
Hen-Picked
By Cara Bafile
Grade Level: 3-6
Story Preview: The Little Red Hen is looking for an apprentice to help her run her nationwide chain of bakeries. She appears with Donald Trumpeter Swann on a show called Boss Me Around and meets three candidates for the position. Who will she hire as her apprentice?
Roles: Announcer, Donald Trumpeter Swann, Little Red Hen, Bernard (a dog), Kitty (a cat), and Mallard
(a duck)
Setting: television studio, present day
Theme: folk tales
Additional Resources
Find more folktales and other stories online through these resources.
* Myths, Folktales, and
Fairy Tales This site from Scholastic offers tales as well as background from authors who have written
contemporary stories based on classic myths and more.
* Absolutely Whootie: Stories to Grow By
With its large collection of folktales and fairy tales, many with accompanying writing assignment pages,
Whootie's site is a favorite of both teachers and parents.
* Folktales
Discover tales from across the world shared by Peace Corps volunteers working in those lands.
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Vocabulary:
- CEO: chief executive officer
- apprentice: a person who works for another to learn a trade
- harvesting: gathering crops
- poultry: birds raised for eggs or meat
- manicurist: a person who takes care of hands and fingernails
- demeanor: manner of behavior
- pursuits: occupations or pastimes
- catbird's seat: a position of power
- fowl: bird of any kind
Props: microphones for the announcer and Donald Trumpeter Swann (optional)
Follow-Up Questions:
- Why does the Little Red Hen need an apprentice?
- Does the apprentice have to be a bird?
- What kind of animals are Bernard, Kitty, and Mallard?
- Why is Kitty the "one to call" if a rat is around?
- Why did the Little Red Hen fire Kitty?
- Why did the she fire Bernard and Mallard?
- What do the following bird-related phrases mean: something to crow about? bird of paradise? ruffle feathers? lay an egg? fly the coop?
Follow-Up Activity: Working in small groups or pairs, have students design a want ad for an assistant to a familiar folktale or fairy tale character. For example, an ad for Humpty Dumpty's apprentice might include: should not be afraid of heights, must enjoy putting puzzles together and be skillful with paste, and should be comfortable working with horses.
Additional Notes: This story might be contrasted with a more traditional version of The Little Red Hen provided by PBS's Between the Lions.
Click here for a printable script.
Article by Cara Bafile
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Updated 07/06/2010