A World of Tales

Resource Ideas

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Description (from Crossroads Series)

Every culture in the world has an oral tradition that relates their origins and beliefs. Myths and tales developed through our quest to understand and explain natural events and forces and to teach values and cultureal practices to younger generations. Myths: A World of Tales gives students the opportunity to read tales from different countires around the world, such as India, Iceland, Greece, Nigeria, and Canada.

Students will also have opportunities to develop their oral communication skills through storytelling, comparing tales, and the retelling of a traditional tale. Formats may include short stories, myths, pourquoi tales, legends, and essays.

Major Integrated Resource (MIR)

• Crossroads 9 available from Nelson Publishing Company

• Myths and folk tales around the world. [Novel set. Grades 7-9 reading level] /
  [compiled by] Robert R. Potter ; H. Alan Robinson, consulting editor. --
  New York : Globe, 1985.
  xii, 370 p. : ill.
  • Grade level: Jr.
  • 1. Readers--Mythology, Classical. 2. Mythology--Study and teaching.
    3. Folklore--Study and teaching.

Web Resources

• Mythology in the Classroom - The mythology pages listed here are primarily adult sites for those interested in the fascinating world of mythology. The web host has additional pages related to myth and legend for younger students. Use the search function to locate additional information.
• The Other Tall Tales - a lesson plan where students read one tall tale from the Internet sources listed. Students then answer written questions about the story to measure attention and comprehension. Finally each each student writes an original tall tale based on either real or imagined experience.
• Lesson Plan on Myths, Folktales, and Legends - Use this in the classroom to teach myths, folktales, and/or legends.This lesson plan would be great for eighth grade or above; however, sixth and seventh grade may could concentrate on *animals in myths or another aspect of this.
• Folktales: Pourquoi Tales - These sites explain what pourqoui tales are and offer tips for writing them. Read numerous online examples of these legends, which offer explanations for different elements in nature. There is a link to an eThemes Resources to online children's stories and tall tales.
• Pourquoi? - How and Why Stories - from Kate Buchholz, an Alberta author comes explanation and links to pourqoui stories.
• Mything Links - Kathleen Jenks created this page for her graduate students, but it's such a wealth of information and materials that can be adapted for high school students, it deserves mention here. Constantly being updates with respect for all cultures, the best feature of this page is the way it divides up myths by world political geography - and I mean current world political geography. Even elementary and middle school teachers could make use of this site and adapt the materials so that they're used appropriately with their students.
• Legends - This Web site explores the history, literature, and lore surrounding legendary characters from ballads, fiction, and films.

Related Novel Sets Available from the Curriculum Materials Centre

• Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen - After his anger erupts into violence, fifteen year-old Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the Native American Circle Justice, and he is sent to a remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.

Do you have a lesson plan, resource or web site you would like to contribute to this page? Contact us at: Online Learning Centre

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