Activity
The following activity for 3rd-graders will be based on the book:
Kellogg, Steven. I was born about 10,000 years ago: a tall tale. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1996. Print. 40 pages.
Based on a 19th century American folk song, the young characters in this book tell their tall tales about things they have seen in history including items from the Bible and famous characters in other folk tales. The humorous stories are told in rhyme. Young readers can easily relate to the characters and will be inspired to create their own stories!
Based on a 19th century American folk song, the young characters in this book tell their tall tales about things they have seen in history including items from the Bible and famous characters in other folk tales. The humorous stories are told in rhyme. Young readers can easily relate to the characters and will be inspired to create their own stories!
The last page of the book reads:
"We've stretched the truth a bit, but now we're through.
The next tall tale will have to come from you.
Putting whoppers into rhyme
Was the way folks passed the time.
For about a million years, or maybe two!"
Activity:
- The teacher will read the book to the class.
- The class will discuss the book's rhyming pattern and various rhyme schemes. (This book has and "End Rhyme" that repeats the AABBA scheme). The teacher may use a PDF for assistance (taken from the website: http://www.loske.org/html/school/english/resources.htm)
- The class will discuss tall tales and students will be asked to recall other tall tales that they have heard either from family, friends, or in their culture.
- Students will write their own tall tale using the AABBA scheme.
- Students will illustrate their completed rhyme
- All student rhymes/illustrations will be bound into a book for class distribution (also could use for parent conference night, and could donate to the classroom library and/or school library for future students).