Folktale Center Ideas
1. RS.2.2 Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral .
-Teacher will place copies of the folktales and fables (examples are attached) that have been read aloud to the students in the Reading Work Station. Students will read aloud with a partner then write in their own words the lesson or moral in the stories.
2. RS.2.9 Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures.
-After listening to Teacher Read Alouds of two versions of the same story (ex. Cinderella, Three Little Pigs, etc.) students will complete a venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two stories.
3. W.2.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
-Below is a Work Station example that could be used for many different books…
§ Book:The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Writing:
1. Provide a copy of a sample friendly letter.
2. Explain to the class that they are going to write a letter to the wolf from whichever character they want. They can pretend to be Red Riding Hood, the Huntsman, Grandma, or another creature in the woods that might have seen the whole story unfold from his perch on a branch.
3. The letter can be about how this character felt about what the wolf did and what they think should be his punishment.
4. Tell the kids to be creative and talk about it with each other a few minutes before they start writing.
Grade Level(s): 1-2, 3-5 abcteach
By:Debbie Haren, Preschool Teacher
Why the sun and the moon live in the sky
African Folktale
Many years ago, the sun and water were great friends, and they both lived on the earth togther. The sun very often used to visit the water, but the water never returned the visits.
At last the sun asked the water why he never visited. The water replied that the sun's house was not big enough, and that if he came with all his people, he would drive the sun out of his home.
The water then said, "If you want me to visit you, you will have to build a very large house. But I warn you that it will have to be very large, as my people are numerous and take up a lot of room".
The sun promised to build a very large house, and soon afterwards, he returned home to his wife, the moon, who greeted him with a broad smile.
The sun told the moon what he had promised the water, and the next day, they began building a large house to entertain the water and all his people.
When it was completed, the sun asked the water to come and visit him.
When the water arrived, one of his people called out to the sun, and asked him whether it would be safe for the water to enter, and the sun answered, "Yes, tell my friend to come in."
The water began to flow in, followed by the fish and all the other water animals.
Very soon, the water was knee-deep in the house, so he asked the sun if it was still safe, and the sun again said, "Yes," so more of them came in.
When the water was at the level of a man's head, the water said to the sun, "Do you want more of my people to come?"
Not knowing any better, the sun and the moon both said, "Yes,". More and more of the water's people came in, until the sun and the moon had to sit on top of the roof.
The water once again asked the sun if it was still okay to keep coming in. The sun and moon answered yes, so more and more of the water's people came in.
The water soon overflowed the top of the roof, and the sun and the moon were forced to go up into the sky.
...and they have been there ever since.
http://worldoftales.com/African_folktales/African_Folktale_10.html
The grasshopper and the toad
African Folktale
Grasshopper and Toad appeared to be good friends. People always saw them together. Yet they had never dined at each other's houses. One day Toad said to Grasshopper, "Dear friend, tomorrow come and dine at my house. My wife and I will prepare a special meal. We will eat it together."
The next day Grasshopper arrived at Toad's house. Before sitting down to eat, Toad washed his forelegs, and invited Grasshopper to do the same. Grasshopper did so, and it made a loud noise.
"Friend Grasshopper, can't you leave your chirping behind. I cannot eat with such a noise," said Toad.
Grasshopper tried to eat without rubbing his forelegs together, but it was impossible. Each time he gave a chirp, Toad complained and asked him to be quiet. Grasshopper was angry and could not eat. Finally, he said to Toad: "I invite you to my house for dinner, tomorrow."
The next day, Toad arrived at Grasshopper's home. As soon as the meal was ready, Grasshopper washed his forelegs, and invited Toad to do the same. Toad did so, and then hopped toward the food.
"You had better go back and wash again," said Grasshopper. "All that hopping in the dirt has made your forelegs dirty again."
Toad hopped back to the water jar, washed again, then hopped back to the table, and was ready to reach out for some food from one of the platters when Grasshopper stopped him: "Please dorit put your dirty paws into the food. Go and wash them again."
Toad was furious. "You just don't want me to eat with you!" he cried. "You know very well that I must use my paws and forelegs in hopping about. I cannot help it if they get a bit dirty between the water jar and the table."
Grasshopper responded, "You are the one who started it yesterday. You know I cannot rub my forelegs together without making a noise."
From then on, they were no longer friends.
Moral: If you wish to have true friendship with someone, learn to accept each other's faults, as well as each other's good qualities.
http://worldoftales.com/African_folktales/African_Folktale_6.html