Extending children\u27s literacy through the study of folk tales

A unit on African folk tales in the basal reader series was extended through a library search for additional stories for Grades 4 and 5. These works served as examples of strictly structured stories, reflecting humans\u27 enjoyment of storytelling and universal conflicts. A whole array of expressive activities (speaking, writing, illustrating, and dramatizing) was offered through learning centers, sustaining and specific to the unit. These activities extended the literature experiences, thus offering the children opportunities to compose like a reader. The children\u27s responses began to indicate a heightened sense of story structure. This unit offered flexible grouping for the learners. Children could work as individuals or in pairs or small groups. The Sharing Time, a whole class activity, became an opportunity to share expressive activities from the unit. Not only was this period enlivened but the children received ideas for expressing the constructs they had created in their literature experiences