Mermaid

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mermaid

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the commonly attributed abilities?Hydrokinesis, enchanting singing voices, and sometimes, magical influence over humans or nature
2. Why do mermaids have a fish tail?The fish tail lets a mermaid move easily in water and shows her connection to the ocean.
3. Where did stories about mermaids start?Stories about mermaids began long ago in places like Mesopotamia, Greece, and medieval Europe, where sailors saw sea animals.

Archetype: A recurring symbol or motif in literature and mythology that represents universal patterns of human nature.
Liminal: Relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process, or occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.
Hydrokinesis: The psychic ability to mentally control and manipulate water.