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Folktale examples for 3rd grade5/5/2023 The Sky threatened to leave forever if the people of Earth did not stop squandering the Sky’s bounty, and most people did - except for the greedy Osato. One day, the Sky grew angry at constantly giving and giving to the people, who were wasting its resources. In this Nigerian folktale, the Sky was once a mere arm’s length away from the Earth, and the people took what they needed from the Sky. “ Why the Sky is Far Away” by Tina Tocco (4th Grade) Have them list what they like to do when they want to relax. Students will enjoy this humorous tale of the queen’s quest for solitude! Have students make text-to-self connections by asking whether they like to have some quiet time, too. Although she originally goes to her garden for quiet, she finds peace through an unexpected source instead. In this tale from Korea, a queen with peculiar features seeks peace in her garden. See whether Anansi the spider learned his lesson in “Lazy Anansi.” “ Queen Minbe and the Cricket” by B. Then, have students describe the lesson they think Anansi learned. One day, his plot to get free food goes wrong and he ends up terribly embarrassed! As they read, have students take notes on how Anansi interacts with his friends. Students will love this Ghanian folktale about how the spider got its thin, spindly legs! Anansi is a spider who is too lazy to cook for himself, and so he depends on his friends to do it for him. “ Lazy Anansi” by Ghanian Folktale (4th Grade) After reading, have students watch the Related Media video “Hopi Origin Story.” Ask them to compare and contrast these origin stories using evidence from the text and the video. To help her people, the First Woman created the sun, moon, and stars. In this traditional Navajo story, the First People needed more light to see and keep warm. In the past, folktales were told to explain natural phenomena. Use Discussion Question 1, “Describe a time when your community, whether that’s your friends, family, or classmates, had to come together to solve a problem.” “ The Sun, Moon, and Stars: A Traditional Navajo Story” by Donna Hennes (4th Grade) After reading, have students discuss a time when they had to overcome a challenge and needed the help of others. The men, women, and children of the island must work together to defeat the massive fish before it’s too late! This is an excellent text to demonstrate the importance of working together. In this tale from the Chamorros, the original inhabitants of Guam, a fish threatens to devour the island. Students will love this story of a young girl overcoming adversity in “The Water Bucket.” “ Stop the Hungry Giant Fish: Based on a Legend from the Island of Guam” by Pam Calvert (4th Grade) Then, have students use their notes to discuss the moral of the story. But then, things get out of hand when Shui-mu’s impatient mother-in-law tries to use it! Have students use the annotation tool to highlight the actions of the mother and son in the story. One day, a mysterious woman gifts her with a bucket that refills itself. She toils every day carrying buckets of water from the well to her home. In this retelling of a Chinese legend, Shui-mu lives in the home of her future husband’s family and must serve both him and his mother. “ The Water Bucket: a Chinese Folk Tale” by Phyllis Gershator (3rd Grade) Then, have students take turns telling their stories in small groups. They could tell the story of a family tradition or a special memory. Have students make text-to-self connections by brainstorming an oral history of their own. Start off a unit on folktales with a text about the Iroquois tribe’s tradition of storytelling! In the winter months, storytellers would go from wigwam to wigwam, sharing the oral histories of their tribe. Here are twelve diverse myths and folktales for elementary students from cultures all over the globe! “ How the Stories Came to Be” by Mabel Powers (3rd Grade) Since these tales were originally told to convey a moral or to explain an aspect of our natural world, they are perfect for students learning to determine theme and make text-to-world connections. Reading myths and folktales is a great way to engage young learners. Explore different cultures with these stories from around the world!
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