Traditional Literature. Lesson Plans


Welcome to the Internet School Library Media Center's traditional literature lesson plans page. You'll find lesson plans on mythology, fables, tall tales and other forms of traditional literature. You can search this site for related materials. Page revised 1/29/99

[General Sites] [Tall Tales] [Myths & Legends] [Folktales] [Folktales, etc.; African American] [Folktales, etc.; Native American] [Fables] [Nursery Rhymes]

General Sites

Folk Art & Lore Virtual Museum
By Kenneth Opstad; from SCORE; information & activities
Community Learning Network
Great site. Myths, ghost stories, Chinese folktales, Christmas stories, fairy tales and more. Must browse!

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Tall Tales

American Tall Tales Unit
Have students write their own tall tales and other activities.
Tall Tales
Grade 5; Text and activities; from Mr. Fullerton, American
Community School
Descriptive Modern Tall Tale
Language arts, grade 5
Did You Ever Have a Dream Like This? Fantasy Photographs
From American Museum of Photography
Walking the Winds; American Tales
pdf file; The Kennedy Center Traveling Young Players;
Grades K - 12
Steamboats in America
Tall tales; Social studies, grades 5-6. Uses fiction, nonfiction.
From AskEric
Japan Online Project Lesson Plan
pdf file; compare Japanese and American Tall Tales
Sixth Grade Library Curriculum
Introducing tall tales
Hope Diamond Lesson Plan
Middle to high school; Uses tall tales; from PBS
Russian Folktales
Grade 4; from Grape Street Elementary
Shared Reading of Tall Tales Thematic Unit
Grades 2 - 4; language arts by Debbie Haren; from Lesson Plans Page
The Other Tall Tales
Grades 6 - 12; unit plan by Virginia Y. Martin; from Lesson Plans Page
Stories in the Sky
Upper elementary, middle school Language arts, science, art.
Combines tall tales with constellations
The Book of Virtues
Grade 5 language arts. Student writes personal, Book of Virtues.
From AskEric
John Henry, the Steel Driving Man
Story, music, resources, project; from ibiblio
How Did Johnny Appleseed Help the Pioneers Move West?
Kindergarten. John Chapman; integrate with science, apples.
From Crossroads History Curriculum. Space down to unit.
Legend of Johnny Appleseed
Legend of Johnny Appleseed and the history behind it. Kindergarten
Apples
Primary grades; Interdisciplinary
What Was Life Like for the Pioneer Children Living in the Western Frontier?
Grade K; includes Johnny Appleseed; from AskEric
Reading/Language Arts: Paul Bunyan
Tall tales or folklore; grades 4-5. From School Library
Media Activities Monthly [AskEric]
First School. Paul Bunyan Coloring Page
Paul Bunyan Trail Tall Tale
Shared Reading of Pecos Bill
Grades 2 - 4; By Debbie Haren from Lesson Plans Page
Pecos Bill and the Rodeo
Grades 1 - 4; an integrated arts project. Teaching unit: The
American West; from Teaching

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Myths & Legends

The Hero or Heroine
Combines study of the traditional hero/heroine with American biography. Grades 4-5. From School Library Media Activities Monthly [AskEric]
Barsant's English Class
AP British Studies; secondary. Included Homer and Beowulf
Space: Your Guide to Location Orientation and Travel
Geography; map reading skills
The Constellations
From NASA; includes different peoples' names for Big Dipper; unit on Stars
Mapping Constellations
Grades 4-8; constellations; Star patterns in the sky
Home on the Range
Language arts; social studies; grade 3. Cowboys
Have I Got A Story for You: Folklore of Utah
Folklore of Utah; adapt to your state; the National Park Service has good resources on local areas.
The Biological Ocean = El Oceano Biologico : Hello Down There!
Bilingual marine education curriculum guide for K-6. Includes mythology. From The Gateway
Cultural Values Through Hero Mythology
Grades 9-10; Social Studies; Cultural Values; Religion
Mythology Around the World
Grade 10; Language Arts; Writing; Greek Mythology; Roman Mythology
Myths for Kids
Grades 4-9; Integrating Technology Into the Classroom; Language Arts; Social Studies
Folklore from Around the World
Grades 5-8; Language Arts; Storytelling; Social Studies; Geography; Current Events. From The Gateway
Searching for Myths and Legends
Grade 4; Language Arts; Writing; Technology in the Classroom
Hercules: Don't "Myth" This Teaching Opportunity!
Grades 5-12; Language Arts; Compare and Contrast

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Folktales

Russian Folktales. My Antonia
Story of the wolves; activities; from SCORE
Fractured Fairy Tales
Lesson Plans; Grades 7-12.
Fairy Tales Unit Ideas
Ideas for Language Arts; Science; Social Studies; etc. from Teachnet.com
A "Tail" to Tell
Students write sequel to "Three Little Pigs" From Eduplace
Pig Endings
Grades 1-3; Writing; Composition
Database Lesson Plan
Grades 3-5; Lanuage Arts; Reading; Information Technology. From The Gateway. AskEric
Bits and Pieces
Students use collection of objects for writing a tale; Uses "Three Little
Pigs" From Eduplace
Construction Ahead!
Grades 2-4; Math and Art; students design stronger home for the "Three Little Pigs" From Eduplace
A Storytelling Festival
language arts; from Eduplace
Comparing Cultures. Social Studies.
Grades 1-5. Compare Cinderella stories from two cultures. Point out
how they are the same and different.
Reading/Language Arts. Baba Yaga
Russian folklore; grades 2-4. From School Library Media Activities Monthly [AskEric]
Baba Yaga
Grades 1-3; Kindness, Russia; Language Arts; From The Gateway
Boots & His Brothers
Grades 1-5; Folktales; Norway. From The Gateway. AskEric
The Brook in the King's Garden
Grades 1-5; Language Arts; Respect for Nature. From The Gateway.
Dorani
Grades 3-5; Language Arts; Love; Pakistan. From The Gateway
Fairy Tale Journey
Grades 3-4; Writing; Plot; Main Characters; English; Composition
From the Elephant Pit
Grades 1-5; Tibet & China Folktales; Kindness. From The Gateway. AskEric
The Girl-Fish
Grades 3-5; Language Arts; Spain; Selflessness. From The Gateway
Greyfoot
Grade 1-7; Denmark; Folktales. From The Gateway. AskEric.
Inviting the Bears
Grades 3-5; Language Arts; Friendship; Alaska
One Man's Horse
Grades 3-5; Language Arts; Justice; Turkey. From The Gateway.
Prince Derek and the Ring
Grades 1-5; France; Folktales; Regret, Recovery; Values. From the Gateway. AskEric
The Enormous Nose
Grades 1-5; France; Self-awareness. From The Gateway. Ask Eric.
The Girl and the Toad
Grades 1-5; Korea; Language Arts; Selflessness; From The Gateway. AskEric
The Magic Ball
Grades 1-3; Language Arts; Argentina, Cooperation. From The Gateway.
The Prince and the Maiden
Grades 1-5; Language Arts; Germany; Selflessness; Values. From The Gateway. AskEric
The Queen and the Mouse
Grades 1-5; France; Friendship. From The Gateway.
The Silver on the Hearth
Grades 1-5; Honesty; Afghanistan. From The Gateway
To Sell a Donkey
Grades 3-5; Language Arts; Cambodia; Self-awareness. From The Gateway
The Young Head of the Family
Grades 1-5; Creative Thinking; China. From The Gateway
The Folktale Cinderella: A Multicultural Perspective
Unit Plan. By Kristi McConkey, Ana Cummings, Jodi Howard. From Washington
State University Lesson Plans.
Gingerbread Man Trail. Social Studies.
Grades K-2. Uses the Gingerbread Man to introduce children to different individuals in the school [secretary, janitor, etc.] and where they are located.
Snow White Page
From Kay Vandergrift. Lesson plans, grades 4-5. lots of
Snow White online e-texts. Great site!
Storyland Mural
Art and literature. Create a mural of favorite storybook characters
Science: Something Fishy; Life Cycle of a Salmon
Grades 3-5. Uses fiction, nonfiction, etc. From AskEric
Fairy Tale Journey
Grades 3-4; Language Arts and Creative Writing
Once Upon A Time
Grades 4-6; Short stories; Language Arts; Writing. From The Gateway. AskEric
Anait
Grades 1-5; Armenia; Folk Tales
Baba Yaga
Grades 1-3; Russia; Folk Tales. From The Gateway. AskEric
Saleng; A Philippine Folk tale
Grades 6-8; Language Arts; Technology in the Classroom; Storytelling; Cultures
Camels
Uses fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Grades 2-3. From School Library Media Activities Monthly. AskEric
Yale - New Haven Lesson Plans Use the index. Units and lesson plans for all grade levels. Large number for upper elementary through high school.
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Kindergarten. Uses Sciezka's and Marshall's books
New Fairy Tale Adventures; Writing Enjoyment
Grades 3 to 12; language arts & writing; by Louis Anoff;
from Encarta

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Folktales, etc.; African American

Black Onyx; Black Folktales
Unit plan for grades 9-12. By Gail Staggers. From Yale New Haven Lesson Plans
Choose Your path
Unit plan by Mary-Alice Howley. Cinderella, Black folktales. Grades 5-6
From Yale New haven Lesson Plans
How the African American Storyteller Impacts the Black Family and Society
Unit plan by Barbara P. Moss. Black Folktales, Afro-American Literature.
From Yale New Haven Lesson Plans

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Folktales, etc.; Native American

Unit I. A World of Their Own: The Americas to 1500
Unit for K-2. From Crossroads American History Project. Ask Eric
Unit I. A World of Their Own: The Americas to 1500
Unit. Grade 3. Folktales and Legends of Native Americans, including Iroquoian The Dance of the Seven Sisters, text included; The Dancing Stars, text included; From Crossroads American History Curriculum. AskEric
Earliest Americans
Third grade unit; American History and Geography; From Trinity
Haida Myths and Legends
Grades 6-8; Technology in the Classroom; Haida; Salmon; Life Cycles

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Fables

Fable Writing
Creative writing; grade 2. From The Gateway. AskERic
Tuck Everlasting
Sixth grade; Myth, Fables, Ecology. From The Gateway. AskEric
Fable Writing - Interdisciplinary Approach to Social Sciences
Grades 3-8; character education; introduce social science concepts.
Interplanetary Distance and Travel Time
Grades 5-9; uses a fable to illustrate concepts.
The Book of Virtues
Language arts; grade 5; students write their own Book of Virtues
Science: Something Fishy; Life Cycle of a Salmon
Grades 3-5. Uses a fable.

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Nursery Rhymes

Mother Goose
Grade 2. From Washington State University
Nursery Rhyme Mania
Grades 4-6; Reading, English, Social Studies, Art
Surfin' Sarari! 9-11-98
Poetry; Songs; Technology in the Classroom. From The Gateway

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