Online Activity: Incredible Tales

          Have you ever dreamed that you were a magical character from
            a favorite book? One who can walk on water or fly over mountaintops?
               If you have, you have used your imagination. Using your imagination
               allows the impossible to become possible! Stretch your imagination by
                completing these activities.

You are probably familiar with many stories and fairytales - like Little
Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty or Rumplestilskin. Do you think the
events in a storybook could really happen? In this activity, you will share two

or three of your favorite stories. Then determine together whether or not the events
that take place in the story could really happen. Are the events fantasy or reality?

Mentors: You might think of examples within each story or fairytale.
Students: You decide whether the examples are fantasy or reality and support your answers.

Here is an example using the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears:"

Bears live in a house with furniture.
      * NO. Fantasy: Bears lives in dens.
Goldilocks breaks into the Bears' home.
      * YES. Reality: It's called breaking and entering!
Goldilocks prefers the baby bear's things (bed, porridge).
      * YES. Reality: A child might prefer another child's things.

"Tall Tales" are a kind of story that fits the criteria for fantasy. Tall Tale heroes can perform feats that are incredible. Pecos Bill, John Henry, and Paul Bunyan are all characters that are larger than life.

Mentors and Students: Share what you know about a Tall Tale character. Then create your own character!

Mentors: Come up with some adjectives that describe this imaginary character. You might include smart, fast, wise, strong, brave. Share this list with your student.

Students: Add to this list and create similies for each of the character's traits. For example, your character might be "as brave as a lion," "as wise as an owl," "as strong as an ox," and/or "as tall as the Empire State Building!" Once you have finished, suggest a name for your character that reflects his/her characteristics. Then work with your mentor to develop a story that the character might be a part of. Have fun and be creative!

If you like pretending you are someone you are not and making up conversations or solutions to unusual problems, then writing a play is just for you!

In this activity, mentors and students will work together to write a script for a play. First decide on the characters, the setting in which your story will take place, and the problem your characters will try to solve. Then write a conversation between the two of you, trying to solve that problem. Be sure to include some information in your dialogue about yourselves (in character) and be creative when solving your problem. Let your imagination and your dialogue go wild and see what develops!