Tales, Legends, & Fables

Criteria for Quality Selection:
A legend is a semi true story which has passed on from person to person and the story has important meaning. A myth is a story based on a tradition or legend which has a deep meaning. A folktale is a popular story that was passed on in a spoken form, from one generation to the next. The most important criterion to consider when selecting this genre is appropriateness for students. Make sure that the text you select is age appropriate for the grade level you are teaching. Another criterion I would look for when selecting this text is appeal. The text needs to be appealing for students in order to get them interested in the text.

Use in the Classroom:
I would incorporate this text into my classroom when we are learning about traditions in the classroom. Exposing students to this genre will expose them to all the different myths, legends, and tales that have been passed from generation to generation. I will use tales, legends, and fables in my classroom for shared reading and read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
http://www.aesopfables.com/review.html
http://www.ibby.org/287.0.html

Text and Author Links:
http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com
http://www.randomhousekids.com/authors-illustrators/detail/2066#.Vf9YEEJhjds

General Genre Links:
http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/legends.html
http://www.mikids.com/FolkFairyTales.htm

Teaching Ideas for Students:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/216032113348085872/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367254544586434562/

The Little Red Hen
Pinkney, J. (2006). The little red hen. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN: 0-8037-2935-9

Complex Text Level:
3rd & 4th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
2nd & 3rd grade

Major Themes:

• Hard work pays off
• Harvesting wheat and turning it into bread

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• When talking about specific colors the font of the text is in that color
• The pictures in the text directly correlate to what the text is discussing

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Treat everyone the way that you would like to be treated 

Difficulties for Students

• Understanding why the hen didn't share
• Following the process of how wheat is turned into bread

Support Needed

• Pre-teaching of how bread is made
• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words 

Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears
Aardema, V., & Dillion, L. (1978). Why mosquitos buzz in people's ears: A West African tale. New York: Dial Press.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN: 0-8037-6089-2

Complex Text Level:
2nd & 3rd grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
1st & 2nd grade

Major Themes:

• Insects & Animals
• Losing someone special  

Worthy Qualities of Writing

• This book received the Caldecott Honor
• The book pictures directly correlate to what the text is talking about. 

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Tattle telling/ Rumors

Difficulties for Students

• Understanding the order of events 

Support Needed

• Provide students with background of all the different animals 
• Tell students that this is not a true story