Study Guide for The Piasa
The Piasa is an adaptation of the story “The Piasa Bird.” There is a lot of controversy over origin of the pictograph and the story associated with it. Here are some web pages:
| www.altonweb.com/history/piasabird |
| www.piasanet.com/piasalegnd.htm |
For the controversy:
| www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/ibex/archive/vignettes/piasa.htm |
| www.bonsai-east.com/rarebird/piasa.htm |
For the version of the Piasa told in this program click on THE PIASA
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Illiniwek—Confederation of the Native people who lived in present-day, Illinois |
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Illini—a member of the confederation |
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Tamaroa, Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Moingwena, Miami, Mitchigamea, Peoria—Tribes in the Illiniwek Confederation |
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Pictograph—a picture drawn on a rock |
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Petroglyph—etching on rock |
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Vision quest—a dreamlike state attained through solitary prayer, chants, and fasting |
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Bluffs—area of steep cliffs that line some rivers |
| Legend—a story handed down that changes as it is told |
Suggested Activities:
Art—the Piasa lends itself to many art projects: Make a mural; make a “stained glass” Piasa using colored tissue paper for the colors and black construction for the lines; make a mosaic; make a plain animal and flip over acetate pieces with the different parts of the mythical creature. Take a rock and paint pictures on it.
Social Studies—Find out more about Petroglyphs and pictographs. Compare the Piasa to other pictographs. Study the tribes mentioned in the story (see above)
Language—Write a different ending to the Piasa. Pretend you were on the Lewis and Clark expedition write a description of the Piasa in your journal.
Creative Dramatics—Develop a small playette of the Piasa
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