Teaching Themes
Folktales and Folklore: Everything You Need
Use these resources to teach students about folklore, have them analyze folktales that have been passed down from one generation to the next, and tell one of their own!
Activity Plan 4-5: Folktale FunGrades: PreK–K Children will discuss the concept of a folktale and create their own folktale to develop creative-thinking, language, and writing skills in this... |
Activity Plan 4-5: Word PlayGrades: PreK–K Children listen to a silly poem then use their imagination and language skills to create their own. |
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Lesson Plans, Book Resources Activity Plan 5-6: Bug TalesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Children will create their own insects using art materials. |
Lesson Plans, Writing Activities, Book Resources Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale Lesson PlanGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Students feel such empathy for Trixie in Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, it's easy for them to produce writing to go along with this activity.... |
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Activities and Games, Lesson Plans, Book Resources Cook-A-Doodle Doo! Lesson PlanGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! is a great book for a play on folk tales. It is a updated tongue-in-cheek Little Red Hen. It can be used for the play on words... |
Activities and Games, Lesson Plans Giant Carrot Lesson PlanGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 The Giant Carrot is yet another version of the classic Russian folk tale that children love. I like to read it along with other variations... |
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Activities and Games, Lesson Plans, Book Resources Little Story About a Big Turnip Lesson PlanGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Children love A Little Story about a Big Turnip, by Tatiana Zunshine. I like to read it along with other variations of this classic Russian folk... |
Extension Activities The Three Billy-Goats Gruff Extension ActivitiesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Extension activity for The Three Billy-Goats Gruff by Ellen Appleby. |
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Discussion Guides, Book Resources Flossie and the Fox Discussion GuideGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 In this multicultural folktale, Flossie takes a joyful and comic journey through fox-haunted woods as she carries her basket of eggs to Viola. "... |
Extension Activities, Book Resources Flossie and the Fox Extension ActivitiesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Extension activity for Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack. |
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Discussion Guides, Book Resources The Mud Pony Discussion GuideGrades: 3–5 Discussion guide for The Mud Pony by Caron Lee Cohen. |
Discussion Guides, Book Resources Clockwork Discussion GuideGrades: 6–8 In the fading light of a snowy winter's evening, with church bells and timepieces sounding the hour, a story has been set in motion by turns... |
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Lesson Plans, Book Resources Midnight Magic Discussion GuideGrades: 6–8 A servant boy who knows more than his master, a mischievous princess, and a magician who doesn't believe in magic team up to confront a mysterious... |
Booktalks Midnight Magic BooktalkGrades: 6–8 Ghosts, magic, mayhem, and murder haunt the castle late at night. Do Mangus the Magician and his assistant, Fabrizio, have the power and the skill... |
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Extension Activities, Writing Activities The Three Little Javelinas Extension ActivitiesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Extension activity for The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell. |
Lesson Plans, Book Resources The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Lesson PlanGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 "A rhythmic and evocative retelling of an Indian legend that explains the origin of the Indian paintbrush flower. An engaging tale of strength,... |
 Discussion Guides, Book Resources Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears Discussion GuideGrades: 3–5 Guide students in recognizing cause and effect with Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema. |
Extension Activities, Book Resources Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears Extension ActivitiesGrades: 3–5 Extension activities for Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema. |
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Extension Activities, Book Resources City Mouse-Country Mouse Extension ActivitiesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Invite children to close their eyes and visualize a busy, noisy city with tall buildings. Then have children draw a picture of a city scene and... |
Multicultural Folktales ListGrades: In this learning activity students learn to write and tell stories. Images and audio show how Gerald Fierst uses gesture and intonation to tell... |
