Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oral History: Park City Museum

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Bring U.S. history to your language arts class with this lesson. Middle schoolers complete an interview for an oral history project, and discuss the importance of oral histories - and how they embellish written accounts. They write...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Exploring Borderlands

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What motivated Europeans to explore the New World, and what effects did their exploration have on Native American populations? The second installment of a 16-part American Passages series prompts pupils to watch a video and read several...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun and Moon Folktale

For Teachers K - 4th
Students become familiar with characteristics of folktales by reading or listening to African folktale that explains why sun and moon live in the sky. Students then create their own folktales about the sun and moon or another aspect of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plot Mobiles

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students read folktales and identify the plot of the story by making a mobile. In this inventive and colorful lesson, students listen to a variety of famous folktales, and practice identifying the plot. Then, they work together to create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dedication to Douglass

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the controversy surrounding the proposed Frederick Douglass Circle monument in Central Park. They review the notion of historical inaccuracy by reading and discussing the article, "In Douglass Tribute, Slave Folklore and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children of Clay

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and interpret the Pueblo Native American culture and history and comprehend their folklore and songs. They also create their own piece of pottery with clay and write a myth about the piece of pottery they made....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One Story, Many Tales

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast various versions of the fairytale Cinderella. In this folktale lesson, students read The Korean Cinderella and The Egyptian Cinderella and analyze the differences between the two stories. Students identify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cherokeee Myth: Origin of Strawberries

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read a Cherokee myth about the origin of strawberries. After reading the story, they add another chapter to it and read their additions to the class. Or, as a group activity, they each write a few sentences and then pass...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Retell the "Tail" of the Tale

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore story structure. In this multicultural literacy lesson plan, students discuss common elements of folk tales and then listen to the story Tiger and the Big Wind: A Tale from Africa. Students identify the problem and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning the Beat

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify gifts found in folktales. In this folktale lesson, students read the Hindi folktale "The Drum" and discuss the value of gifts such as time, talent, treasure, etc. Students also create drum beats.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rooster's Night Out

For Teachers Pre-K
Students explore folktales. In this folktale lesson, students listen to a story from another country and discuss the characters. Students retell the story using puppets and do coloring sheets. Students do a sequencing cut and paste...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Washington's Newburgh Address

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students write a persuasive essay that compares George Washington to someone overcoming an obstacle. In this American History lesson, students study Washington's Newburgh Address and the character traits of the president. They write an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tall Tale Rollers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore American tall tales. In this tall tale activity, students discover the six characteristics that are included in tall tales. Students survey their class to find each student's favorite tall tale character and organize the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing for Advanced ESL Learners

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students complete many creative writing assignments in their advanced ESL class. In this creative writing lesson plan, students complete book reports, folktales, biographies, historical journal entries, and more.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Tall Tales: Read, Write, Draw and Sing

For Teachers 2nd
Students get to know the characters and events that shaped American folktales through writing, drawing and singing activities. Handouts and worksheets are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outline of a Legend/Folk Tale

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners create outlines of folk tales and legends. They read a folk tale or legend in the target language. They complete an outline of the key events of the story including the main characters, plot, story elements and theme or moral.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ancient Art of Shadow Puppet Plays

For Teachers 3rd
Shadow puppetry has an ancient past, it is also a great way to build oral expression and reading fluency. Young thespians research folk tales, compare and contrast reality and fantasy, then create and perform a shadow puppet play based...
Lesson Plan
August House

How Tiger Got His Stripes

For Teachers K Standards
How did the tiger get its stripes? Kindergartners read a Vietnamese folk tale, "How the Tiger Got His Stripes," retold by Rob Cleveland, and work through several reading comprehension and literary analysis activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Men of Steel

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore early 20th century steel making.  In this U.S. history steel making activity, students view and describe a postcard and a picture depicting exaggerated aspects of the steel industry.  Students listen to a poem...
Lesson Plan
August House

Anansi Goes to Lunch - Pre-Kindergarten

For Teachers Pre-K
In a multidisciplinary lesson plan, you will focus your instruction around the West African folktale, Anansi Goes to Lunch by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk while your little learners sing songs, play games, participate in a grand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tears of Joy Theatre Presents Anansi the Spider

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Accompany the African folktale, Anansi the Spider, with a collection of five lessons, each equipped with supplemental activities. Lessons offer multidisciplinary reinforcement in English language arts, social studies, science,...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Myth Lesson Plans

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What is the difference between myths, legends, and folktales? From greek mythology and creation myths to heroes and heroines, here is a nice series of lessons for providing your kids with solid foundational knowledge about myths.
Lesson Plan
August House

The Drum

For Teachers Pre-K - K Standards
Take a journey to India with a read aloud of The Drum: A Folktale from India by Rob Cleveland. Make connections to the story's theme by building and practicing drums, role playing story characters, and practicing skills in phonics, math,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cloudy Days are for Reading and Writing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research weather proverbs and determine the scientific validity of 3 weather proverbs. They write an essay presenting their reasoning. They interview elderly people to graph the most frequently heard proverbs and theorize...