River Legends Subject: Language Arts Grade: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Brief Description

Students read legends about rivers and write their own river legends.

Objectives

Students

• define the word legend
• discuss some of the features of rivers
• demonstrate creative-thinking and creative-writing skills to create legends
• work together in cooperative groups.

Keywords

creative writing, fable, folk tale, legend, river

Materials Needed

• teacher-selected library sources of legends about rivers and/or print materials from the Web sites noted in the lesson plan
• paper
• pens or pencils
• computer(s) with Internet access (optional)

Lesson Plan

• Discuss the meaning of the word legend.
• Read to the class one or more examples of legends about rivers from teacher-selected library sources or from these suggested sources:
  • The Waters of Life: The Facts and The Fables, by Finn Bevan
  • How the Fly Saved the River
  • How Coyote Made the Columbia River
  • River Stories
• Discuss the stories. Discuss some of the attributes of rivers.
• Organize students into small groups. Print stories from one or more of the suggested sites. Distribute one story to each group.
• Invite students to read the story aloud to one another. Then challenge students to work together to create a new short legend, using the examples they heard and read as models.
• Have students read their completed legends to the class.

Variations:

• Idea 1: For younger students: Have students work together as a whole-class group to create one legend about rivers.
• Idea 2: For older students: Have each student work individually to create a legend about rivers. Compile the legends into book format.
• Idea 3: Have students research library and/or online sources for other legends about rivers.

Assessment

Evaluate students' completed legends.

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Lois Lewis

National Standards

Language Arts:
  NL-ENG.K-12.1
  NL-ENG.K-12.2
  NL-ENG.K-12.3
  NL-ENG.K-12.4
  NL-ENG.K-12.5
  NL-ENG.K-12.6