Tale of Rabbit and Coyote, The by Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola, ill. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1994.

ISBN: 0399222588

In this retelling of the classic Oaxacan folktale, Johnston shares the story of a mean-spirited rabbit that caused the coyote to adopt its present day habit of howling at the moon.

Curricular Connection: Elementary School, subject: folktales

Rating: 5Q/5P

Posted by LA 4/4/8

Lesson Plan: Folktales

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale by Gerald McDermott. New York: Viking Press, 1974.

ISBN: 0670133698

Cuckoo: A Mexican Folktale, by Lois Ehlert. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997.

ISBN: 015200274X

Tale of Rabbit and Coyote, The by Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola, ill. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1994.

ISBN: 0399222588

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale by Verna Aardema and Leo and Diane Dillon, ill. New York: Dial, 2004.

ISBN: 0-590-10294-X  

Grades: Elementary School

Time: nine classes of about an hour each in length

Supplies: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, Cuckoo, The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote, Arrow to the Sun, writing and drawing paper, watercolors and colored pencils and markers, hole punch and yarn for book-binding

Overview: This lesson plan is for a folktale immersion, beginning with four days readings of the above international folktales followed by a two-day writing session, a two-day illustration session, and a one-day culminating session in which each student’s folktale will be made into a book.

Reading/Discussion Questions: After reading each book, ask the students what answer the fairytale gives for the accompanying questions (ie: Why do mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears today?, How did the cuckoo lose her brightly colored feathers?, and Why do coyotes now howl at the moon?). Also discuss with students the storytelling techniques (the pacing, the side characters, the repetition) used in these folktales.

Activity:

1. On the third and final day’s reading, brainstorm with students about other ideas for folktales. Come up with a list of animals and plants and their corresponding unique characteristics. Ask the students to imagine how these qualities may have come about. Some examples might be—Why do dogs try to eat flies? Why do dogs wag their tales when they’re happy, and cats when they’re angry? After you’ve got a good-sized list going on the board, have them sit down and write short 2-to-3-paragraph folktales.  

    

2. On the final day of this lesson plan, have the students divide their text to go along with separate page illustrations.

    

3. Punch holes in the students’ pages, and thread yarn through the holes to make a folktale book.

    

Posted by LA 4/4/8