You probably know paul bunyan, pecos bill, john henry, and davy crockett characters whose largerthanlife stories are part of americas old west tall tales. The heroic figure of john henry is captured in a simple rhythmic picture book. Mar 18, 2017 the legend of john henry has been celebrated in song and story for generations, but my favorite version is the childrens picture book john henry by julius lester, with illustrations by jerry pinkney. He can be seen as a symbol of black strength and of african americans 1 refusal to be crushed. John henry, an american legend is a 1965 childrens picture book by american author and illustrator ezra jack keats in this book, it shows that john henry, a hard working miner tries to beat the steam drill. Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5. Some of the worksheets displayed are unit 7 tall tales, for information concerning impact ii opportunities such as, john henry, suggested books with figurative language, the midnight ride of paul revere, tales as tall, reading strategies and literary elements, henry huggins. Link to video owners profile john henry animated readaloud.
This is a tall tail because john henry performs tasks that should not be possible for a human. A tall tale passage about john henry is included in this lesson. Our systematic approach, in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity, is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, homeschool, and english language development eld, ell, esl. Learners learn about john henry by reading the book, john henry an american legend. We are an education focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home learners to access educational for the classroom. However, the story of john henry is much bigger than a single person. This is john henry animated readaloud by ezra jack keats foundation on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love. Guide students to understand that a tall tale is a story that has some fact, but the truth can be exaggerated.
In addition, it presents the essential information in a way that is uncomplicated and easy to follow. Get your students excited to learn social studies with this lesson. Ask if students know the definition of a tall tale. Based on the famous african american folk ballad john henry, this story tells of the legendary contest to the death between a spirited man with a hammer and a steam drill to build a tunnel through the allegheny mountains of west virginia. John henry, the best driver in the gang, vows he will never be outclassed by the machine. The story is told from the point of view of johns wife, polly. An american legend knopf childrens paperbacks keats, ezra jack on. Dec 05, 2014 john henry pete seeger version john henry was about three days old, sittin on his papas knee. Lets remember that although this story may be about a real man named john henry, it is still a tall tale and one type of fiction. Readers will be introduced to john henry, who grew up as a slave and went on to be known as the. Julius lesters john henry is based on the african american folk ballad john henry, the tale of john henry, the steeldriving man who was bigger and stronger than anyone and the competition. This may not supplant more traditional retellings, such as terry smalls the legend of john henry, but it is a triumph of collaboration from the creators of the noted uncle remus retellings. Hell decide which parts of the story seem believable and which parts do not. Nothing can stop john henry no boulder, no mountain, and definitely no steam drill.
Jul 15, 2009 a free community for sharing instructional videos and content for teachers and students. An animated musical based on the life of john henry. Find john henry activities lesson plans and teaching resources. Loving2learn offers you a tall tale john henry, to readable online and a learn along video. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. Read a john henry tall tale and answer the multiple choice questions, then read a true story about john henry with short answer comprehension questions. Newbery honor winner julius lester writes with such power that this africanamerican folk hero becomes as awesome as a natural phenomenon. Discussion of themes and motifs in colson whiteheads john henry days. John henry, a seemingly normal child, grows and grows until the point where he can easily lift his own cradle as if it were a feather.
An african american man named john henry was the hero of former. Share their enduring stories with kids ages 09 in these recommended books about great strength, big adventures, and powerful and. Jan 30, 2017 a cross curriculur unit about john henry. John henry grows so tall so fast that he has to leave home to find other challenges. John henry pete seeger version john henry was about three days old, sittin on his papas knee. John guys latest, the children of henry viii, is a well written book covering the struggle of henry viii to procure an heir for the tudor throne. I like the exaggeration of john henry being larger than life. At just 258 pages it is a relatively quick read on the subject. John henry childrens song lyrics and sound clip performed by two of a kind. John henry for students 3rd 4th in this card catalog and library database worksheet based on the story john henry, learners use a computer screen showing results of a library computer subject search, then answer 5 questions about finding books.
But did you know there are also tall tales about women and that other countries have tall tales, too. If you give a moose a muffin book read aloud for children duration. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Readers will be introduced to john henry, who grew up as a slave and went on to be known as the fastest and strongest steel driver on the railroad. The boss of a railroad crew has brought in a steam drill. This caldecott honor illustrated version of the john henry ballad tells the story of john henrys amazing life and death. Use music, social studies, and literature as you explore what a tall tale is, the life of a railroad worker, john henry and the role music played. The ballad of john henry typically contain four major components.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new. The story is told from the point of view of john s wife, polly. The story of john henry tells a story bigger than history, and its a story that tells us about the everyday concerns of the people who told it. Tall tale fiction, 725 words, level m grade 2, lexile 530l. The real john henry probably died in a tunnel collapse, historians say.
Garst provides his perspective on ideas presented in dr. The story begins with a fantastical description of john henrys birth then moves on to outline the events of his life. When men started talking about laying railroad tracks across the prairies and deserts, and right through the mountains, john henry knew he and his hammer had to be a part of it. All the magic of a winter day, in this version of the keats classic.
John henry is one of the most famous american tall tales. Find john henry lesson plans and teaching resources. Showing top 8 worksheets in the category john henry similes. When youve entered you desired search terms use tab to navigate through the available results and hit enter to open the selected page or document. John henry is a spirited africanamerican legend who famously challenged a steam drill to a contest on a west virginia railroad.
Study john henry with your students, while teaching your class about metaphors and similes. You may want to read excerpts from a book or website about john henry. John henrys talent was evident at an early age when he helped his daddy, but was cemented in american folklore when he took on the steam drill. Play the john henry clip and talk about how the music is influenced by the tall tale. The story of the legendary african american folk hero, who pitted his strength against that of a machine and won the contest. John henry grew up in a world that did not let children stay children for long. The story can serve as an engaging introduction to the classic man vs. So as to seal in the paint and protect your art piece from dust, you can put several coats of acrylic varnish on it with a sponge or paint brush. Teacher lesson plans, worksheets and resources sign up for the lesson. Henry and mudge in the green time read aloud duration. The ballad of john henry story song for kids youtube. The legend of john henry has been celebrated in song and story for generations, but my favorite version is the childrens picture book john henry by julius lester, with illustrations by jerry pinkney. It is about the american legendary figure john henry. Merry goes the time when the heart is young, john henry henshall these display images are not the actual oil paintings you will receive.
Tall tales contain exaggeration, adventure, and outlandish characters. Your students will love learning about americas national bird as they watch a video, listen to a story, and play a fun game. John henry grew up in a world that did not let children stay children for. John henry was a little baby, sitting on the his papas knee he picked. The legend of john henry the legend of john henry the legend of john henry the legend of john henry the legend of john henry. Full of vivid imagery and striking illustrations, this picture book makes an ideal anchor.
The contest that culminates the tale is said to have taken place in the 1870s. Apr 16, 2011 johnny appleseed is a biofiction animated feature from walt disney, using the nickname of johnny appleseed, a reallife american frontiersman born as john chapman. This book, written by julius lester, really is a gold mine for literature teachers. A free community for sharing instructional videos and content for teachers and students.
The resource includes a video and author biographies and. The boy picked up a small piece of steel and a workmans tool, a. Students can complete activities to practice identifying metaphors and similes, and even create one of their own. John henry purpose for listening the title of this tall tale is john henry, and the setting for this story is the american frontier.
Meet the legendary john henry, a famous character from a classic tall tale. Jerry pinkney received a caldecott honor for his exuberant, glowing watercolor paintings of the hero. The book talks about when john henry first grows that the sun got scared and hit behind the moon. Johnny appleseed is a biofiction animated feature from walt disney, using the nickname of johnny appleseed, a reallife american frontiersman born as john chapman. He heard somethin about railroad work needing to be done. Upper elementary lesson john henry a man or a myth.
I liked how much the moon and sun were apart of the story. Starfall has been teaching children to read with phonics for well over a decade. John henry picture puffins julius lester, jerry pinkney on. Please join our john henry yahoo discussion group read dr. John henry grows so tall so fast that he has to leave home to find other challenges for his strength and determination.
According to some historians, this tall tale is based on an actual event involving an africanamerican steel driver. The story retold for this picturebook account was based on three specific versions of the africanamerican folk ballad about the famous contest between john henry and a steam drill in the building of big bend tunnel in the allegheny mountains. The captain said to john henry genna bring that steam drill round. John henry is a 1994 childrens picture book by julius lester and illustrated by jerry pinkney. His place among american tall tale heroes is chronicled in richly detailed watercolors and language. Think and write about the values reflected in these tall tales.