4.++Folklore

The genre of folklore is defined as stories passed down over time by word of mouth. There are many types of folklore like fables, tall tales, myths, legends, etc. With young children, we share these wonderful stories, many of which have life lessons included. After sharing these stories from long ago, we then share the newer variants (folklore variants or fractured fairy tales) created by current authors. Technically, these new stories are considered FANTASY but they stem from original folklore. Sharing the old and the new stories provide students and teachers the opportunity to compare and contrast characters, events, settings, sequence... All narrative elements of literature can be taught using folklore!

Dramatic Reenactments and STORYTELLING are just right for this genre! Let's PERFORM!

The Great Big Enormous Turnip Folktale by Alexei Tolstoy Adapted by Lee-Anne T. Spalding An **old man** planted a turnip seed. The turnip grew big and sweet. It grew very big! The turnip was enormous! The old man thought he just had to pull on the leaves to get it out. He tried to pick his turnip but he couldn’t pull it up! He quickly called his **wife**, the old woman. The old woman was in the living room with her pets. The old man pulled the turnip leaves and the old woman pulled him. But they couldn't pull it up. The old woman called her **granddaughter**. The granddaughter was reading in a nearby tree. The old man, the old woman, and the granddaughter tried but they couldn’t pull it up! The granddaughter called the black **dog**. The dog was on the couch. The old man, the old woman, the granddaughter, and the dog tried but they couldn’t pull it up! The dog called the orange **cat.** The cat was in the flower garden. The old man, the old woman, the granddaughter, the dog and the cat tried but they couldn’t pull it up! The cat called the gray **mouse**. The mouse was in his mouse hole. The old man, the old woman, the granddaughter, the dog, the cat and the mouse pulled and pulled and … Out popped the turnip! They were so excited! They went to the kitchen and had turnip for lunch!





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