Related Show: Arthur
Put on a Folktale Play
Listening to folktales from around the world can help your child begin to understand cultures that are different from their own. And acting out these stories allows your child to think in another character’s shoes — building empathy!
Before You Play
Look for folktales at your local library or bookstore. Some suggestions:
Baby Rattlesnake, a Chickasaw tale by Te Ata
The Bossy Gallito, a Cuban tale by Lucia Gonzalez
The Chick and the Duckling, a Russian tale by Vladimir Suteev Why the Sky Is Far Away, a Nigerian tale by Mary-Joan Gerson
Materials
Directions
Read the folktale out loud with your child.
Act out the story! Make sure everyone in the family has a part — but everyone can play multiple roles. Your child can make up lines or even silently act out parts of the book while you narrate. Note: some folktales may have sad or scary endings (ie: “bad guys” being punished). Instead of having your child act out those scenes, you might ask them to come up with an alternate ending. “Is there a way the characters could have worked things out so they could be friends?”
Literacy
Arts