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by Frances Auville
In 1988-89 Frances Auville taught fourth through sixth grade at Memorial Elementary School in Bluefield, WV. Auville's activities below are adapted with permission from Journey Through Fantasy Literature: A Resource Guide for Teachers. Vol. I. Ed. Roberta T. Herrin. Developed during a Teachers Institute sponsored by East Tennessee State University and the National Endowment for the Humanities, 1988–89. For questions or comments on this page, or to submit additional ideas or examples from your classes, contact Tina L. Hanlon.
Click on the tale titles below to find annotated references to different versions of these tales.
Ashpet The first two activities are based on the ending of "Ashpet" in the version published by Richard Chase in Grandfather Tales (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1948).
Creative Writing. Write a skit about the mother and two daughters in the Old Hairy Man's cave. Keep in mind their treatment of Ashpet. Or write the story in poem form.
Starter: Old Hairy Man says, "This cave needs a good cleaning."
Group Activity: Skit. The setting is Old Hairy Man's Cave. The characters are Old Hairy Man, the mother, and two daughters. The situation is life in the cave as depicted in the skits. Students will perform skits for the class.
Group Activity: Jump Rope Chants. Four or five students per group will meet in groups and make up chants based on "Ashpet" that will be suitable for jump rope activities. See samples written by students below.
See also Ashpet Crossword Puzzle
Wicked John and the Devil Creative Writing. Write a tall tale or poem about Wicked John's own hell.
Starter: Wicked John took the hot coal and set off down the road.
Group Activity: Skit. The setting is Wicked John's own hell. The characters are John and two little devils. The situation is that the two devils are visiting John in the hell he made for himself. He is giving them the grand tour and showing items he has in hell. The items should be related to the original story.
Group Activity: Cheers. Four to six students make up cheers related to the story and perform them for the class.
See also Wicked John and the Devil Crossword Puzzle
Whitebear Whittington Creative Writing. Write an episode in story or poem form that tells how the spell in "Whitebear Whittington" was broken.
Starter: Whitebear Whittington was still under the witch's spell when he started up Piney Mountain.
Group Activity: Chants. Five or six students meet in groups and make up chants related to the story and perform them for the class.
Ashpet Jump Rope ChantsBy students from Memorial Elementary School, Bluefield, WV (at the end of the 1980s) |
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| Ashpet,
Ashpet, Where do you go? Up in the mountain High and low. Ashpet, Ashpet, Ashpet, Ashpet, How many dishes |
Trim
you heels! Trim your toes Under the tub The slipper goes! 1, 2 where are you? They'll try to hide her |
Ashpet, Ashpet Dressed in red Go in yonder And make that bed. How many beds did |
| By Jamie, Holly, and Nikki | ||
At night I lie in bed and dream Trying to think of a fantasy theme! |
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| By Kerri, Ragad, and Rahaf | By Angela and Kray | By Brandon |
See also
Study Guides for Jack Tale Players
Teaching Four "Jack" Books, which includes chants by children
Bibliography of Appalachian Folktales
Lesson Plan for Granny Will Your Dog Bite and Other Mountain Rhymes
Standards of Learning Covered by Study of "Mutsmag" and "Ashpet" Dramatizations
Complete List of AppLit Pages on Folklore
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