1. Theme One: Rogers Public Schools Grade Three (RL.3.2, RL.3.3, RL3.7)
Trickster Tales
Theme One:
Rogers Public Schools
Grade Three (RL.3.2, RL.3.3, RL3.7)

2. What are “Trickster Tales”?
A trickster tale is a kind of folktale told all over the world.
The trickster is a clever animal or person who plays tricks on other characters.
Often it’s because the trickster is greedy or boastful.
Sometimes though, another character outwits the trickster!
Can you think of any “trickster” characters of whom you are familiar?

3. A traditional story handed down by generations
Genre Vocabulary
Boastfulness
Clever
Culture
Folktale
Greediness
Mischief
Qualities
Trickster
Being full of praise for yourself
Smart
A group of people’s customs, beliefs, and traditions
A traditional story handed down by generations
Selfishness
Bad behavior
Features that make a person special
A character who plays tricks or pranks on others

4. Applying the Vocabulary
boastfulness culture clever trickster greediness

5. Applying the Vocabulary
culture mischief folktale qualities clever

6. Told by Pleasant DeSpain
Trickster Tale One
Hungry Spider
A Tale from Africa and the Ashanti Tribe
Based on the title and the genre, what do you predict will happen in this story?
When else have we read or learned about the Ashanti people?
Told by Pleasant DeSpain

7. Character Traits
Characters in folktales often have exaggerated traits or personalities.
Authors reveal character traits through:
descriptions
dialogue (conversations)
the character’s actions and reactions
Pay attention to the author’s of character traits throughout the story.

8. Hungry Spider Story Map
Steps Used in the Trick
Setting
Trickster
Trickster’s Character Traits
Problem Trickster Needs to Solve
Results

9. Critical Thinking
Why does the author begin the story with a description of the Spider?
Why does Spider invite Turtle to dinner, even though he doesn’t want to share his food?
Why do you think Turtle invites Spider to dinner after Spider treated him so badly?

10. What lesson can we learn from this story?
Lesson to be Learned
What lesson can we learn from this story?

11. Rabbit Races with Turtle
Trickster Tale Two
Rabbit Races with Turtle
Have you heard any versions of this trickster tale?
Told by Gayle Ross

12. Problems and Solutions
Trickster tales always have a problem and solution.
As you read, think about the different problems and how each is solved.
Problems
Solutions

13. Critical Thinking
How can you tell that this story is a “trickster tale”?
In “Hungry Spider”, how does politeness cause both Spider and Turtle to be tricked?
What details in “Rabbit Races Turtle” a good trickster tale?

14. Compare & Contrast

15. Look for details about this story that make it a “trickster tale”.
Genre Enrichment
Look for details about this story that make it a “trickster tale”.

16. Aunt Fox and the Fried Fish
Trickster Tale Three
Aunt Fox and the Fried Fish
What will be the trick in this trickster tale?
Told by Rafael Rivero Oramas

17. Descriptive Language
This author uses descriptive language, or words that paint vivid pictures in the readers’ minds.
In the story identify the different examples of descriptive words.

18. Descriptive Language Enrichment

19. The Purposes of Descriptive Language

20. Critical Thinking
What details does the author provide to show why Aunt Fox eats the fish?
How is this story similar to and different from the other two trickster tales?
Does this trickster tale teach a lesson or is it written just to be entertaining?

21. Trickster Chart
Complete the story chart on page 180 of your practice book:
You will be identifying the main parts of the three trickster tales we have read.

22. Wrapping up our Focus Compare the tricks played by the characters:
Which do you think was the cleverest?
Which one was the funniest?
Do you think the characters had good reasons or bad reasons for playing tricks?
Who was your favorite “trickster” and why?

23. Independent Comprehension