Summary
You've heard these stories a thousand times—Cinderella goes to the ball, Little Red Riding Hood skips off into the woods, and the Tortoise and the Hare face off in a race for the ages. Ever wonder where these familiar stories come from? "Folktale" means "story of the people," and that's exactly what these tales are. The fairy tales and legends we know from Disney movies and children's books were told from memory for hundreds of years before they were ever written down. They were a way for societies to preserve and transmit their culture's teachings. They shared warnings, too—how to stay out of danger, and what behaviors to avoid. Despite their differences, many cultures tell very similar stories, teaching the same lessons. Over time, scholars have divided them into subgenres: fairy tales, fables, myths, legends, and tall tales. Each subgenre has its own particular purpose. But they all do two things: teach and entertain. Press "play" to learn about folktales from around the world!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Folktales:
- What is one new thing you learned about folktales?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining folktales.
- Draw or give one example of your own.