Have your class explore Buddhist Jataka Tales to compare and contrast them to European fables. After defining fables, Jataka tales, and the elements of each, learners identify themes and patterns for both types of narratives and the...

Compare two versions of "The Three Little Pigs" (traditional and Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, told from the wolf's point of view). As your 4th graders recount the familiar version of the story, emphasize the...

Enhance a reading of the Caldecott Medal-winning children's book Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback with this collection of learning activities. Starting with general background information about the book and author,...

Spruce up a class reading of the children's book Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback with this fun series of activities. Starting with a list of reading comprehension questions and key vocabulary to address during a teacher...

Young scholars explore the nuances of Confucianism. For this Korean society lesson, students complete jigsaw reading assignments on the Hyo. Young scholars compare their own reverence for parents to that described in the pieces about Korea.

Students complete compare and contrast activities dealing with fables and trickster tales to determine how each uses animals to portray human characteristics, specifically strengths and weaknesses, as well as pass wisdom from one...

Students analyze fables and trickster tales from various cultural traditions. In this fable analysis instructional activity, students identify the elements of fables and trickster stories. Students read Aesop's fables and Ananse...

Students investigate Chinese culture by reading their folk tales.  In this creative writing lesson, students practice identifying the different elements in a folk tale and examine the related vocabulary.  Students organize...

Middle schoolers work on summarizing a story, and they determine if it is a legend, a myth, or a fable. Working in groups to read and summarize stories, they then list evidence whether the tale is a myth, fable, or...

First graders read The Magic Apple and complete interdisciplinary activities related to the book.  In this folktale lesson, 1st graders answer comprehension questions, recognize and record short /i/  sound words and...

Students break into groups of 4 or 5 and choose an option to demonstrate a different cultural perspective in a fairy tale or other folklore that they are familiar. Possible choices are: PowerPoint presentation, video, digital...

Learners study the how music enhances drama in opera. They work in small groups to develop a short story that would be enhanced with music, costumes and props. They perform their operas for classmates and others.

Young scholars enjoy the excitement in the short story, Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! In this Cook-A-Doodle Doo! lesson plan, students work to tell the difference between fact and fiction, learn vocabulary, and compare and contrast different stories.

Fourth graders explore an Ethiopian folktale, "Fire on the Mountain." In this literature lesson, 4th graders evaluate and record the evidence, as well as make predictions about what they think will happen. Students evaluate other groups...

Young scholars examine Nathaniel Hawthorne's style of humor and compare it to other humorists. They discuss the purpose of literary humor and determine how it develops characters and plots in stories. They analyze the use of different...

Students in high school read books to elementary students. They also examine cultural writings and legends from Latin America. They complete projects over the information they have found and give one of them to the elementary student.

Young scholars, with the use of the Internet among various other resources, research/locate Polish folktales and re-tell the Polish folktales in their own words. In addition, they examine the art of Wycinanki, Polish paper cutting.

Students examine the types of celebrations around the world. They create pictures of animals speaking another language than their own and draw flags of countries around the world. They also retell a folktale to their classmates.

Tenth graders compare three Chinese folktales for their "messages" and literary techniques to see how they reflect Chinese Confucian and Taoist values. They discuss how folktales share certain subjects, characters, plots and themes.