PBL: Folk Tales from around the World
Folk tales are stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. Many of these stories began as oral traditions that were retold for centuries before they were actually written down, much like Aesop's fables or tales by Homer. Folk tales often contain elements such as supernatural characters, ordinary people who are given extraordinary power or tools, or explanations of natural phenomena.
Myths, legends, and folk tales are all literary forms that reveal the "soul" of any society; they express its wishes, desires, hopes, and beliefs about the world. In any country these forms of literature show what the society thinks is important about life. These literature forms are often ancient and come directly from the groups that now make up modern society. There are many stories that present the same basic tale, but have been tweaked to include regional criteria (names, religious influence, local customs and traditions) to help the listener relate to the story. Folk tales were often used as a means of communicating expected standards of behavior or to explain things people didn't understand.
As time has gone on, folk tales have remained a popular form of storytelling. Stories that have originated from one part of the world are now recognized in different parts of the world, usually because it serves as the origin story of a popular movie or cartoon. For this project, we will:
- identify the origin of selected folk tales
- trace their popularity through cultural convergence, divergence, and diffusion
- examine their changes due to religious influence, customs and traditions, gender roles, and education levels
- analyze their effect on pop culture
Myths, legends, and folk tales are all literary forms that reveal the "soul" of any society; they express its wishes, desires, hopes, and beliefs about the world. In any country these forms of literature show what the society thinks is important about life. These literature forms are often ancient and come directly from the groups that now make up modern society. There are many stories that present the same basic tale, but have been tweaked to include regional criteria (names, religious influence, local customs and traditions) to help the listener relate to the story. Folk tales were often used as a means of communicating expected standards of behavior or to explain things people didn't understand.
As time has gone on, folk tales have remained a popular form of storytelling. Stories that have originated from one part of the world are now recognized in different parts of the world, usually because it serves as the origin story of a popular movie or cartoon. For this project, we will:
- identify the origin of selected folk tales
- trace their popularity through cultural convergence, divergence, and diffusion
- examine their changes due to religious influence, customs and traditions, gender roles, and education levels
- analyze their effect on pop culture
Project Requirements
Original Myth, Legend, Folk or Fairy Tale
World Map
- Showing popularity growth of Origin Story over time
- Colored, Labeled, with Basic Map Components
5 to 10 Museum Exhibit Labels, Panels, and Captions
5 to 7 Images (MAX Size 8x12 in)
OPTIONAL: Digital Media Files or Video/Audio Clips
World Map
- Showing popularity growth of Origin Story over time
- Colored, Labeled, with Basic Map Components
5 to 10 Museum Exhibit Labels, Panels, and Captions
5 to 7 Images (MAX Size 8x12 in)
OPTIONAL: Digital Media Files or Video/Audio Clips
Selected folk tales
The Legend of the Eagle & the Serpent
Mexico, circa 1300 CE Baba Yaga & Vasilisa the Fair Russia, circa 1755 CE "Sirens" from Homer's The Odyssey Greece, circa 800 BCE "The Broken Pot" from Panchatantra India, circa 300 BCE |
The Hunting of the Great Bear (Ursa Major)
North America (Iroquois), circa 1700 CE Vega and Altair China, circa 1049 CE St. George and the Dragon England, circa 1254 CE The Wanderers New Zealand (Maori), compiled circa 1500 CE |
PBL Documents
All the important documents you will need for this unit will be included here. Please be sure that you refer back to these documents often to keep yourself on track as your project develops.
- Challenge Brief
- Use this document for reminders on what the actual project is, what items you need to include, and what your due date is
- Rubric
- Use this document to assess the pieces of your project as you create them. Checking your rubric often will help you figure out if you are on track or if you have a bit more work to do in order to earn the best grade possible.
- Calendar
- This document will give you a general idea of when important workshops will take place, when you will have time to do research and, most importantly, when your project is due! (Keep in mind, dates can and probably will change depending on school assemblies, exercises, or other events!)