Brer Rabbit Earns a Dollar a Minute

Adapted by
Susan LaBella

 

Grade Level: 3-6

Story Preview: A quick-witted rabbit finds a way to steal, trick others to avoid blame, and evade any real consequences. This entertaining folktale segues nicely into discussions on taking responsibility for ones actions.

Roles: Narrator 1, Narrator 2, Narrator 3, Narrator 4, Narrator 5, Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Bear

Setting: Southern United States; long ago

Theme: Folk Tale

Vocabulary:

• cleared some land: raked, hoed, and weeded earth for planting
• goober peas: peanuts
• hightailed it: left quickly
• mid-air: any place in the air; not touching earth
• skedaddle: run away quickly

Props: (optional) paper fox ears, rabbit and bear ears; section of plastic fence; peanuts in shells

Follow-Up Questions:

• Who planted the goober peas?
• Who got himself into a real fix?"
• Why did Rabbit tell Bear he was earning a dollar a minute?
• Which word best describes Rabbit -- silly or dishonest? Explain why.
• At the end of the story, had Brer Rabbit learned a lesson? Why or why not?

Follow-Up Activity: After discussing whether Brer Rabbit learned a lesson in the Dollar a Minute" story, ask children how they felt about the things he did to Bear and Fox. Ask: Was Rabbit a good friend? Why or why not? What would you like to say to him? Then invite children to write notes to Brer Rabbit ,including what they think of his actions and how he could have behaved differently.

Click here for a printable script.

Article by Susan LaBella
Education World®
Copyright © 2010 Education World

05/18/2010