Creating a Folktale for Young Children
Writing a Story That Explains the How or Why ofSomething
Project Summary: Every culture hasporquoi stories, folktales that explain things that people don't
understand. In the early 1900s, Rudyard Kipling wrote a popular collection ofJust So Stories such
as "How the Camel Got His Hump" and "How the Rhino Got His Skin." More recently, porquoi
stories such as the African tale Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears have become staples in school
libraries. Every culture uses folktales not only to explain natural phenomena but to pass along
beliefs and values-to teach lessons about kindness, greed, conceit, honesty, and so on. In this
assignment, you are going to write a porquoi tale, reflecting your cultural heritage, that could be
enjoyed by young readers in grade three or four.
Purpose: Your purpose is to write a folktale that entertains and explains.
Writer's Role: You will write as yourself, an aspiring children's author.
Audience: Your audience will be younger children, grade three or four. Your story presentation
(theme, length, vocabulary) must be appropriate for your audience.
Form: You will write a porquoi story, a folktale that explains the why or how of something.
Remember that folktales are handed down from long ago, so your story should be set in the past.
Feel free to use your own family's background to give your tale cultural authenticity. Most folktales
have pictures for younger readers. Your story can be a picture book, a story with several illustrations
to support key passages in the story, or a story with few or no pictures. Do not be concerned about
the sophistication of the artwork. The focus in this project is to tell an engaging story.
Focus Correction Areas: 1. Attention-Getting Lead
2. All Folktale Elements Included (characters, setting, and plot- with
a problem and resolution to the problem)
3. Dialogue Punctuated Correctly
Procedures: Before writing your story, you will do several activities in class:
- Type One Writing: Write ten lines or more on what you think authors do to make their stories
interesting to their readers. We will discuss your responses in class and develop a list of
characteristics that make stories engaging for young readers.
- We will read and discuss several porquoi stories to see what techniques the authors used to
make the stories interesting.
- As a class, we will brainstorm and discuss possible ideas for porquoi stories.
- Complete the Planning a Folktale Focus Sheets.
- Draft your story and make rough sketches tor any illustrations. Due date: _ _ _ _ __
- Read your draft in a one-foot voice, and make any changes you feel will improve your story.
- Work with a partner to get feedback on your folktale; double-check your FCAs to make sure you
have done a good job in those areas.
- Write a second draft with all ofyour improvements and illustrations. Due date: _ _ _ __
From High School Writing Projects by John Collins and Gary Chadwell. Copyright (0 1998 by John J. Collins. All rights reserved.
Collins Education Associates, West Newbury, MA, 1-800-932-4477.
18
hit Planning a Folktale Part 1 Notes on My Story THEME
My story explains how or why...
Notes on SETTING
When:
,-- ------­
- -- - - - - - - ---,- - - " -- -'
Notes on CHARACTERS
Name:
Name:
Name:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes on PLOT
Main CONFLICT or PROBLEM in the Story:
-,- - - --,- -
-
-
- - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - -- - --
From High School Writing Projects by John Collins and Gary Chadwell. Copyright © 1998 by John J. Collins. All rights reserved. For more information call Collins Education Associates, West Newbury, MA, 1-800-932-4477. ­
hll Planning a Folktale Part 2 Main Story EVENTS
--~
Story ENDING:
--_._--_._._-----."----"---,,
-. --.,,-
, -------,,-- ----------------­
------ ---.--------- --~--- -- -.-.----- - .--.--. ,,--,,-- - --- -----------_._--
From High School Writing Projects by John Collins and Gary Chadwell. Copyright © 1998 by John J. Collins. All rights reserved. For more information call Collins Education Associates, West Newbury, MA, 1-800-932-4477.