The Five-Headed Chief A long time ago, a young chief decided that he wanted to marry, and news spread quickly throughout the land. A wealthy man in a nearby village had two beautiful daughters. Although the sisters both looked beautiful, their words and actions showed their true character. The older sister announced, I am the most beautiful girl in the land. I know I will make a good wife for the chief. She set off immediately for the chief s village. The younger sister knew that her sister often acted without thinking. So, she packed a little food and followed her older sister. On the narrow path to the chief s village, the sisters met an old woman. Credits: left, Pamela Becker/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 1
The woman asked, Can you spare something to eat? I am hungry. The older sister snarled, I have nothing for you. I have important things to do. She pushed the woman out of her way. The younger sister said, I am sorry for my sister s rudeness. Please take this food. Yes, thank you, replied the old woman. For your kindness, I give you a warning. The chief will look frightening, but it is just a trick. Do not be afraid and all will be well. Thank you, said the younger sister, and she went on down the path. Just outside the village, DID YOU KNOW? There are variations of the Cinderella story from cultures all around the world. the older sister ran back yelling, Run! The chief is a five-headed snake! The younger sister walked into the village. She stood calmly in front of the five-headed snake. Before her eyes, the five-headed snake turned into the handsome young chief. The chief announced, I choose you. I know you are kindhearted because I was the old woman you saw on the path. You offered charity to a stranger, and you listened to my warning. You are the one worthy to be my wife. Credits: right, Pamela Becker/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 2
r s e D k oze a B e h n T based on a Dutch Colonial American folktale An honest baker set up shop in the Dutch colony of America. He always made sure the customers got exactly what they paid for. One of the busiest times of year was St. Nicholas Day, a Dutch holiday in December that remembered a kind, generous man. In preparation, the baker made hundreds of cookies. One morning, an old woman walked in and asked for a dozen cookies. The baker counted exactly twelve. The woman said, You give me only twelve? The baker replied, You asked for a dozen, which is twelve. I would like thirteen cookies for the price of twelve, said the woman. Fair is fair, answered the baker. Credits: left, Jan Lieffering/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 1
If you do not show me this kindness, then I do not want the cookies, said the woman. The baker put the cookies back on the shelf and the woman left the shop. Everything after that was a disaster. All he baked tasted terrible, and soon people stopped buying his cookies. The baker did not know what to do. Later that night, he had a dream. In his dream, he was a kid again. Saint Nicholas was handing out toys to all the children. He always seemed to have just one more toy. Then, Saint Nicholas gave the baker one of his very own cookies. When the baker looked DID YOU KNOW? A colony is an area that is ruled by or belongs to another country. The Dutch, or people from the Netherlands, set up towns in New York from 1609 1664. up to say, Thank you, he saw the face of the old woman. The next morning, he baked his Saint Nicholas cookies. The old woman walked through the door and asked for a dozen cookies. This time, the baker counted thirteen cookies and gave them to her. The old woman said, Your kindness will be rewarded. From that time on, he gave his customers one extra cookie and called it a baker s dozen. The baker learned to be generous as well as honest. Credits: right, Jan Lieffering/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 2
The Tree That Gave Fish based on a Micronesian folktale A long time ago, on an island in the South Pacific, the people in the village were very hungry. They called to Mother Earth to help them. The next day, a large tree appeared on the island. They were surprised to see fish pour out from a broken branch. The fish fed the village, and they were not hungry anymore. A boy named Kodep loved the tree and the shade of its big branches. It was his job to collect fish from the tree and bring it to the village. One morning he got tired from all the work, so he fell asleep under the tree. Kodep dreamed that Mother Earth said, Show compassion to this special tree. Do not cut any more branches. It is time for people Credits: left, Paula Zinngrabe Wendland/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 1
to fish in the lagoon. Take care of the tree, and it will take care of the whole village. Kodep woke up, but he could not forget the dream. He went back to the village without any fish. The villagers thought he was just being lazy. They sent him back to get fish from the tree. Kodep began to cut a branch, but he stopped when he heard a moan. Then he heard a voice, saying, Once all the branches are cut, this tree will die. If you give the tree time to rest, your village will always be fed by its fruit. DID YOU KNOW? Breadfruit is a common food on the islands of the South Pacific. It is often baked or fried. Kodep ran back to the village and told the people what he had heard. Most people did not believe him, but the village chief said, We will wait one year before cutting any more branches on that tree. The villagers let the tree rest and returned to fishing in the lagoon. Over the next year, the tree produced fruit that tasted just like bread. The village was never hungry again. DID YOU KNOW? A lagoon is a shallow, calm body of water between a reef and the shoreline. Credits: right, Paula Zinngrabe Wendland/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 2
The Invisible Hunter based on a Native American folktale A great hunter and warrior lived by the water s edge with his sister. He was known as Strong Wind, the Invisible Hunter, because he could make himself hidden. Many young women wanted to marry him, but Strong Wind wanted to make sure his wife was worthy. Strong Wind asked his sister to help him choose a kindhearted and honest girl. He said, When I come home each evening, I will be invisible. I will only show myself to the girl that is worthy. In a nearby village, several girls decided to try to become Strong Wind s wife. One night after the next, girls would go to see Strong Wind s sister. If the girls seemed kind, the sister would ask, Do you see Strong Wind? Credits: left: Kate McKeon/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 1
DID YOU KNOW? Before Europeans brought horses to North America, native tribes used sleds to transport things over land. The girls would lie and say, Yes, absolutely! The sister would ask, How is he pulling his sled? The girls would make a guess, and Strong Wind remained invisible. One day, a girl with a scarred face came to see the sister. I know I am not beautiful and my clothes are not fine, but this has helped me have charity. I work hard, and I hope that we can be sisters one day. As it was getting dark, the sister asked, Do you see Strong Wind? The girl looked, shook her head, and whispered, No. Since the girl told the truth, Strong Wind appeared by the trees. The sister smiled and said, Look again. Do you see Strong Wind pulling his sled now? The girl looked and replied, He pulls his sled with the most beautiful rainbow! And with that, Strong Wind chose the kindhearted, honest girl as his wife. As he touched her face, the girl s scars disappeared. When the people saw Strong Wind s bride, they knew her beauty shone from her generous nature. Credits: left, right: Kate McKeon/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 2
Since the Emperor did not have any children, he decided to have a contest to determine the next emperor. He called all children who wished to be considered to collect a special seed. After two months, the children would present what they had grown with their best efforts. based on a Chinese folktale One boy, Jun, was looking forward to the challenge. He loved to work in the garden, and he was known to grow many wonderful plants. Jun thanked the Emperor for his seed and went straight home to plant it. He put it in a nice pot with rich dirt. He watered the seed, placed it in the sunshine, and waited. He tended to the plant every day. Nothing happened. He put the seed in a bigger pot and Connecting Passage Credits: left, Yu-Mei Han/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 1
DID YOU KNOW? An emperor is a man who rules an empire, generally gaining his power by birthright. Emperors ruled China from 221 bce until 1912. tended it as he did all his other plants, but it still did not grow. Two months later, the day arrived to present the Emperor with their work. Jun looked at his empty pot and felt sad. He told his parents, Since I failed, I don t think I should go. Nonsense, said his mom. You worked very hard. His dad agreed, As long as you did your best, then you did not fail to do what the Emperor asked. As Jun walked slowly with his empty pot, he saw other children with beautiful flowers. The Emperor looked over the crowd of children with their plants. He saw Jun and his empty pot and asked, Why did you bring an empty pot? Jun explained, I took the seed you planted, but it did not grow. This is the best I could do. The emperor smiled and said, I do not know where everyone else got their seeds. I cooked the seeds I gave you so they would not grow. Your honesty and hard work will be rewarded as I choose you. Connecting Passage Credits: right, Yu-Mei Han/Wilkinson Studios, Inc. 2
Student Response Sheet Individual Reading Name Key Question How do folktales show which behaviors a culture values? On Your Own 1. Read the Key Question. Then read the story. Look for details in the story that help you answer the Key Question. Circle or underline these details. 2. Now look back at the story. Add the details you circled or underlined to the Character Attributes Web below. Traits Words Motives Character Actions Feelings 3. Think about the Key Question. Write your answer to the Key Question using the details you found in the story you read. My First Answer 1
Student Response Sheet Team Discussion Name Key Question How do folktales show which behaviors a culture values? Share Your Ideas Meet with your team. Talk about each story your team read. 1. Tell the team what happens in the story you read. Show the Character Attributes Web you made. 2. Look at the webs your team made. Compare the details in each of your stories by looking at all the webs you made. Answer these questions together. What behaviors are valued in the folktales? How do the characters show the valued behaviors? Next, write the details that answer the Key Question on the web below. Write only the details that are in every story your team read. Traits Words Motives Character Actions Feelings Answer the Key Question Review the details on your team s web. As a team, write an answer to the Key Question. Use the details from the stories to support your answer. How do folktales show which behaviors a culture values? Our Team s Answer 2