1. Theme One: Focus on Genre
Trickster Tales
Theme One: Focus on Genre
Rogers Public Schools
Grade 3
(RL.3.2, RL.3.3, RL.3.7)

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. Challenging Vocabulary:
Teacher Read Aloud
“Love And Roast Chicken”
Retold by Barbara Knutson
What country or culture might this folktale have been started?
Challenging Vocabulary:
Crouched: to bend at the knees and get low
Scurried: to move quickly
Propped: to support, to hold up

4. Questions about Cuy What problem does Cuy have to solve?
How does Cuy try to outsmart Tío Antonio?
How does Cuy try to outsmart farmer?
How would you describe Cuy’s character?

5. 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

6. Applying the Vocabulary
boastfulness culture clever trickster greediness

7. Applying the Vocabulary
culture mischief folktale qualities clever

8. Adapted and illustrated by Janet Stevens
Trickster Tale One
Tops and Bottoms
Adapted and illustrated by Janet Stevens
Based on the title and the genre, what do you predict will happen in this story?

9. 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.

10. Tops and Bottoms Story Map
Steps Used in the Trick
Setting
Trickster
Trickster’s Character Traits
Problem Trickster Needs to Solve
Results

11. Critical Thinking
Why does the author begin the story with a description of the Bear?
Why does Hare become business partners with Bear?
How does Hare outsmart Bear?

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

13. 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?