This Waldorf Folktale class will introduce your learner to Pourquoi folktales and animal adaptations as we research animals such as lions and wolves together in class.  This class will deeply enter into the study of an animal of the student's choice.  Students will find the behaviors, habitats, enemies, and adaptations that make each animal unique.  

The animal research will be teacher-led in the classroom (choice of 2-3 animals) and students may also choose to do outside research on their own animals if they would like to.   

We will also take a look into the folktale genre and what elements make up a folktale and a Pourquoi tale.  Once we have our research and have read folktales together (Coyote and Jabuti by Gerald McDermott), we will then begin the amazing task of using our animal research to write a folktale of our own.  We will create a storyboard and drawing as pre-write activities.  

How did the Coyote get its black-tipped tail?  By almost falling into a fire, of course! How did the hawk get its red tail?  How did the raccoon get its mask?  Students will write a tale about their own animal of choice and share their stories with the class.  

Students should be comfortable with writing sentences for this class, as there will not be individual writing support during class.  You may schedule an individual writing support class in addition to this class if you feel your child needs help writing.  

Week One:  
~Introductions
~Teacher led animal research 
~Discuss elements of a folktale and pourquoi tale
~Read Coyote by Gerald McDermott

Week Two: 
~Begin storyboard work together
~Begin writing our folktale with a beginning, middle, and end. 
~Read Jabuti by Gerald McDermott

Week Three:
~Finish our final writing and drawing of our animal 
~Share our folktales with each other