Fairy Tales Lesson 7: Intro. to Tall Tales

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Library List

(All can be found in American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne)

John Henry: An American Legend (Keats, Ezra Jack)

Paul Bunyan (Kellogg, Steven)

Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth (Yolen, Jane) or

The Story of Johnny Appleseed (Aliki)

Pecos Bill (Kellogg, Steven)

 

Day 1

1.       Refer back to this Folktales Anchor Chart to discuss the characteristics of a Tall Tale. Discuss the differences between a Fairy Tale and a Tall Tale using a Venn Diagram. Point out that most Tall Tales are an American tradition.

2.       Read John Henry. You can find a coloring page here to use while reading. You will begin two different ongoing worksheets today: Use this worksheet to fill in the elements found in typical tall tales. Then use this map to find the location of John Henry’s story.

3.       Use this worksheet to determine which parts of John Henry’s story are real and which are fiction.

Day 2

1.       Read Paul Bunyan with this coloring page. Fill in the characteristics of tall tale on this worksheet you began yesterday. Fill in his location on the map.

2.       Use the Tall Tale Cause & Effect Chart & activity on pg. 36-37 to discuss various events that happened in the story and other events that were caused as a result.

Day 3

1.       Read Johnny Appleseed with this coloring page. Fill in the characteristics of a tall tale on the worksheet and add his location to the map.

2.       Use this worksheet to talk about the character of Johnny Appleseed.

3.       Use this Notebooking Page to have child re-tell the story in his/ her own words (they can write or dictate to you).

Day 4

1.       Read Pecos Bill. Fill in the correct line on the Tall Tales elements worksheet and put his correct location on the map.

2.       Use the worksheet here (pg. 20) to fill in a major problem and its solution, as well as the exaggerated details in the story.