Trickster Tales Theme One Rogers Public Schools Grade

Trickster Tales Theme One: Rogers Public Schools Grade Three (RL. 3. 2, RL. 3. 3, RL 3. 7)

What are “Trickster Tales”? • A trickster tale is a kind of folktale told all over the world. • The trickster is a clever animal or person who plays tricks on other characters. • Often it’s because the trickster is greedy or boastful. • Sometimes though, another character outwits the trickster! Can you think of any “trickster” characters of whom you are familiar?

Genre Vocabulary • • Boastfulness Being full of praise for yourself Smart Clever A group of people’s customs, beliefs, and traditions Culture A traditional story handed down by generations Folktale Selfishness Greediness Bad behavior Mischief Features that make a person special Qualities Trickster A character who plays tricks or pranks on others

Applying the Vocabulary boastfulness culture clever trickster greediness

Applying the Vocabulary culture mischief folktale qualities clever

Trickster Tale One Hungry Spider A Tale from Africa and the Ashanti Tribe Based on the title and the genre, what do you predict will happen in this story? When else have we read or learned about the Ashanti people? Told by Pleasant De. Spain

Character Traits Characters in folktales often have exaggerated traits or personalities. Authors reveal character traits through: • descriptions • dialogue (conversations) • the character’s actions and reactions Pay attention to the author’s of character traits throughout the story.

Hungry Spider Story Map te s k c i Tr r Trickster’s Character Traits g n i t t e S Steps Used in the Trick Problem Trickster Needs to Solve ts l u s Re

Critical Thinking • Why does the author begin the story with a description of the Spider? • Why does Spider invite Turtle to dinner, even though he doesn’t want to share his food? • Why do you think Turtle invites Spider to dinner after Spider treated him so badly?

Lesson to be Learned What lesson can we learn from this story?

Trickster Tale Two Rabbit Races with Turtle Have you heard any versions of this trickster tale? Told by Gayle Ross

Problems and Solutions Trickster tales always have a problem and solution. As you read, think about the different problems and how each is solved. Problems Solutions

Critical Thinking • How can you tell that this story is a “trickster tale”? • In “Hungry Spider”, how does politeness cause both Spider and Turtle to be tricked? • What details in “Rabbit Races Turtle” a good trickster tale?

Compare & Contrast

Genre Enrichment Look for details about this story that make it a “trickster tale”.

Trickster Tale Three Aunt Fox and the Fried Fish What will be the trick in this trickster tale? Told by Rafael Rivero Oramas

Descriptive Language This author uses descriptive language, or words that paint vivid pictures in the readers’ minds. In the story identify the different examples of descriptive words.

Descriptive Language Enrichment

The Purposes of Descriptive Language

Critical Thinking • What details does the author provide to show why Aunt Fox eats the fish? • How is this story similar to and different from the other two trickster tales? • Does this trickster tale teach a lesson or is it written just to be entertaining?

Trickster Chart Complete the story chart on page 180 of your practice book: You will be identifying the main parts of the three trickster tales we have read.

Wrapping up our Focus Compare the tricks played by the characters: Which do you think was the cleverest? Which one was the funniest? Do you think the characters had good reasons or bad reasons for playing tricks? Who was your favorite “trickster” and why?