Most children seem to love fables and folk tales. They become captured by the powers of their own imaginations, listening to stories of magic, good and evil, and of weakness and strength. They love the talking animals, witches, trolls, princes, and especially the peasants that people the stories. If children become excited by and interested in what they read in school, there is a chance that they will read more on their own.
This unit is designed to teach fables and folk tales to middle school, primarily fifth grade, students of various reading abilities and interests. It is intended to be used in English classes to enrich and expand the learning experience and to serve as a springboard for writing activities. Because each fable and folktale is fairly short in length, it is possible for the teacher to make duplicate copies of each tale to be read. Every child can therefore have his/her own copy. By the end of the unit, each student should have a collection of stories to keep, and the school does not have the expense of textbooks. The only book which could not be copied in this way is “Alice in Wonderland.” However, this book is available in inexpensive paperback editions.
The objectives of this unit are:
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1.
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To instill enjoyment of fables and folktales at the simple level of reading and learning.
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2.
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To cultivate an understanding of the nature of folktales and their subject matter both concrete and abstract.
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3.
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To expose children to the “classics” of children’s literature, fables, folktales, and a long book, “Alice in Wonderland.”
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4.
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To further reinforce an understanding of folktales, fables and fairytales by role playing, oral readings and play acting.
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5.
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To introduce students to the oral tradition of storytelling.
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6.
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To refine and practice creative writing skills.
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