Curated OER
What About Films?
High schoolers watch and analyze a film of an Appalachian folktale. They define trickster and anti-hero, view and discuss the film, complete a handout, compose an original film review, and debate each character's behavior.
Curated OER
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters - Mapping the Story
Learners listen to John Steptoe's story, "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" and create a story map.
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
Anansi Goes to Lunch
Second graders read the story Anansi Goes to Lunch and complete language arts activities connected to the story. In this language arts lesson plan, 2nd graders complete activities including discussion, reading, writing, drawing, and role...
Curated OER
Christmas Around the World (Grade 2)
Student groups create slides on one of the cultures listed. They view videos that show United States families celebrating Christmas based on their native countries' traditions and a video which tells the story of La Bafana, the old woman...
Curated OER
What Is a Promise?
Middle schoolers brainstorm the definition of honesty. In this honesty lesson, students read Ostrich Egg Wife and discuss events in the story relating to honesty and breaking a promise. Middle schoolers explore ways the main character...
Other
Clarity Connect: African Folktales
Links more than a hundred African folktales from Nigeria, South Africa, Zulu, West Africa, and more.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Central Africans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Central Africans. Gives basic facts about location, language, folklore, foods, social customs, family life, education, religion, pastimes, societal challenges, etc. (Note:...
Other
Victoria Falls Guide: African Culture
An informational site by two people who grew up in Zimbabwe. Covers facts, art, customs, culture, history, myths, traditions, and religions of Zimbabwe and Africa. Also has a news sections with links to articles on Zimbabwe.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Pourquoi Stories
This video segment from Jakers! features a storyteller who tells a Pourquoi story about Anansi, the spider, a popular character in African folklore.
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.
Other
African Cultural Center: Culture
Look closely at the foods, music, folktales and art work of the African culture.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Folktales: "Why Turtles Live in Water" [Pdf]
This is a one-page PDF of the West African tale "Why Turtles Live In Water."
Utah Education Network
Uen: Retelling the African Folktale Abiyoyo
This lesson students will listen to an African folktale, Abiyoyo. Students will engage in role-playing to retell Abiyoyo through the use of reader's theater.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Langston Hughes
This resource focuses on the works of famous African-American author, Langston Hughes.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: 10th Grade Literature and Composition: Traditions
This is a unit on the traditional wisdom of various cultures handed down through fables, fairy tales, folklore, and proverbs. It includes readings from Aesop's Fables, African and African-American Folktales, Hans Christian Andersen's...
Library of Congress
Loc: Zora Neale Hurston Plays
Search or browse a collection of plays by Zora Neale Hurston, whose writing reflects life experiences, travels, research, and study of southern, African-American folklore. At this site, there is also a timeline of Hurston's life and works.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Southern Renaissance: Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston is featured in this biography highlighting her literary contributions which focused on African Americans as whole people, celebrating their heritage, in an era when black authors tended to write about their...
S.E. Schlosser
American Folklore: John Henry: The Steel Driving Man
At this site read about John Henry, the steel-drivin' man who uses two hand-held hammers to dig a tunnel faster than a steam drill!
Other
Zora Neale Hurston: Women in History
The African American novelist Zora Neale Hurston is described with facts, accomplishments, and links to web sites for further research.
Peace Corps
Peace Corps: A Togolese Tale: The Big Fire
Through this lesson learners will come to appreciate how folk tales express the culture in which they were derived through the writing.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: South Africa: English
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of the English in South Africa. Gives basic facts about location, language, folklore, foods, social customs, family life, education, religion, pastimes, societal challenges,...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Regional Realism: Joel Chandler Harris
Creator of Uncle Remus and other African American folklore tales, journalist Joel Chandler Harris is featured as a revolutionary writer regarding oppression and prejudices. For more resources click the "Joel Chandler Harris Activities" tab.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Aka
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of the Aka people of the Congo and the Central African Republic. Gives basic facts about location, language, folklore, foods, social customs, family life, education, religion,...