150 Fairy Tales and Tall Tales: Supplemental Guide 7A | John Henry
Purpose for Listening
Remind students that the title of this tall tale is “John Henry,” and the
setting for this story is the American frontier. Remind students that
although this story may be about a real man named John Henry, it is
still a tall tale and one type of fiction. Tell students to listen carefully to
see if their prediction is accurate about which will be faster and better at
digging—John Henry or the stream drill.
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
Demonstrate familiarity with the tall tale “John Henry”
Identify the characters, plot, and setting of “John Henry”
Identify characteristics of tall tales in “John Henry”