Writing and telling folktales is another way to remember our histories, and keep family stories and traditions alive in each generation.
Grades
1–2, 3–5
Sometimes, children grow up hearing folktales, not from a book, or TV, but from someone in their family. This story, "A Riddle and Kiss," is my retelling of a folktale from the Sephardic tradition, the Jewish heritage of Medieval Spain. This story can be found, in slightly different versions, from Spain to Puerto Rico; and I included it in my book Tales for the Seventh Day: A Collection of Sabbath Stories. As you're reading, you can listen to the story being told. Did anyone in your family or community ever tell you a story that began "Once upon a time", Writing and telling folktales is another way to remember our histories, and keep family stories and traditions alive in each generation.
http://real.playstream.com:8080/ramgen/sinc/folklore/riddlekiss.rm
To hear the "A Riddle and Kiss" story, you must have a computer with speakers and RealPlayer installed in your computer. If you don't have the player, you can download it FREE.
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!
