Liang And The Magic Paintbrush
From Reading Rainbow · 1983
29 minK1st2nd3rdReading & Writing (ELA)ArtSocial Studies
Summary
LeVar Burton reads the Chinese folktale of Liang, a poor boy gifted a magic paintbrush that brings his paintings to life. The episode explores how art can be a force for justice when used by someone with a good heart.
Viewer safety
All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
A poor boy with a magic paintbrush must decide how to use his gift wisely.
- Why does Liang use the paintbrush to help his village instead of himself?
- What happens when greedy people try to use the paintbrush for their own gain?
- How is this story similar to other 'be careful what you wish for' tales you know?
- What would *you* paint if you had a magic paintbrush?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: folktale, justice, greedy, generous, consequence.
Try it: Draw a picture of something you would paint if you had a magic paintbrush. Write one sentence explaining how it would help someone.