Students define and assess the difference between folk heroes and family heroes and then find examples of each in their own lives. They view a "Swapping Stories" video, surf the internet for examples and complete a variety of worksheets...

In this opinion activity, students think about heroes they know and reveal what they think about them by marking responses to the questions and completing the statements.

Students compare and contrast the details from the life of the real David Crockett and the legendary folk hero he later became. They identify the characteristics of a tall tale and follow a rubric to create a tall tale of their own.

Students explore American folktales. They review the elements of folktales. Students read the folktale of Johnny Appleseed together. They discuss the vocabulary words from the story. Students discuss the differences between the real...

Students explore the concept of leadership and identify leaders from the past and present. They brainstorm qualities of effective leaders, research a leader from the past and develop a presentation on their findings and choose a local...

Students evaluate art to enhance their core knowledge of fiction, American folk heroes, and the water cycle. In this art lesson, students complete a unit of activities to use art to study various topics of literature, history, and...

Students investigate cultural art from Canada by reading about Maud Lewis.  In this Canadian history lesson, students identify the work of Lewis by visiting her magazine website.  Students identify other heroes in Nova Scotia...

Dive into classical Chinese literature with this packet. Provided first is a comprehensive summary and a half-page long historical context of Water Margin. As your class reads the section entitled "Wu Sung Fights the Tiger," pose the...

Students are introduced to the topic of legends. Using the text of Irving's novels, they gather information on different cultures. They practice using new vocabulary and their listening skills. They retell the stories in chronlogical order.

Students define elements of stories from around the world that include helpful animals. They explore animal character motivations and use graphic organizers to compare and contrast animal stories from different cultures.

Visual literacy can be experienced in many different ways. Learners discuss the times, graphic art, and cultural significance of activism in art as they explore artist and Black Panther, Emory Douglas. This is a discussion-based lesson...

Students watch a video of "Paul Revere: The Midnight Rider," complete a vocabulary list and discuss the video using the questions that are provided.

Students name tall tale characters and locations, which are based on actual people and places, and describe how they are used in an exaggerated way. They name characters and events from tall tales, then list literary characteristics of...

Students investigate cultural traditions. In this multi-cultural lesson, students discuss various cultures and research their traditions.

Sixth graders read legends to learn the history of Connecticut in a fun informative way.

Students are read an apache folktale and discuss the characters in the story. Using the text, they identify the factors that make it a folktale and not a fairy tale. On a map, they locate where the Apache people live. As a class, they...

Many legends live on in Wisconsin (and elsewhere) about Paul Bunyan, a giant of a lumberjack and a folk hero. This article describes how the legends have survived and grown.

This online version of the tall tale of Paul Bunyan features illustrations of this American folk hero.

The fist African American to earn a PhD from Harvard, W.E.B. DuBois was not only an inspirational and extraordinary individual, but a champion in the fight for equality and the end of racism. Read about his founding of the organization...

A thoughtful account of a beloved American folk hero, Johnny Appleseed. We don't know many facts, but he is remembered for his love of nature and man.

A thorough collection of the symbols of the state of Massachusetts including a picture, information about the symbol, and date of adoption.

Scroll down this study guide to find the lyrics to the Ballad of John Henry, which was collected from individuals in the West Virginia mountains in the 1920's. Discusses the different versions of the song and the history behind it.

Find out about one of America's greatest legends, Daniel Boone. (In Spanish)

The tall tale of Pecos Bill and Slue-foot Sue are retold by S.E. Schlosser.