Free teacher web sites for English topic ‘Text - Fables, myths and legends’

A wonderful collection of fables which are presented in animated form. This is a great way to add sparkle when children have read the story.
WARNING: Thanks to regular TopicBox user Mr S Anderson for flagging up the fact that the modern version of the 'Eagle and the Arrow' fable has a well-meaning but probably inappropriate suicide-bomber theme. Shows how spot-on old Aesop remains though!

External link: Aesop's fables

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Tortoise and hare, Lion and Mouse, the foolish Crow, the Fox and his shadow. A unique and lovely set of Flash animations which use an arty collage style. A beautiful site.

External link: Aesop's fables animation collection

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Wonderful on-line collection of Aesop's fables which can be copied into another application such as "word" or your whiteboard software.

External link: Aesop's fables to read

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

If you land on the "Learn out loud" homepage, simply search for aesop. These fantastic tales are read to ypu. Free as well. Great for KS2.

External link: Aesops fables read aloud

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Super little Scholastic resource that gives some good step-by-step instructions about how to write your own myth, from taking your 'natural phenomenon' to 'letting your imagination go!' Good-natured and intelligent mini-site.

External link: How to write a myth, including an example myth to read

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

A Scholastic site that helps with the planning process of writing your own myth. Really good-quality resource : requires Flash to run. Probably best used by individual pupils but you could certainly use it at the interactive white board effectively too.

External link: Myth brainstorming machine

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

This remarkable site has a range of high-quality illustrated myths and legends from ancient times up to the 1980s. The texts are available for separate copy/paste utilisation and there is the chance to submit your pupils' own writing. A comprehensive and excellent resource for upper KS2 in particular.

External link: Myths and Legends

This superb tool allows children to quickly set out a storyboard and add their text to it. A good range of backgrounds and characters are available, along with objects. This site is sure to inspire your young writers to do their very best - there are plenty of examples from other users to evaluate.

External link: Myths and Legends Story Creator

Short example myths to read from around the world, including Indian, Egyptian, South Asian. This mini-site comes from Scholastic so is professionally put together.

External link: Myths from around the world

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Animated myth retellings from around the world. Stories contain text and are read aloud to you. Additional material includes excellent comprehension questions and further investigative and thought-provoking work. Purchase required for about half of the myth areas.

External link: Myths from around the world - interactive

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

You'll love this site with stories from around Europe with pictures drawn by children. Billy Goats Gruff, Lambton Worm, Gingerbread Man, 3 Little Pigs, Enormous Turnip, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel.

External link: Myths, Fables and traditional stories

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Simple colour retelling of the Hercules story, from Primary Resources. Requires Flash to run. There is another (HTML) version here.

External link: The Labours of Heracles/Hercules

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Very simple text and pictures big book. No bells and whistles, but you could do quite a bit with this all the same. No distracting flashes, sounds and nonsense, and no plug-ins either. Good eh?

External link: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

• suitable for class use