African American Fables, Folktales, and Legends

2. African American Fables, Folktales, and Legends African American folktales originated with the people brought from Africa to this country against their will. African American folktales came about in hopes of keeping their culture alive. The storyteller, the story, and the audience are very important to the African American folktales. The storytellers are dressed in costume and use different voices to captivate the audience. The audience is encouraged to participate. The story never ends because the audience takes it home with them to pass on to others. Activities Activities Activities Activities

3. How Monkey Looked For Trouble Activity 1: In your writing journal, write about what you would do if you were monkey. How would you have helped the old lady? Activity 2: Write your own ending to this folktale. read it to your partner and tell your partner how you changed it and why.

4. Anansi and Firefly Activity 1: Go to Kidpix and create a mural of Anansi and the firefly. Write a short paragraph describing what the fable means in your own words. Activity 2: Which character are you most like? Describe how you are like that character.

5. How Coyote Stole Fire Activity 1: Choose an animal from the folktale and write either a poem or paragraph about that animal. Activity 2: Re-tell the story from the fire being’s point of view.

6. Tiger and the Big Wind Activity 1: Answer the following questions: At the beginning of the folktale, we find out that tiger was very mean. What do you think had happened to the tiger to cause him to become so mean? What do you think happened at the end of the story? Activity 2: Choose one of the following: 1. Write a chapter to this folktale about what had happened to between the tiger and the other animals before the folktale took place. Illustrate your chapter. 2. Write a chapter to this folktale about what happened At the end of this folktale. Illustrate your chapter.

7. What is a folktale?? A folktale is a story that, in its plot, is pure fiction and that No particular location in either time or space. However, despite Its elements of fantasy, a folktale is actually a symbolic Way of presenting the different means by which human Beings cope with the world in which they live. Folktales Concern people—either royalty or common folk—or animals Who speak and act like people.

8. Native American Folktales “The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers, he belongs just as the buffalo belonged....” -Luther Standing Bear Oglala Sioux Activities

9. At the following website, pick one Native American folktale to read. After reading, select one of the following activities to complete. 1. Create a comic strip to re-tell your chosen folktale. 2. Choose an animal from your folktale and research the animal. Turn in at least a half page paper on your animal. 3. Research the tribe of your chosen folktale and Create a PowerPoint about that particular tribe. Native American Folktales

10. Mexican Folktales T The Smiling Rabbit Twenty bushels of Corn Cuca The burro from another world Activities

11. Choose 1 from below to complete Activity 1: Tell and illustrate a Mexican folk story that you chose. Draw some animal figures from your Mexican folktale. Activity 2: Click here to create your own folktale. You will be instructed to pick a character and setting. Activity 3: Research an author of a Mexican tale. Create a poster or book cover telling about that author. Be sure to include details about the author’s family, background, and tales written.