Teaching Trickster Tales? Here’s How to Make It Fun & Easy!

Have You Ever Read Trickster Tales?

Trickster tales are entertaining stories that have been retold for generations as a way to teach lessons about human behaviour. These folktales, found in cultures around the world, feature clever tricksters who use their wit to outsmart others - sometimes for good and sometimes for mischief! 

If you’re looking for ways to bring these entertaining and thought-provoking stories into your classroom, keep reading for ideas on how to introduce trickster tales and a fully prepped Trickster Tales resource that saves you time while building essential reading skills. 

Why Teach Trickster Tales?

The tales are great ways to strengthen these concepts:

1.  Characterization
2.  Personification
3.  Lessons or Morals
4.  Cause and Effect
   
5.  Author's Purpose
6.  Compare and Contrast Similar Tales

Tales To Share

Trickster tales are folktales in which a clever character, often an animal, plays tricks on others to get what they want or to teach a lesson. These stories have been passed down for generations and can be found in many cultures. Some well-known trickster characters include:

ANANSI THE SPIDER is a trickster from West African and Caribbean stories, and is full of wit and cunning. Anansi and The Moss Covered Rock and Anansi and The Talking Melon are fun read alouds.

RAVEN is a trickster from the First Peoples of the Northwest Pacific Coast from Alaska to British Columbia. Raven is alternatively a clever and foolish  bird-human whose voracious hunger and greed give rise to humourous adventures. Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest is a great book to share.

COYOTE is a comic trickster character from North American Indigenous stories, who is lack of wisdom gets him into trouble, and his cleverness gets him back out. Students will enjoy Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest.

LEPRECHAUNS play several roles in Irish folklore; he is principally a roguish trickster figure who cannot be trusted and will deceive whenever possible. Clever Tom and The Leprechaun is a delightful tale.

WESAKECHAK is a trickster character whose adventures are often humourous, but unlike Plains First People tricksters he is portrayed as a staunch friend of humankind. Wesakechak Tales will be devoured by your students.

How To Introduce Trickster Tales In The Classroom

1. Start with a Trick 

Begin your lesson with a harmless classroom trick or riddle. Ask students if they’ve ever played a trick on someone or been tricked themselves. This sets the stage for understanding the role of tricksters in stories. 

2. Explore Trickster Characters from Around the World 

Show pictures of famous trickster characters and have students predict what kind of tricks they might play. Discuss how trickster figures exist in different cultures and why people enjoy these stories. 

3. Compare Good Tricks vs. Bad Tricks 

Lead a discussion on the difference between harmless, playful tricks and tricks that cause harm - a theme often explored in trickster tales. 

4. Read and Analyze a Trickster Tale 

Choose a classic trickster tale and have students listen for key elements: Who is the trickster? What trick do they play? What is the result? What lesson (moral) does the story teach?

Ready-To-Use Trickster Tales Resource

Want to dive into trickster tales without spending hours planning? The Trickster Tales Folklore Reading Lesson Slides & Print Activities Resource is fully prepped so you can focus on engaging your students!

 ✅ 9 Ready-to-Teach Lesson Slide Sets – Each lesson introduces a reading skill (story structure, cause and effect, character traits, morals, and more).

 ✅ Engaging Trickster Tales – Featuring well-known stories like Anansi and The Moss Covered Rock, Clever Tom and The Leprechaun, and more! 

✅ 15+ Printable Worksheets – Activities include story analysis, vocabulary, comprehension, and comparison tasks to build reading skills. 

✅ No-Prep, Just Print and Go! – Perfect for whole-class instruction, small groups, or independent work. 

 📌 Ready to bring trickster tales to life in your classroom? Check out The Trickster Tales Folklore Reading Lesson Slides & Print Activities Resource  and save time while engaging your students in these classic, witty folktales!