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…

A study of folklore may be a way of introducing children to traditional stories which tell of a culture's superstitions, beliefs and customs. (JH)

Describes 21 activities for a unit on tall tales intended for use with young children in seven content areas: language arts, social studies, science, math, block activities, creative movement/dramatics, and art. (SR)

There is a wealth of material in the oral tradition of fantasy which can be used in creating gripping fiction for young readers. One way of employing a tale from the oral tradition to produce a modern fantasy is to superimpose the old story on a new one in such a way that it is tightly interwoven in the action and meaning of the new story. This…

ERIC abstracts of folk literature. Details the pros and cons of folk story telling and fairy tales to young children. (AF)

This book is a collection of folklore and tales written or collected by and/or about people in Flagler County, Florida, and intended to stimulate adult reading enthusiasm. Most of the stories are humorous; they are grouped into seven chapters in the book. Chapters include tales of events, ghosts, drinking and moonshine, courting, old cures and…

This volume, the third in the International Reading Association's Perspectives Series on literature for school age children, concerns the role of folklore and the types of folktales in several areas of the world. These papers were originally presented at IRA's Fifteenth Annual Convention held in Anaheim, California, in 1970. Several articles are…

Discusses the many world-wide stories of Cinderella, contrasting the American version with other versions in different eras and cultures. (MB)

Reviews four films from independent filmmaker Tom Davenport's series, "From the Brothers Grimm," and shows his use of ideas and images from folk literature. (EL)

Reviews "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by E. Speare to show how the full narrative power of the novel derives from the author's successful integration of two separate narrative genres: historical fiction and the folktale. (EL)

Describes the folk tale "Iron John" and the attraction it held for the author as a boy. Discusses the author's own reforming of the tale in a picture book version. (SR)

Explores story telling and suggests that it is firmly rooted in our past and may well be our children's brightest chance for a future marked by clarity, imagination, and hope. (HOD)

Classroom teachers might consider teaching children to become critical readers through the use of traditional literature. It is not necessarily difficult to define critical reading, but it is a difficult task to teach students when and how to read critically. The six skills most important to critical reading are that the reader should (1) read…

This curriculum guide is intended to introduce elementary school students to hero tales and legends. The stories are longer and the vocabulary is more difficult than other literature curriculum guides in this series by the Oregon Elementary English Project. The stories discussed are: "Sinbad the Sailor,""William…

A study of folklore can help young people better understand how literature evolved from oral traditions and can help provide a better understanding of the religious, social, and cultural habits of a society. Specific areas of study can include the use of word imagery, the development of drama, and the importance of regional dialect. (AEA)