Writing Folktales
What are the key characteristics of a folktale?
In this 6-8 lesson, students will analyze the characteristics of traditional folktales to write an original tale. They will use elements of folktales to develop their story and strengthen work through the writing process.
Lesson Content
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Ask and answer questions about classic folktales.
Recall details from a text and illustrations.
Identify, examine, analyze, and evaluate folktales.
Incorporate the elements of traditional folktales in original folktales.
Write for literary purposes and for a variety of audiences: peers, teachers, parents, school-wide community, and beyond.
Prewrite, draft, revise, and proofread as part of the strategic approach to effective writing.
Standards Alignment
Formulate variations of goals and solutions for media artworks by practicing chosen creative processes, such as sketching, improvising and
Produce a variety of ideas and solutions for media artworks through application of chosen inventive processes, such as concept modeling and prototyping.
Generate ideas, goals, and solutions for original media artworks through application of focused creative processes, such as divergent thinking and experimenting.
Form, share, and test ideas, plans, and models to prepare for media arts productions.
Discuss, test, and assemble ideas, plans, and models for media arts productions, considering the artistic goals and the presentation.
Generate ideas, goals, and solutions for original media artworks through application of focused creative processes, such as divergent thinking and experimenting
Demonstrate adaptability using tools and techniques in standard and experimental ways in constructing media artworks.
Demonstrate adaptability using tools and techniques in standard and experimental ways to achieve an assigned purpose in constructing media artworks.
Demonstrate adaptability using tools, techniques and content in standard and experimental ways to communicate intent in the production of media artworks.
Analyze various presentation formats and fulfill various tasks and defined processes in the presentation and/or distribution of media artworks.
Evaluate various presentation formats in order to fulfill various tasks and defined processes in the presentation and/or distribution of media artworks.
Design the presentation and distribution of media artworks through multiple formats and/or contexts.
Adapt a drama/theatre work and present it informally for an audience.
Participate in rehearsals for a drama/theatre work that will be shared with an audience.
Perform a rehearsed drama/theatre work for an audience.
Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.
Demonstrate persistence in developing skills with various materials, methods, and approaches in creating works of art or design.
Demonstrate willingness to experiment, innovate, and take risks to pursue ideas, forms, and meanings that emerge in the process of artmaking or designing.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.
Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 7 here.)
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 8 here.)
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
Recommended Student Materials
Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.
Websites
Teacher Background
Teachers should be familiar with traditional folktales and be able to identify common elements. Preview and familiarize yourself with the digital tools related to the lesson. Display an example folktale text around the room or visit for digital text examples. Explore and .
Book Recommendations:
Cole, Joanna. Best Loved Folktales of the World. Wilmington, NC: Anchor Publishing, 1983.
Mallet, Jerry and Keith Polette. World Folktales. Fort Atkinson: Alleyside Press, 1994.
Student Prerequisites
Students should have an understanding of the peer editing process. They should be familiar with basic story elements including characters (flat versus round), characterization, plot, setting, and dialogue.
Accessibility Notes
Modify handouts and give preferential seating for visual presentations. Allow extra time for task completion.
Engage
Begin by sharing a traditional folktale with students. You may use personal, school, or digital books. Read or even act out the folktale.
Create a class generated summary to check for understanding.
Without naming the characteristics, help students determine the story elements from the folktale: What were the characters like in the folktale I just read? Describe the lives lived by the characters. Did the characters seem to have depth? Would you say they were well developed? What was the characters’ speech like? You may want to record answers and use the resource.
Build
Now that students have been introduced or re-introduced to folktales, prepare to help them identify, analyze, and evaluate the genre. Introduce and display . Tell students to reference it, as necessary, throughout the lesson.
Review the vocabulary terms as a group. Provide examples of each. An example of “traditional” might be an annual family reunion or baking cookies for a special occasion. Ask students to provide additional examples to demonstrate understanding. (Note: clarify the meaning of motif as it is closely related to the main idea. Main idea that it is the “main reason” a text is written. Asking questions can help students monitor and clarify their thinking. Why did the author write this? What does he or she want me to know? What patterns do you notice in the story?)
Explain that folktales come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Define, discuss, and display the many .
If time permits, share examples of the different types of folktales. “The Princess and the Frog” is an example of a fairy tale, which is a type of folktale.
Apply
Now explain to students that they will be writing original folktales; but before doing so, review the and .
Allow students time to brainstorm original ideas for their folktales. Use the resource for writing support.
Give students ample time to create their folktales using the . Confer with students to provide feedback on their writing. Encourage them to use the print and digital text folktales as references.
Once students have completed a rough draft, have partners revise and edit each other’s drafts. This process may repeat itself as students apply suggestions and revise their work. Remind students of the elements characteristic of a folktale. Have students refer to the during peer edits.
Have students make revisions as necessary and produce their final draft. Once students are finished, have them create a digital book using presentation software like or . They can also create a book with original illustrations using the . They may use colored construction paper, white copy paper, crayons, markers, glue, scissors, watercolors, tempera paint, string, and a hole punch to create a book. Students can type or handwrite their folktales on a template. Then create a front and back cover using the colored construction paper. Compile the contents and covers, punch holes near the spine, and tie string through each hole to secure the book.
Add music and voiceover to books made with media tools. Students can use royalty-free sites like to include music or add voiceover using the voice recorder or microphone tools on student devices. is a Google Extension option if using a Chromebook.
Reflect
Ask students to share or perform their folktales for the class. As a group, provide positive feedback for each folktale.
Lead a class discussion that summarizes the folktale lesson. Point out key points, orally assess understanding, and ask students to express their likes, dislikes, and any lingering concerns.
Assess students’ knowledge of folktales using the .
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