Traditional TalesTraditional Tales

Definition: A traditional tale is Definition: A traditional tale is a narrative that has been a narrative that has been retold and is well known retold and is well known

within a culturewithin a culture

Genres included in traditional Genres included in traditional tales:tales:

FolktalesFolktales MythsMyths LegendsLegends FablesFables Modern Modern

adaptationsadaptations

Subgenres include:Subgenres include:

Modern fablesModern fables Aesop fablesAesop fables Fairy talesFairy tales Humorous talesHumorous tales Tall talesTall tales Trickster talesTrickster tales Pourquoi talesPourquoi tales

My K-2 folktale lessonMy K-2 folktale lesson

First, read lots of folktalesFirst, read lots of folktales

Read them out loud all week in Read them out loud all week in preparation. Drown in them.preparation. Drown in them.The more the better. They only The more the better. They only take a few minutes, so read take a few minutes, so read another another one!one!

Second, do some follow up Second, do some follow up activities:activities:

Retelling, to notice differences Retelling, to notice differences compared to the originalcompared to the original

Rereading, in small groups, taking Rereading, in small groups, taking turns with a narrator and character turns with a narrator and character speaking partsspeaking parts

Act out, with selves or with puppetsAct out, with selves or with puppets

Third, find characteristicsThird, find characteristics Carefully select 2 folktales that suit your Carefully select 2 folktales that suit your

purposes. Guide the children to discover purposes. Guide the children to discover these similarities:these similarities:

• The main characters are animalsThe main characters are animals• The text contains a lot of dialogThe text contains a lot of dialog• The story revolves around a problem- the The story revolves around a problem- the

weaker animal tricks the stronger animal weaker animal tricks the stronger animal to solve his problemto solve his problem

Fourth, brainstormFourth, brainstorm

Make class list of possible animal Make class list of possible animal characters characters

Have partners work together to choose 2 Have partners work together to choose 2 animals that could reasonably share a animals that could reasonably share a storystory

Have partners help each other think of Have partners help each other think of problems their smaller or weaker character problems their smaller or weaker character could have, along with possible solutionscould have, along with possible solutions

Fifth, generate a story map Fifth, generate a story map

See accompanying graphic organizerSee accompanying graphic organizer

Story Map

Main characters:Setting:Problem:Solution:

Sixth, use story map to write a Sixth, use story map to write a folktale!folktale!

• Teach dialog. I do Teach dialog. I do this using “talkthis using “talk

bubbles.” I expose bubbles.” I expose the students to the students to proper proper punctuation, but I punctuation, but I do not expect do not expect mastery. mastery.

For discussion:For discussion:• How do you teach How do you teach

dialog?dialog?• When are students When are students

supposed to supposed to master dialog?master dialog?

• Do your students Do your students master dialog?master dialog?

What’s dialog?