Tall Tale Resources

Updated May 2018

Tall Tales are a required literature element in many school curricula. Many homeschool parents choose to include them in their programs as well. Finding resources to broaden what is found in basic curriculum programs can be a challenge. Libraries offer the stories, but teachers and parents often want additional resources to use with their children.

Free Tales:
American Folklore
Paul Bunyan Trail

Books:
American Tall Tales
American Tall Tales (Puffin Books)
Casey Jones (JR. Graphic American Legends)
John Henry
John Henry: An American Legend
John Henry, Hammerin' Hero: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed: My Story (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
Mike Fink
Mike Fink (On My Own Folklore)
Paul Bunyan (Reading rainbow book)
Pecos Bill
Pecos Bill, Colossal Cowboy: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
Readers' Theater: Tall Tales
Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett
The Legend of Johnny Appleseed: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
Who Was Johnny Appleseed?

Movies:
Annie Oakley
Casey At The Bat
Disney's American Legends
Johnny Appleseed
John Henry, Told by Denzel Washington with Music by B.B. King
Paul Bunyan, Told by Jonathan Winters with Music by Leo Kottke with Duck Baker
Tall Tales and Legends - John Henry
Tall Tales and Legends - Pecos Bill

Teaching Resources:

American Folklore Lessons and Full Units

Education World Lesson Plan Using Graphic Oranizers to Identify Characteristics of Genre

First Schools Paul Bunyon Preschool Lesson Plan with Coloring Sheets and Crafts

Library Thinkquest Short versions with Quizes

Stories and Description of Tall Tales Write Your Own

Tall Tale Coloring Sheets

Tall Tale American Map

Web Resources










Picture Credit: Jason McHuff flicker.com

Gimp Plastic Lacing Projects for Kids

Many of us remember Gimp or Plastic lacing projects from summer camp and craft projects done as children. Gimp is a great fine motor project for children. It also has a practical applications that can later be applied to teaching knots. I suprised more than a few people during my camping experiences with my ability to learn knot tying. I didn't have the heart to tell them it came from years of working with summer camp students tying and fixing gimp projects.

Stitches:

Barrel Stitch

Basic Stitches with Pictures and Explanations

Box Stitch

Box Stitch with Great Pictures

Butterfly Stitch Directions with Pictures

Diamond/Spiral Stitch

Finishing Stitches

Pictures of the Stitches

Scoubidou Stiches and Projects

Starter Stitches

Starting the Project on a Keychain



Projects:

Boondoggle Projects

Gimp Barrette

Making Friends

Making Friends Lanyard First Aid Kits

Making Friends Key Ring

Spiral Keychain



Picture Credits: jc.westbrook flickr.com

Puppet Resources

Children enjoy making and using puppets. They can be a fun free play activity or a planned activity to engage children across the curriculum. Children can learn valuable skills making and using puppets.


Making Puppet Resources:

Under 5's Dinosaur Puppet

Finger Puppets:

BillyBear4Kids

BillyBear4Kids Finger Puppet Stage

Enchanted Learning Patterns

Free Kids Crafts Puppy Puppets

Jan Brett Finger Puppets

Jan Brett Country Mouse City Mouse Puppets

Toy Story

Winnie the Pooh




Hand Puppets:

Animal Puppets

Kaboose Felt Puppets

Zoom Hand Pupppets

Marionettes:

Paper Cup Marionettes

Multiple Puppets:

Artists Helping Children

Crayola Puppet Patterns

Enchanted Learning Puppets and Marionettes

Family Fun Multiple Styles of Puppets

Kids Corner

Legends and Lore

Making Friends

Paper Bag Puppets:

abc teach Paper Bag Puppets

abc teach Bear Paper Bag Pattern

abc teach Lion Paper Bag Puppet Pattern

abc teach Owl Paper Bag Puppet Pattern

abc teach Panda Bag Puppet Pattern

abc teach Pig Bag Puppet Pattern

First Schools Paper Bag Puppets


Sock Puppets:

Danielle's Place

Directions for Sock Puppets

Family Fun Sock Puppets

Sock Puppets

Stick Puppets:

AOK Corral

Babyzone Stick Puppets

Crayola Dragon Stick Puppet

Dragon Stick Puppet




Scripts:

Legend and Lore

Puppet Play Scripts







Picture Credits: Alanna George flickr.com

Paper Doll Resources

Paper Dolls are a fun imaginative activity. Children enjoy cutting out and decorating dolls. They are also important for developing fine motor skills. Children can learn about different historical time periods and enjoy using the dolls to explore history. Read more....



























Character Paper Dolls:

American Girl Dolls

Berenstain Bears

Cabbage Patch Paper Dolls

Caddie Woodlawn

Miley Cyrus Paper Doll






Making Paper Dolls:

Activity Village includes Holiday themes

BillyBear4Kids Scroll Down for Patterns

Design Your Own

Draw You as a Paper Doll

Green Ideas for Paper Dolls

Karen's Whimsy

Making Friends Patterns

Making Paper Dolls

Marliee's Paperdolls Huge Collection of Printables

Paper Doll Chain






Picture Credits: teadrinker flicker.com ana_ng flicker.com