(Recommended for Language Arts, Creative Writing, Visual and Performing Arts)
Oral Tradition--
The People Could Fly
as retold by Virginia Hamilton
The Language of Literature, McDougal Littell, p. 767
Objectives: To understand and appreciate an African American folk tale
To discuss and compare reading a story versus telling a story
To create and share folktales with peers
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CMT Objectives: To use context clues to define vocabulary terms
To use active reading strategies
Procedure: After reviewing the elements of a folktale, students will read the folktale in their textbook. The Storytelling Troupe will then perform this and other folktales for the class. Students will discuss and compare the effectiveness and difference between reading a story versus using the craft of storytelling. Students will also read other folktales from the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean (see Student Bibliography, Folktales and Legends). Folktales will be read both silently and orally. After viewing videos on other folktales of African origin, students will create their own stories.
Activity
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Oral Presentation
Pretend you are a slave living in New England in the 18th Century. Create your own folktale and share it with your peers. Use the writing process to draft, revise, edit and publish your folktale. Your final product could be in the form of a book, poster, or cartoons. You may also choose to do a video recording or PowerPoint Presentation.