Celebrating
American Folk Heroes and Heroine
HOW IT WORKS
Celebrating American Folk
Heroes and Heroines is an interdisciplinary program that
teaches students how folk literature reveals U.S. history,
geography, and cultural values within the genre of
adventurous “tall tales.” Building on superhero characters
such as Spiderman and Batwoman, students are introduced to
the earlier great American folk heroes/heroines, including
Sally Ann ThunderAnn Whirlwind Crockett, Mike
Fink, and the subject of the program’s touchstone text, Mose
Humphrey, the legendary New York City firefighter whose
story is told by Mary Pope Osborne in New York’s
Bravest. Humphrey is of particular importance
because he is the first urban folk hero in America. He
represents the courage and strength of firefighters
throughout history, a courage so dramatically displayed on
September 11, 2001. By listening to the book and examining
its lavish illustrations of New York City in the mid 1800s,
students learn how the elements of exaggeration and
braggadocio give shape to tall tales as well as how these
stories provide us with a wealth of information about the
kinds of people, places, and events that shaped our cultural
history. All of the lessons are designed to promote student
learning in a variety of ways that allow them to organize
their thinking, develop language skills, and increase their
appreciation of literature.
The study of folk literature is also an
appealing way for students to explore how the Internet is an
important research tool. Once they have learned about
American tall tale characters and the U.S. regions that
inspired them, students are ready to write their own
original tales that, after they work through each step of
the writing process, can be illustrated and published with
the use of a computer.
THE STUDENTS
The program is designed for classes in grades two through
five that meet in the library. Throughout the study,
students have the opportunity to strengthen their language
arts, social studies, and technology skills through whole
group, independent, and cooperative learning activities. The
program can easily be adapted for individual needs through
the simple modification of literature and Web site
selections.
THE STAFF
Doris Meyer has been teaching in P.S. 158 since 1987. She is
currently the library-media specialist, and for fourteen
years she taught grades three through six. She has worked
with consultants from the Teachers College Writing Project
and has been an annual participant in the National Arts Club
Creative Writing Program for students in New York City
public schools. Since becoming library-media specialist, she
has conducted workshops for parents on the effective use of
literature with children. She has a special passion for
folklore and storytelling that she enjoys sharing with her
students.
WHAT YOU NEED
The essential needs of this program involve the book New York’s Bravest by Mary Pope Osborne, folktale
anthologies that include American tall tales, a visually
appealing map of the U.S., and a computer with word
processing software, Internet access, and a printer.
OVERALL VALUE
Celebrating American Heroes and Heroines enables students to
gain a deeper appreciation of the genre of tall tales within
the larger body of American folktales. It is an entertaining
and fascinating way for teachers to set instruction goals
related to reading and listening comprehension, critical
thinking and creative writing skills, knowledge of U.S.
geography and history, and computer technology. Since
September 11, it is especially valuable in the way it
affords insight into the spirit of American heroism. |