Students can learn valuable lessons from folk tales. Each has a moral-of-the-story type attitude that gently runs throughout the story. When students see the consequences of the characters’ decisions, they often relate the characters’ problems to their own and learn from the characters’ mistakes. Rather than lecture students about right and wrong, it’s fun to see them reach their own conclusions through the reading of the tales.

A Pot Full of Tales: Using Folk Tales To Teach Creative Thinking and Writing presents ten popular folk tales (books not included), which are used to teach creative thinking and writing. Each unit begins with a summary of the story and questions from Bloom’s Taxonomy. Following these questions are independent projects ideas developed to encourage creative thinking and writing.

The units may be used in any order. Begin each by reading the story to the class. Ask any or all Bloom questions based upon the story. Then choose some or all of the projects for the students to complete.

After all the books have been read, allow the children to do the puzzles and other activities and to play the “Folk Tale Magic” game. This game asks questions about all the folk tales included in the book and provides a fun way to review and end the unit.

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Grades 1–4.

The lessons and activities in this book align with the following Common Core State Standards*:
CCSS.ELA-RL.1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.10; W.1.1, 1.2, 1.3; SL.1.1, 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.1c, 1.2, 1.3,1.6
CCSS.ELA-RL.2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.10; W.2.2, 2.3, 2.5; SL.2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6
CCSS.ELA-RL.3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.10; W.3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5; SL.3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6
CCSS.ELA-RL.4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.10; W.4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5; SL.4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6

Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the [grade- level] text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail.

Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.
Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.

*Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers
Title: Common Core State Standards English Language Arts
Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C.
Copyright Date: 2010