Passing Down Wisdom: Indigenous, Hispanic, and African American Traditional Stories

Recount what happened in "Spider Grandmother."

The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas pp. 1–3 — "Spider Grandmother"

Standards

RL.3.2RL.3.3

Recount what happened in "Bacabs."

The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas pp. 7–9 — "Bacabs"

Standards

RL.3.3

Identify and explain important lessons or truths that are revealed through traditional stories, such as creation stories, by discussing key events and character actions.

The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas — "Spider Grandmother" and "Bacabs"

Standards

RL.3.2RL.3.3

Language

Use subordinating conjunctions to produce complex sentences.

Clause Sorting Handout (G3, U3, L4)

Standards

L.3.1.i

Recount what happened in "The Bird of One Thousand Colors."

Tales Our... — "The Bird of One Thousand Colors"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Describe the turkey and how his actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Tales Our... — "The Bird of One Thousand Colors"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.3

Explain what lesson the author is trying to teach in "The Bird of One Thousand Colors."

Tales Our... — "The Bird of One Thousand Colors"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Recount what happened in "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle."

Tales Our... — "''Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Describe Venado and Jicotea and how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Tales Our... — "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.3W.3.1

Explain what lesson the story "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle" is trying to teach.

Tales Our... — "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Recount what happened in "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains."

Tales Our... — "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Describe the soldier and the ant and how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Tales Our... — "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Explain what lesson the story "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains" is trying to teach.

Tales Our... — "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Language

Incorporate a variety of clear and interesting dialogue tags to show who is speaking and how they speak.

Folktales Mad Libs Handout (G3, U3, 14)

Standards

L.3.2.c

Recount what happened in "The Happy Man’s Tunic."

Tales Our... — "The Happy Man's Tunic"

Standards

L.3.1.dRL.3.2RL.3.3

Describe the shepherd and how his actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Tales Our... — "The Happy Man's Tunic"

Standards

L.3.2.cRL.3.3

Describe what lesson the story "The Happy Man's Tunic" teaches the reader.

Tales Our... — "The Happy Man's Tunic"

Standards

RL.3.2RL.3.3W.3.3.b

Discussion

Analyze common lessons across different folktales and how characters are similar and different.

Tales Our...

Standards

L.3.6RL.3.2RL.3.9SL.3.1SL.3.1.aSL.3.1.dSL.3.6

Day 1 - Planning & Drafting

Writing

Overview

Write an opinion paragraph that states which traditional story teaches the most important lesson and give reasons to support that opinion.

Plan and draft an opinion paragraph that states which traditional story teaches the most important lesson using three strong reasons and linking words.

Single Paragraph Outline
Single Paragraph Outline Sample Response (G3, U3, L19)

Standards

W.3.1W.3.1.aW.3.1.bW.3.1.cW.3.1.d

Describe Doc Rabbit and how his actions contribute to the sequence of events.

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales pp. 13–19 — "Doc Rabbit, Bruh Fox, and the Tar Baby"

Standards

L.3.2.cRL.3.2RL.3.3W.3.3.b

Describe Bruh Rabbit.

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales pp. 5–12 — "He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3RL.3.9

Describe Bruh Rabbit.

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales pp. 31–41 — "Bruh Lizard and Bruh Rabbit" (pp. 31–34) and "Bruh Alligator Meets Trouble" (pp. 35–41)

Discussion

Analyze and debate unit Essential Questions.

Standards

RL.3.2SL.3.1SL.3.1.aSL.3.1.dSL.3.6

Write an opinion paragraph that states which of Bruh Rabbit's clever tricks teaches the most important lesson, using reasons and examples from the story.

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Analyze key Bruh Rabbit tricks and begin planning a visual retelling of one that teaches an important lesson.

Opinion Planner (G3, U3, L24)
Story Board Planning Template (G3, U3, L24)

Standards

RL.3.2W.3.1

Day 2 - Drafting

Draft an opinion paragraph explaining which Bruh Rabbit trick teaches the most important lesson and why.

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Single Paragraph Outline
Opinion Paragraph Examples (G3, U3, L24)
Story Board Planning Template (G3, U3, L24)

Standards

W.3.1W.3.1.aW.3.1.bW.3.1.cW.3.1.d

Revise an opinion paragraph to include illustrative examples that strengthen supporting opinions.

Standards

W.3.1W.3.1.bW.3.1.cW.3.5

Day 4 - Publishing

Finalize and publish paragraphs and story boards.

Story Board Planning Template (G3, U3, L24) — Completed

Standards

W.3.1W.3.5W.3.6

Writing

Overview

Write a narrative using effective technique and organizing an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Writers brainstorm story elements and characters to prepare for writing an original folktale that includes key folktale traits and teaches a clear lesson.