Creator: Yale University | visit site
Grade Range: 6 - 11
This site is basically for the teacher. The lesson plans include background research and resources for Folktales, Tricksters, Creation Stories, Cinderella Stories, a separate bibliography for students and teachers, and an appendix that lists all the Paul Bunyan tales. The site also has lesson plans and lots of suggested activities. Study folktales and legends to discover the diversity and the essential unity of cultures.
In the Classroom
Introduce your students to folktales, tricksters, or one of the others using the information you gain from this site. Whether you choose to put a lecture on video or present the information in another way, have student take online notes using Simplenote, <a href="/single.cfm?id=17646"> reviewed here</a>; tell students to be sure to save the URL to share their notes and questions with you and their peers. Simplenote updates across all devices. Then have students choose stories (folktale, etc.) to read independently or in small groups and have them try to find what qualities the tales share. Have students collaborate to create a map of where the stories they chose to read take place using MapHub, <a href="/single.cfm?id=18037">reviewed here</a>. Students can add icons, text, images, and location stops.
At Home
On a rainy day, read some of these folk tales together as a family. Compare one of the new stories to those you have already read, trying to find what qualities the tales share. Respond to the tale with a drawing, painting, or rewrite of the ending.