Tall Tales - 3rd Grade

Throughout history people have told and written stories about their heroes. In America, tall tales were first told by settlers who made their homes in the American wilderness. In those days, before TV and movies, people depended on storytelling for entertainment. After a long day's work, people gathered to tell each other funny tales.

Each group of workers-cowboys, loggers, railroad and steel workers-had its own tall-tale hero. Having a superhuman hero with the same job somehow made their lives easier. Perhaps it gave them strength or courage to do their difficult and dangerous work.

A tall tale is a story that has these features:

Tall Tales Links:

John Henry: The Steel Driving Man There are two John Henrys - the man and legend surrounding him.

Other John Henry Links:


Story of Johnny Appleseed For forty-nine years, John Chapman ('Johnny Appleseed') roamed the American wilderness, devotedly planting apple trees. The reason for John's mission is unknown, although it's said he dreamed of a land covered with blossoming apple trees; of a land where no one went hungry because apples were plentiful.

Other Johnny Appleseed Links:

Activities: 

Paul Bunyan: The Giant Lumberjack Here you find an illustrated story of Paul Bunyan and other characters. This legendary hero of lumberjacks throughout American possessed strength, speed, and skill that matched the vastness of North American

Other Paul Bunyan Links:

Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West Here you can read the story of Pecos Bill.

Other Pecos Bill Links:

Other Activities with Tall Tales: