Which is more likely: 130 children followed a magical piper out of Hamelin and disappeared forever, or that they died of the plague? Or could they have escaped from Hamelin via a secret tunnel to Transylvania? Learners investigate different historical explanations for the disappearance of the children that inspired the German folk tale "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" and decide which is more plausible.

Concepts

fairy tales, historical research, plagues, european history

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Use this article to introduce the different theories behind the true story of the Pied Piper
• Have class members reflect on the law against public music that still stands in Hamelin today

Classroom Considerations

• The second of two activities on "The Pied Piper of Hamelin"
• Does not include a reading passage of the story, but several versions are available on the Internet

Pros

• Encourages pupils to compare informational text and contemporaneous literature
• Incorporates social studies into a language arts lesson

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.5.1 RI.5.7 RI.5.9 RI.6.1 RI.6.7 RI.6.9 RI.7.1 RI.7.7 RI.7.9 RI.8.1 RI.8.7 RI.8.9