Fairy Tales

Traditional tale
Special beginning and/or ending Once upon a time and
They lived happily ever after

Includes good vs. evil character

Royalty and/or castle usually present
Magic
Animals have human characteristics
Usually a problem that needs a solution
Common numbers often present 3 or 7

Fill in the chart attached with evidence from the story to

support the elements of the fairy tale. Work with the others
in your group to go back in the story to find the specific
evidence. You do not have to write in full sentences.

Fairy Tale to read as a group:

Beauty and the Beast from the Images of Beauty
book
Pages 33-78

Your name: ______________________________________

Names of people in your group: _______________________
______________________________________________

Revisit the fairy tale you read to find evidence to support each
element of fairy tales. Fill in the chart with specific evidence from
the story.

Name of the fairy tale: ___________________________________

Fairy Tale element Specific evidence from the story
Special beginning
or ending
Includes good
versus evil
Magic is often
present
Problem that
needs to be solved
Common numbers
often present (3,
7)
Animals have
human
characteristics
Each person in the group should choose one of the elements and draw a
picture to explain how the element shows up in the story. Write the
element and then draw a picture to show that element.

Fables

Traditional tale
Most contain a moral or message
There are few characters with human characteristics
Usually those characteristics are exaggerated
Plots are simple

Fill in the chart attached with evidence from the story to

support the elements of the fable. Work with the others in
your group to go back in the story to find the specific
evidence. You do not have to write in full sentences.

Fables to read as a group:

Donkey Carrying Salt by Aesop page 25
The Fox and the Stork by La Fontaine page 13
The Bear and the Crow by Arnold Lobel page 29
Hatc het Cruel by Mirra Ginsburg page 35

Your name: ______________________________________

Names of people in your group: _______________________
______________________________________________

Revisit the fable you read to find evidence to support each element of
fables. Fill in the chart with specific evidence from the story.

Name of the fable: ___________________________________

Fable element
Animals have
human
characteristics

Specific evidence from the story

Those
characteristics
are usually
exaggerated
Plots are very
simple and move
quickly
Moral or lesson

Each person in the group should choose one of the elements and draw a
picture to explain how the element shows up in the story. Write the
element and then draw a picture to show that element.

Myths

Traditional tale
Told long ago
Told to explain something in nature or to teach a moral lesson
Includes gods, goddesses, and heroes
Magic is often present
Many times associated with a group of people

Fill in the chart attached with evidence from the story to

support the elements of the myth. Work with the others in
your group to go back in the story to find the specific
evidence. You do not have to write in full sentences.

Myths to read as a group:

Athena and Arachne from Greece
Proserpine and Ceres from Roman mythology
Crow Brings the Daylight from the Inuit Native
Americans

Your name: ______________________________________

Names of people in your group: _______________________
______________________________________________

Revisit the myth you read to find evidence to support each element of
myths. Fill in the chart with specific evidence from the story.

Name of the myth: ___________________________________

Myth element
Told long ago

Specific evidence from the story

Told to explain
something in
nature or to teach
a lesson
Magic is often
present
Includes gods,
goddesses, or
heroes
Usually associated
with a group of
people (Greek,
Roman, Egyptian,
etc.)
Each person in the group should choose one of the elements and draw a
picture to explain how the element shows up in the story. Write the
element and then draw a picture to show that element.

Trickster Tales

Traditional tale
A clever animal plays tricks
One character has a problem to solve
The trickster has 1 or 2 main characteristics like greediness
or boastfulness

Plot moves fast

Some may include a moral or lesson

Fill in the chart attached with evidence from the story to

support the elements of the trickster tale. Work with the
others in your group to go back in the story to find the
specific evidence. You do not have to write in full sentences.

Trickster Tales to read as a group:

Hare Tricks Lion
Hungry Spider Rewards reading book page 236

Your name: ______________________________________

Names of people in your group: _______________________
______________________________________________

Revisit the trickster tale you read to find evidence to support each
element of trickster tales. Fill in the chart with specific evidence
from the story.

Name of the trickster tale: ________________________________

Trickster Tale element Specific evidence from the story
A clever animal who
plays tricks
One character with a
problem to solve
Trickster has 1 or 2
main characteristics
Plot moves quickly

Moral or lesson is
evident
Each person in the group should choose one of the elements and draw a
picture to explain how the element shows up in the story. Write the
element and then draw a picture to show that element.

Pourquoi Tales

Traditional tale
Old legends told long ago
Explain things to do with animals and the natural world
Told in response to a why question
Animals have personalities
They take place in the past
They sound like they are being told aloud

Fill in the chart attached with evidence from the story to

support the elements of the pourquoi tale. Work with the
others in your group to go back in the story to find the
specific evidence. You do not have to write in full sentences.

Pourquoi Tales to read as a group:

How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun
Why Rabbit Has Long Ears and a Short Tale

Your name: ______________________________________

Names of people in your group: _______________________
______________________________________________

Revisit the pourquoi tale you read to find evidence to support each
element of pourquoi tales. Fill in the chart with specific evidence from
the story.

Name of the pourquoi tale: ________________________________

Pourquoi Tale element
Told long ago

Specific evidence from the story

Explains why
something happened
or changed
Usually involves
something in nature
or animals
Animals have
personalities
They sound like they
are being told aloud
Each person in the group should choose one of the elements and draw a
picture to explain how the element shows up in the story. Write the
element and then draw a picture to show that element.