Legends often provide readers insight into the values of a group of people. Read Prereading page 424, and discuss as a class what you know about the values of the Cheyenne, the Lakota, the Arapaho, or other Native American nations. Write down anything you know about their beliefs, values, traditions, and history—especially information connected to European settlers. As you read the story, search for more information about these cultures.
1. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads aloud the first five paragraphs. Draw a two-column chart in your notebook. In the first column, note the major characters, descriptions, and events. In the second column, describe the beliefs, values, and traditions of the Cheyenne. Fill in the chart for the first five paragraphs.
2. Continue reading the rest of the legend on your own. Stop periodically to fill in your chart. Be sure to identify values and beliefs presented in the text.
If you have difficulty applying the reading strategy, try a new strategy to help you determine the values and beliefs of the culture. For example, you might try visualizing the characters and events in the text. Then, based on your visualization, draw conclusions about the values portrayed in an action. Or you might use the text’s organization, identifying the parts of the plot structure to help you identify the important beliefs of the culture. Continue trying new strategies until you find one that makes it easier to identify the beliefs and values of the Cheyenne.
Complete your chart with a small group. Discuss how the characters, events, and descriptions led you to the values listed in the second column of your charts. In a short paragraph, summarize the main values portrayed in this legend.