Unit Plan
Curated OER

Fables Unit Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd
Students study fables in a broad context. In this literary lesson on fables, students define terms unique to them. Students use a variety of technological resources to gather and classify information into three categories. Students also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories Share Similar Scenes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students listen to similar stories that come from different cultures and compare them. In this folktale lesson, students focus on different versions of "Cinderella," then complete a worksheet which is embedded in the plan about two...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Thinking Of A Story

For Teachers K
In this literature instructional activity, students listen to folk tales and then discuss the main ideas and plot of the story. Additionally, students guess what story is being talked about when their teacher describes the main idea and...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Using Literary Elements to Compare Fiction Texts

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore language arts by reading and reflecting on literary examples. In this fiction writing instructional activity, students read several different cultural versions of the story "Cinderella" and discuss their interaction with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing for Advanced ESL Learners

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students complete many creative writing assignments in their advanced ESL class. In this creative writing lesson plan, students complete book reports, folktales, biographies, historical journal entries, and more.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring American Tall Tales

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students explore elements of American folktales and tall tales. In this literature instructional activity, students read examples of American folktales and tall tales and prepare a monologue or news report to present to the class based...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Common Theme in Folktale: 900 Versions of Cinderella

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine various stories that have a Cinderella theme.  In this Language Arts lesson, 7th graders compare and contrast stories.  Students write various journal assignments in regards to the stories. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students find themes in folktales. In this folktale lesson, students read different folktales from Africa to find what message the author wants the reader to learn. They read "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears" by Verna Aardema,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Little Red Hen

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore biology by identifying plant anatomy in class. In this botany lesson, 1st graders read the book The Little Red Hen and identify the methods used in order to grow successful plants. Students discuss other ways people...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Folktales: "The Storytelling Stone"

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners create a folktale after finding out the importance of folktales in different cultures.  In this folktales lesson, students determine the definition of a folktale and read a "The Storytelling Stone."  Learners then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Folktales Lesson

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore what a folktale consists of as it relates to oral tradition. For this folktale lesson, students are told the African folktale, Why the Sun is Lives in the Sky and make personal inferences about what the folktale is...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Using Stories in the Classroom

For Students 7th
In this using stories in the classroom worksheet, 7th graders read the Emperor's New Clothes, find 8 vocabulary words, write 3 short answer endings for the story and write 10 questions for the given answers.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Heroes and Legends

For Students 4th
In this heroes and legends worksheet, 4th graders answer 10 questions about the character, setting and plot for the hero in their tall tale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out and About: King Arthur

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Pupils explore the legend of King Arthur. For this folklore lesson, students visit King Arthur's Great Halls, King Arthur's Labyrinth, and Glastonbury Abbey online or in person to discover details about the legendary tales.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tall Tale Introduction

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore folk tales by completing a graphic organizer with classmates. In this tall tale lesson, students read the famous story Paul Bunyan and identify the many characteristics of a fictional tall tale story. Students complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Author's Purpose

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discuss and define what folk and fairy tales are. In this literature lesson, students construct their own working definitions for folk and fairy tales. Students choose to work as a class or in cooperative groups. Then students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reader's Theater, Get Ready

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students recognize what features make a play. In this reader's theater lesson, students read the play Master Man: A Tall Tale of Nigeria told by Aaron Shepard and determine what features make this a play and what the author's purpose was.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Traditional African Literature: The Gentleman and the Jungle

For Students 6th - 9th
For this African literature worksheet, students read "The Gentleman and the Jungle," and then respond to 6 short answers questions about the African folk tale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Starting Stone Soup

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete activities using the story Stone Soup. In this reading fluency lesson, 2nd graders read a fluency page that reviews the vocabulary in the book. Students then participate in readers theater to promote reading...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Write Your Own Folk or Fairy Tale

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students analyze folk and fairy tales. In this language arts lesson, students discuss the elements of a tale determining what the differences are between folk and fairy tales. Students then write their own tales using the graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a Tall Tale

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate tall tales. In this tall tales lesson, students read tall tales, then write their own. Middle schoolers focus on writing about exciting character development, plots, and scenes. Students edit and revise...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What was the lesson learned in the story, "One Grain of Rice?"

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete activities with the folktale "One Grain of Rice." In this folktale lesson, 2nd graders discuss the lesson learned in the story. They also tell character traits of the main character Rani. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze fables and trickster tales from various cultural traditions. In this fable analysis lesson, students identify the elements of fables and trickster stories. Students read Aesop's fables and Ananse spider stories....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Little Red Hen

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students analyze a classic children's story by discussing it with their peers.  In this reading comprehension lesson, students read The Little Red Hen, and discuss ways the hen takes care of his responsibilities.  Students...