Mythology, Folklore, and the Hero's Journey
Arthurian Legend| |Beowulf| |Classical Mythology| |Creation Stories| |Fairy Tales and Folktales| |The Archetypal Hero's Journey| |Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey|
Aesop and Ananse: Animal Fables and Trickster Tales
Students become familiar with fables and trickster tales from different cultural traditions and see how stories change when transferred orally between generations and cultures. They learn how both types of folktales employ various animals in different ways to portray human strengths and weaknesses and to pass down wisdom from one generation to the next.
Aesop's Fables
More than 655 Fables, indexed in table format, with morals. Included are Real Audio narrations, Classic Images, Random Images, Random Fables, Search Engine, and Message Forum. Also included: 127 Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen.
Literature by Aesop
Texts of more than 500 of Aesop's Fables in alphabetical order.
Aesop's Fables
Students learn about Aesop and to adapt his fables to contemporary times. This WebQuest is designed for 5th graders.
An African Folktale: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Designed for lower elementary students, this five-day series of lessons includes map study, vocabulary words, and reading skills.
American Folklore
Folksy retellings of a variety of tales: Native American myths and legends, weather folklore, ghost stories, and tall tales of Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and others.
Arthurian Legend Teaching Resources
Lesson plans and classroom activities for teaching about King Arthur.
Beatrix Potter's Naughty Animal Tales
By studying Beatrix Potter's childhood and her artwork, students gain insight into the unusual, solitary world of Victorian childhood and can compare/contrast it with their own world to understand why Potter wrote such simple stories and why she wrote about animals rather than people. This site includes lots of support links and includes art activities.
Beowulf Teaching Resources
Lesson plans and classroom activities for teaching Beowulf.
Classical Mythology Teaching Resources
Lesson plans and classroom activities for teaching about Greek and Roman mythology.
Common Visions, Common Voices
These lessons use art and trickster stories to help students understand that people in various cultures are more alike than different.
Creation Stories
Collections of creation stories from a variety of cultures.
Description of a Familiar Object using Mythology
Students describe the throne they would have if they were a deity.
Dramatizing Folktales, Legends, and Myths
Elementary students work together to research, select, and dramatize a Native American myth or legend.
An Etymological Dictionary of Classical Mythology
English words with origins in Greek and Roman mythology.
Fairy Tales & Folktales
Lesson plans and classroom activities for teaching fairy tales and folktales, including Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Some sites include variations of the tale from around the world.
Folklore and Mythology
A remarkable collection of links to stories from around the world.
The Folktale, Fable, and Parable
Students analyze and interpret a folktale that comments on a social attitude. They then write a true story illustrating the same attitude and explain how the true story relates to the folktale.
Gilgamesh: he who saw all
Lesson plans for introducing the epic to 6th and 7th graders.
Gods, Heroes, and Myth
Links to stories from several cultures.
Greek Mythology and the Forms of Energy
This lesson for elementary students integrates mythology and science.
Hamilton's Mythology Study Guides
Chapter-by-chapter study questions to accompany Edith Hamilton's classic introduction to Greek mythology.
Helpful Animals and Compassionate Humans in Folklore
Through examining several examples of helpful animal tales from around the world, students will learn about humans living in cooperation with the land and sea and with the beasts that inhabit them.
Hercules the hero: understanding the myth
Background information, summary of the 12 Labors, pronunciation guide, and lesson plans, including critical consideration of the Disney video.
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
Lesson plans, background information, and classroom activities.
How have the qualities of heroes changed over time?
In this WebQuest, students compare the qualities of ancient Greek heroes with modern heroes.
In the Time of the Old Ones
In this WebQuest students investigate the Dine/Navajo people. Part of the WebQuest involves reading and writing legends. This WebQuest is designed for grades 3-5 but appears to be adaptable to other grade levels.
Introduction to Greek Mythology
Students investigate a character from Greek mythology and report to the class. This standards-based activity includes downloadable handout and rubric.
The Journey of the Hero
Lesson plans and teaching resources for the archetype of the hero's journey or quest, sometimes called the monomyth.
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