Creation
Exercises
BEFORE THE PLAY:
Biblical Who's Who:
World Religions, Grade 11
Research one of the following Biblical characters: Lucifer, Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Naomi, Ham, Japheth, Shem, Noah, Sarah, Abraham, Hagar. Who were they? When and where did they live? Why are they important in the Old Testament? Share what you have learned about your character with the class, and, when you attend the play, notice whether Peter Anderson has or has not stayed true to the Biblical version of the characters.
Teacher prompt (after the play): Why do you think Peter Anderson changed the characters? What did his changes bring to the play?
But who made God?
Science, Grades 9-12; World religions, Grade 11
God speaks the following words in Scene 1: "You are the creation that creates the creator." Certain scientists believe that the human brain has evolved to create religion and God in our minds. Scientific experiments have been designed in which a certain area of the brain is stimulated to provoke religious visions. Read the following article by the author of The God Part of the Brain. http://www.godpart.com/html/the_premise.html
Write an essay to argue for or against the author's premise that religion was the result of evolution. (Note: This could also be done as an oral debate.)
Teacher prompt: How do humans use religion or mythology to explain things about the world for which we don't have a rational explanation?
In the beginning…
English, Grades 7-12; Social Studies, Grade 6
Creation stories are a part of almost every culture. Read this article on the common elements in creation stories: http://www.cs.williams.edu/~lindsey/myths/myths.html. Then write a creation story, either about you and your family, or the birth of Canada or another country. (Note: students could choose to work in groups and do a video presentation or create a play instead.)
Teacher prompt (after the play): Which common elements in creation stories did you see in Creation?
Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!
Science, Grades 9-12; English, Grades 9-12; Philosophy, Grade 12
In the play, and in Genesis in the Bible, Adam and Eve name the animals. In Creation, Eve suggests that she and Adam name themselves "The Missing Link" (the species that was the transition from ape to human). It is hard for many people to think that we are related to chimpanzees and the other Great Apes. Scientists such as Jane Goodall have been studying the Great Apes for decades, and have discovered that we have a lot more in common with each other than you might think, including the use of tools, hunting, communication and a complicated social structure. Investigate the following site:
http://www.janegoodall.ca/index.php. Write an essay arguing for or against the idea that Great Apes should have rights.
Teacher Prompt: Why might the idea that humans may be descended from apes be offensive in some people's view?
Saving the Planet
Environmental Science, Grades 6-12
One of the best-known environmental slogans is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". It is meant to be followed in that order. In recent years, the "reduce" part has taken a backseat to "recycle". Green jobs and a green economy are an important part of Canada's future as a country that wants to encourage sustainability. But do you think we can simply buy our way out of the environmental crisis (considering both conservation and pollution). How can you convince people that they also have to "reduce"? Design a poster or video, write a song or poem, or even a persuasive essay, to convince people that "reducing" is as important as "recycling" and "reusing".
Teacher Prompt: Do you think about the environmental impact of purchasing something before you buy it?
AFTER THE PLAY:
Brotherly Love
English, Grades 9-12; Geography, Grade 10; Social Studies, Grade 6
Compare Cain and Abel as they were portrayed in Creation. Consider what aspect of today's society is represented by each character. For example, Cain says: "God gave us the poor; To ease our workload; And clean the commodes; Of our humble abodes; While we live life more." How is this still being done today (consider outsourcing, factory labour in Mexico and China, migrant workers, child labour)? Abel says: "We're all children of God; The poor and the rich." Cain winds up killing Abel and blaming the Ass. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the two brothers, or design a poster representing each brother's beliefs. You could even expand on the play and write a monologue in the voice of each character, after the murder.
Teacher Prompt: How else did Peter Anderson use Creation to get people to think about current issues?
Why can't I vote?
Canadian History, Grade 6-10; Philosophy, Grade 12
In the song, "Beget, Begat, Begot," a chorus of Angels sings the names of Noah's descendants. All of the names are male, and a female Angel interrupts the song to ask why none of the women are mentioned. Ask students to create a table entitled "Women's Suffrage" with the following headings: Country; Main Players; Date. Read the following article for a specific look on when women got the right to vote in Canada: http://section15.ca/features/news/1997/05/30/women_take_right_vote/.
(Note: this activity could be expanded to include African Americans, who weren't granted the right to vote until 1965 http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112391/the_right_to_vote.htmand Aboriginals http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/en/timePortals/milestones/85mile.asp)
Teacher Prompt: If you're female, do you think you will take your husband's name if you get married? If you're male, will you want your wife to take your name? Would you consider taking hers?
So… what did you think?
English, Grades 6-12; Dramatic Arts, Grades 9-12
Write a review of the play for your school newspaper. Would you recommend this play to others? Why or why not?
Teacher Prompt: What did you like most and least about the play?
The Right to be a Child
Canadian History, Grade 10; Geography, Grade 10; Philosophy, Grade 12
"No one finds it odd to sacrifice their child for the love of country 'stead of God" (Ass, Creation). Look at the following recruitment poster from World War I: http://gulib.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/britpost/p9l.jpg. Write a report about one of the ways in which parents have (willingly or unwillingly) sacrificed their children throughout time. (Possible subjects: the one-child policy in Asia; abortion; Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac in the Bible; the tradition of encouraging one child to become a priest or a nun in large families; families who sell their daughters into marriage or the sex trade; child labour; war) http://www.crin.org/
Teacher Prompt: What are some of the economic and social reasons you can think of that would cause a parent to sacrifice a child?