story and the “Mockingbird” story. Create
a chart for each and list what is fantasy and what is fact in each story.
Refer to the chart
7. Looking at both the “Turtle” and “Mockingbird” stories, were they meant to
explain something odd in nature or would they have been used to teach
the dangers found in nature? Explain the specific purpose of each story.
Refer to the chart
8. Again look at both stories. List the main characters of each story. What
lesson/lessons did each character learn as they progressed through the
story? What lessons, from the stories, could apply to your life today?
Refer to the chart
9. What did you find enjoyable or entertaining about each story? How did
the voice or tone of the stories affect your enjoyment of them? Please
explain in four or five well developed sentences. – answers will vary
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Write Your Own Origin Story
1. Think about something in nature you find curious, interesting, or even
dangerous. List this animal, plant, or place.
2. Now, think about observing what you’ve listed. What could you learn
about your animal, plant, or place just by watching or listening to it? List
every fact you could observe.
3. What’s odd or dangerous about the animal, plant, or place you’ve
selected? What does it do that can’t be explained through simple
observation. For example, you know a snake slithers on its belly. You
observe that. But, your observation doesn’t explain why a snake first
began to slither on its belly.
4. Brainstorm, using your imagination. What fantasy could you imagine that
might explain why the animal, plant, or place you chose behaves in a
certain way, or has a certain ability, that makes it stand out. List as many
explanations as possible, letting your imagination go wild!
5. Finally, put all this together and write your own origin story. Remember
though, a good origin story entertains as well as explains!
How Mr. Turtle Got His Shell
Fantasy
Fact
Turtles are wise creatures
Turtles have shells
Turtles were once one of the
fastest creatures in the forest
Like frogs, turtles can live on land
and water, and can eat from both
places
First turtles didn’t have shells
Many animals in the forest have
natural protection from their
enemies
Turtles can talk
The Turtle requested a conference
with God
Turtles can swim very fast
Turtles are aware of their blessings
The turtle uses his shell for
protection
God and Turtle talked, met, and
that meeting led to the Turtle
getting his shell
This story is entertaining and can
bring joy to the listener. This story
can also confirm the society’s beliefs
about God & his love for all creatures
in their society.
Purpose
This story helps explain why a
turtle has a shell, something that
is unusual, but easily observed in
nature.
Why the Mockingbird Has Many Voices
Fantasy
Mockingbirds originally couldn’t mock
other bird songs
All animals in the forest can talk to each
other
Wren came to Mockingbird to protect her
eggs from the Snake
Wren and Mockingbird created a plan to
fool Snake
Fact
Mockingbirds can mock the call of
other birds
There are many different birds in the
forest with many different calls
Snakes do eat bird eggs
Some animals hunt other animals as
part of their survival
Mockingbird fooled Snake & Snake
became lost in the forest
Other birds came to Mockingbird for
protection
Mockingbird’s superior brain allowed her
to learn other songs & fool the snake
Mockingbird does not have her own call
& can only sing other bird’s calls
Purpose
This story is entertaining and can bring joy to the listener. This story explains how
the mockingbird got her name and why she can mock the call of different birds. This
story could have been told to show the interdependence of animals in nature.