Folklore Brainsorming Sheets

1 Dr. Nancy Mack Multigenre Research Projects Teachers College Press

Name_______________________________

Folklore Topic Brainstorming Jot down a few words for ideas for all of the prompts. If the prompt does not work for you, change it to be about something else like a pet, vacation spot, or neighbor.

Family Stories 1. Tell what the best stories are that are sometimes shared in your family:

2. Tell who tells the best stories: 3. Tell whose stories are seldom told or you would like to know more about: 4. List the stories that you know about your grandparents:

5. List the stories that you know about your parents:

6. List the stories that you cherish about your siblings, cousins, or other relatives:

7. List the stories that are told about great grandparents or other distant relatives:

8. List the parts of the country or world that your family moved from before they lived where they do now. List any stories about family migration or other travels:

2 9. List some stories about family heroes or moments when someone acted with integrity:

10. List some stories about family members surviving adversity:

11. List some stories about lost fortunes or valued objects:

12. List some stories about strong family relationships:

13. List some stories about family cleverness or frugality:

14. List some stories about family stubbornness or feuds:

15. List some stories about family rogues or trouble makers:

16.

List some stories about family oddballs, buffoons, or jokers:

17.

List some the stories about family fantastic or supernatural happenings:

18.

Tell about your unique family customs, favorite foods, and treats:

19.

List the common hobbies, entertainment, and pastimes of family members:

20.

List the treasured family possessions, antiques, and mementoes:

3

Community 1. List what communities or neighborhoods you have lived in or visited several times:

2. List who might know something about the history of this town or neighborhood: 3. List the local histories of famous events:

4. List the local natural disasters or big news stories:

5. Tell the stories about famous local people, legends, and tall tales:

6. Tell the stories about local businesses, buildings, and favorite hangouts:

7. List the local traditions, festivals, and special events:

8. Tell the local histories and traditions of the school district:

9. Tell the local histories of city government, police, and other public services:

10. List the local land formations, rivers, or nature spots:

4

Local Interest Group 1. List groups that you have participated or interesting groups that you know about related to hobbies, work, school, sports, competitions, organizations, community, sales, travel, special events, clubs, health, programs, learning new skills, volunteering, business, etc.

2. List unusual groups that family, neighbors, and friends participate in now or at a previous time:

3. List groups that you have participated in related to hobbies, crafts, entertainment, music, art, dance, drama, gardening, food, etc.

4. List groups that you have participated in related to shopping parties, flea markets, yard sales, auctions, collectibles, ebay, festivals, fund raisers, etc.

5. List groups that you have participated in related to politics, special interests, laws, city regulations, etc.

6. List groups or activities that you have read a lot about in magazines, books, newsletters, websites, etc.

5 Details about Two Groups 7. Select the two most interesting groups from the lists above and write their names here and then answer the following questions for each group:

8. Tell about these groups’ activities, gatherings, traditions, and/or odd behaviors:

9. Tell about these groups’ special dress, decorations, tools, or objects:

10. Tell what special knowledge or skills these groups have:

11. Tell who has the most power in these groups and when group members are competitive with others:

12. Tell how new members are brought into these groups:

13. List some of the special terminology or jargon does these groups use:

14. Tell how these groups have changed over the years:

15. Tell what would not be permitted or tolerated by group members and when people leave the group: