Grade 1 Home Language – Exploring Storytelling through Folk Tales

Lesson Plan Title: Grade 1 Home Language – Exploring Storytelling through Folk Tales


2. Materials Needed:
– A selection of age-appropriate folk tale books (e.g., “The Lazy Lion”)
– Pictures/illustrations from the stories
– Storytelling props (e.g., puppets, masks)
– Worksheets with simple questions about the story
– Drawing paper and crayons/markers
– Audio recordings of the folk tales (if available)
– Chart paper and markers


3. Learning Objectives:
– Learners will listen to and comprehend a folk tale.
– Learners will identify key elements of the story (characters, setting, plot).
– Learners will respond to questions about the story.
– Learners will participate in a storytelling activity using props.
– Learners will draw and describe their favourite parts of the folk tale.


4. Vocabulary:
– Folk tale
– Character
– Setting
– Plot
– Beginning, Middle, End
– Moral (lesson of the story)
– Listen, Speak, Draw


5. Previous Learning:
– Learners have been introduced to basic story elements.
– Learners have experience listening to simple stories and answering questions.
– Familiarity with common classroom routines and instructions.


6. Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:
Challenge: Learners might find it difficult to stay engaged during the story.
Solution: Use visuals, props, and interactive elements to maintain interest.

  • Challenge: Some learners might struggle with recalling details.
    • Solution: Reiterate key points during and after storytelling and provide visual aids.

7. Beginning Activities (10% of Time):
Activity: Introduction to Folk Tales

  • Greet the learners and introduce the concept of folk tales.
  • Discuss what learners know about stories and ask if they have heard any folk tales.
  • Show the book cover and illustrations, making predictions about the story.

(Approx. time: 8 minutes)


8. Middle Activities (80% of Time):

Activity 1: Listening to the Folk Tale (20 minutes)
– Read the chosen folk tale aloud with expression, using props or puppets where possible.
– Pause occasionally to ask predictive questions (e.g., “What do you think will happen next?”).

Activity 2: Comprehension Questions (10 minutes)
– Ask learners simple questions about the story: Who are the main characters? Where is the story set? What happened first, next, and last?
– Discuss the moral of the story and its importance.

Activity 3: Storytelling with Props (15 minutes)
– Divide learners into small groups.
– Provide each group with props related to the story.
– Allow groups to recreate scenes from the story and present them to the class.

Activity 4: Drawing Activity (15 minutes)
– Give learners drawing paper and crayons.
– Ask them to draw their favourite part of the story.
– Encourage each learner to explain their drawing to the class.

(Approx. total time: 64 minutes)


9. End Activities (10% of Time):

Activity: Reflection and Sharing

  • Gather learners in a circle and ask them to share what they liked about the story.
  • Display their drawings around the classroom.
  • Summarise the story and its moral lesson again to reinforce understanding.

(Approx. time: 8 minutes)


10. Assessment and Checks for Understanding:
– Observe learners during the storytelling activity for engagement and participation.
– Use a simple checklist to note which learners can answer the comprehension questions correctly.
– Collect and review the drawings and descriptions to evaluate understanding of the story’s core elements.


11. Differentiation Strategies:
For learners needing more support:
– Provide additional visual aids and prompts.
– Pair them with a buddy for the activities.

For advanced learners:
– Give them more complex questions about the story or ask them to create an alternate ending.


12. Teaching Notes:
– Prepare the room beforehand by setting up a cozy storytelling area with a large chair or beanbag for the storyteller.
– Pre-read the chosen folk tale to become familiar with it and plan where to use props for maximum engagement.
– Have extra copies of the book or pictures to show non-readers the scenes as you describe them.
– Keep the activities dynamic to cater to Grade 1 learners’ shorter attention spans.
– Ensure all learners have a turn to speak and engage, promoting an inclusive environment.


Enhanced Elements Added:

  1. Cultural Relevance and Sensitivity:
    • Ensure the chosen folk tales reflect South African cultures to resonate with the learners.
  2. Pedagogical Effectiveness:
    • Incorporated interactive storytelling to maintain engagement (e.g., predictive questions during reading).
  3. Differentiation and Inclusivity:
    • Explicitly mentioned pairing learners with a buddy and higher-level questioning for advanced learners for differentiation.
  4. Assessment Alignment:
    • Added a simple checklist for formative assessment.
  5. Indigenous Knowledge Integration:
    • Utilize folk tales from various South African indigenous cultures.
  6. Practical Considerations:
    • Detailed classroom setup recommendations and dynamics management tips.

This enhanced and edited lesson plan ensures that Grade 1 learners engage meaningfully with storytelling through folk tales, fulfilling CAPS curriculum requirements while being inclusive and pedagogically effective.

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