And what's beautiful about them is that the really wonderful ones always have risen to the top and then travel the world.' Tall tales 'They're meant to teach what that culture believes. In this video clip, children's author Carmen Agra Deedy ( Martina the Beautiful Cockroach) talks about why folktales matter so deeply. Folktales and Family Stories activity guide (PDF).The guide includes recommended books, instructions and a supply list for each activity, and suggestions for sharing children's writing and storytelling. We'll also give kids a chance to write Who I Am poems that express how they are connected to their families, culture, and community. Through shared reading, writing, storytelling, and other creative activities, let's explore the stories of our elders that have been told and re-told in your family for generations. Stories are being heard, retold, remembered, rediscovered. The folktale tradition of telling stories out loud remains strong throughout the world. See more videos about stories and storytellers by clicking on these links:įolktales are the people's stories, passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Video: children’s authors and illustrators Printables: books, activities, and name tags.

Get more details about each section of Storytellers by clicking on these links:

We Are Storytellers combines hands-on activities with great picture books - books such as How the Raven Stole the Sun and Martina the Beautiful Cockroach - inspiring kids to read and learn about stories from diverse backgrounds and cultures. We Are Storytellers gives kids a chance to learn more about the traditions of oral and written storytelling, the cultural influences around genres of stories, and the thrill of creating a never-before-told story. The stories we love best live in us forever.ĭelve into the land of stories by uncovering a treasured family story by interviewing a loved one and writing that story, participating in a Tall Tale Character Parade, bringing with you as much outlandishness and fun as possible, writing a “Pourquoi Tale” and making a mask of the myth’s main character to bring it to life, making action figure cards for your favorite trickster, and creating a colorful map based on a beloved favorite fairy tale, complete with a compass rose and legend. Stories are what make the world go ‘round. John Henry was a railroad worker, and according to the folk tradition, he raced a machine to construct the railroad and he won.We are all storytellers! Open up our treasure chest of folktales, fairy tales, tall tales, and myths, both traditional and new. The African-American folk tradition includes John Henry. His famous quote, 'Give me liberty or give me death,' is an oral tradition that has been passed down to generations of Americans. Patrick Henry is a folk hero from the American Revolution. North American folklore abounds with tales of 'Bigfoot' roaming the mountains.įinally, there is folklore that arises from oral histories passed down about people who may have been real, but whose feats have been embellished over time. For example the Loch Ness monster is an example from Scotland. There are many examples of folklore related to animals or mythical creatures. The Scandinavian tradition includes the hero Thor. The Jewish tradition includes David facing Goliath. Most cultures have folklore of this kind, where a hero faces a foe. The hero Beowulf faces and kills the monster Grindel. Beowulf is an example of Anglo-Saxon folklore.

Most folktale examples