A folktale may be defined as a tale of the people, a short, fast-moving oral or written adventure story perhaps of a comic or romantic nature. It is a traditional story of a particular group of people and follows a basic design. Since it is told by many storytellers, it has differing versions or variations. Because it has been handed down through…

This folktale unit supports 6th- through 8th-grade students exploration of the many subgenres of folktales: trickster tales, fairy tales, fables, tall tales, and legends. The unit focuses heavily on the use of technology as a learning tool as students work together to create WebQuests for their peers to explore. During the 10 one-hour sessions,…

This article offers guidelines for teachers on using African folktales to celebrate Black History Month, to explore the structure and content of folktales, to encourage receptivity to multicultural experiences, and to spark creativity in students. Discussion guidelines, suggestions for student-created folktale productions, and a resource list are…

Listening to stories can expand children's knowledge, provide sheer enjoyment, and help children understand their world and how people relate to each other in it. This book compiles tips and suggestions from expert storytellers and teachers, and shows teachers and parents how to capture children's attention and imagination using simple, creative…

Outlines strategies for implementing storytelling in the classroom over a two-week period, beginning with shared story telling of existing folktales and progressing to student creation and telling of narratives based on the folktale model. Consists of an introductory phase, a laboratory phase, and a performance phase. (LP)

Reviews the 1990 conference on children's classics that was sponsored by Drexel University and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Highlights include summaries of and excerpts from papers by author and illustrator Wendy Watson and Anita Lobel, and information on the recipient of the 1990 Drexel Citation, author and illustrator Carolyn Croll. (LRW)

Designed for teachers in the primary grades, this book provides a number of units outlining possible instructional strategies for teaching folk literature. The book's aim is to help children personally connect with literature so they will continue to love reading throughout their lives. The first chapter offers background on the world of folk…

Describes how study of folklore can be integrated into all aspects of curriculum and grade levels to foster awareness of roots and sense of home and community. Suggests topics for research in various areas of American folklore requiring student use of all language arts. Provides 13 annotated student references. (NEC)

Designed to enrich reading programs, this book presents 13 illustrated, reproducible patterns and directions for creating small books that feature folktales from around the world. Each mini-book is in a special format that offers children in grades 1-4 some element of surprise: flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and pictures that pop up. The book begins…

Intended for teachers and noting that folktales are a part of the oral tradition of every culture, this book presents 15 stories from many cultures that have been adapted for the "fingerplay" approach. The sequence of stories is based on the ease of sharing the fingerplay gestures with the class. Each story offers start-up ideas, as well…

This annotated bibliography lists recommended books and other instructional media dealing with folktales, fairy tales, and myths for use in preschool, elementary, and secondary education. The list is divided into four grade-oriented divisions. The first section, aimed at prekindergarten through third grade, offers annotations of 44 books, lists 30…

Any topic, in this case Frogs, can be related effectively to all areas of the curriculum for an exciting and enjoyable reading/language experience. (JH)

The three lesson plans in this issue feature the Eskimos of the Bering Sea and their culture. The lesson plans are: (1) "Learning about a Culture from Its Objects"; (2) "Learning about a Culture from a Story"; and (3) "Everyday Objects." Each lesson cites student objectives; lists materials needed; gives subjects…

Designed to combine with studies in various disciplines, such as history, costume, language, dance, music, and social studies, the 10 plays in this book are drawn from the fount of American folklore and popular culture. They range from European, African, and Asian folktales recast in New World settings to the mythology associated with real-life…

Elementary teachers can use folktales to teach story structure. After students read a folktale, they can brainstorm for story ideas, create and revise outlines and drafts, edit their stories in pairs, complete a final version, then construct and illustrate a book. A student page teaches how to plan a folktale. (SM)