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Ten Characters from American Folklore

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Subjects Arts & Humanities Literature Educational Technology Social Sciences U.S. History, Regions/Cultures

Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Advanced

Brief Description

Objectives

• read short stories about ten characters from American folklore.
• match a statement about each character with the correct character.
• rewrite one of the ten stories in their own words (optional).
• connect the story they choose to the place on a U.S. map where it took place (optional).

Keywords

Materials Needed

• Internet access or printed copies of the stories listed below
• Ten Characters from American Folklore work sheet (answer key in Assessment section below)

Lesson Plan

Pecos Bill, Daniel Boone, Johnny Appleseed, and John Henry: Those men of fact and folklore are part of the fabric of the American legend. In this lesson in cultural literacy, students learn about them and about six other characters from America's folk history.

The best way for students to complete this activity is to access the American Folklore Web site. If students do not have computer access, provide the ten stories to students by (1) recording the stories and making the tape available in a listening center or (2) printing the stories and creating a book.

After students have read the ten stories, have them complete the Ten Characters from American Folklore work sheet. An answer key appears in the Assessment section below.

Online Resources: Ten Characters from American Folklore

Ethan Allen
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/vt.html

Johnny Appleseed
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/oh.html

Pecos Bill
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ks2.html

Daniel Boone
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/nc.html

Paul Bunyan
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/or.html

Davy Crockett
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/tn1.html

John Henry
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/wv2.html

Sam Hyde
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ma1.html

Jesse James
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/mo.html

Casey Jones
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/tn2.html

Extension activity: Invite students to rewrite stories from the American Folklore Web site in their own words. Arrange the stories around a wall map of the United States, and string yarn from each story to the state in which it took place. Use American Folklore's State Folktales or Regional Folktales Web pages to place the stories according to their state or region.

Assessment

Students will achieve a score of at least 80 percent on the work sheet. ANSWER KEY: 1. Davy Crockett 2. Johnny Appleseed 3. Sam Hyde 4. Ethan Allen 5. Pecos Bill 6. John Henry 7. Daniel Boone 8. Jesse James 9. Casey Jones 10. Paul Bunyan

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: English

• GRADES K - 12
  NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
  NL-ENG.K-12.9 Multicultural Understanding
  

• GRADES K - 12
  NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms
  NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and Regions
  

• GRADES K - 12
  NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts
  

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