Tall Tale

Students read and discussed a variety of tall tale this month. They discussed the different elements of what makes a tall tales. As an end project, students created their own tall tale.

Characteristics of Tall Tales

✰ exaggeration

✰ main character has a problem to solve and usually overcomes the obstacle or defeats a “bad guy”

✰ main character is bigger than life/super-human abilities

✰ the plot of the story is funny or impossible

✰ often about the frontier days in the United States (exaggeration of the hardships of frontier life or explains a natural occurrence)

✰ may be about animals, weather, everyday events, and ordinary people (more famous tales are about heroes)

Assignment

Checklist for the writing assignment:

❑ hero or heroine

❑ special trait or ability

❑ exaggeration

❑ simile

❑ problem

❑ resolution

❑ onomatopoeia

❑ creative beginning and ending

❑ explain a natural occurrence (Grand Canyon, Great Lakes, etc.)