Curated OER
Exploring Folk Traditions and Folk Beliefs
Ninth graders work together to brainstorm an idea to focus on the similiarties and differences between various cultures. Individually, they interview family members using questions they created based on their topic. They use their...
Curated OER
Storytelling
Students explore the origins of folktales, fairytales, myths, legends, fables, and folktales in the ten lessons of this unit. A storytelling festival is held to feature the results of the variety of activities presented in the unit.
Curated OER
Off Times of Slaves on the Sea Islands
Sixth graders explore the aspect of slave life on the Sea Islands. They explore the Gullah language, folk tales, music and games during the "off" times of slaves. Students read and interpret Gullah folk tales. They recognize music in the...
Curated OER
Great Gullah Story Telling Packet
Sixth graders examine the Creole language known as Gullah which is a form of speech comprised of a number of unrelated languages. They determine how slaves used this to communicate so that slave masters would not be able to understand...
August House
Anansi and the Pot of Beans
Anansi is a tricky character, but can he realize he's wrong and write an apology letter? Learners use Anansi and the Pot of Beans to practice writing, art, and figurative language. A series of activities are engaging for both advanced...
Curated OER
Mini Masks: Ceramics
Masks have been used for many reasons throughout human history. They are also great subjects for art projects! Included here are instructions, background information, and all the supplies needed to create mini masks in your class.
Curated OER
The Talking Goat Lesson
Students analyze the meanings and patterns of a folk tale. They respond in their reading journals to the following prompts: How do you feel about the way "The Talking Goat" ended? Why? Which did you like better: your group's predicted...
Curated OER
Comprehension Questions for Stitching Stars
In this comprehension questions for Stitching Stars worksheet, learners answer 30 comprehension questions after reading the book about quilts made by slaves in the 17-19th centuries.
Curated OER
Theatre: Oral Traditions
Young scholars investigate cultural traditions. In this multi-cultural lesson, students discuss various cultures and research their traditions.
Can Teach
Can Teach: African Folk Tales
Eight African folk tales, like "Why the Cheetah's Cheeks Are Stained" to "The Curse of the Chameleon", are at this site. All eight are traditional Zulu stories. The site provides resources for teachers such as lesson plans and games.
Lin and Don Donn
Lin and Don Donn: Africa Lesson Plans
A large collection of lesson plan links, including links to video clips, stories and folk tales, games, PowerPoints, and clip art.
Sacred Text Archive
Internet Sacred Text Archive: Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria Index
There are forty "Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria" listed for your reading pleasure. Stories range from "The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter" to "Why the Sun and the Moon live in the Sky".
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Community and the Folk, Making of African American Identity: V. 3
A story that examines African American community in a rural setting. Zora Neale Hurston's (1891-1960) brief tale "Spunk" is provided within this resources and documents the expressions of southern black "folk."