Howdy, Pardner!

Homeschool high school writing is SERIOUS stuff: essays and research papers galore! If we’re not careful, we can snuff all the love of writing out of our teens’ souls by unbalanced assignments.

Each year, homeschool high schoolers need a little fun stuff! Short story writing is a great example of fun stuff and TALL TALES is one of the most fun assignments my homeschool high schoolers have enjoyed.

We’ve shared many hilarious hours in homeschool co-op spinning yarns together. When my teens have written Tall Tales on their own, we’ve laughed together as they shared their stories. And once they got started, they never run out of Tall Tale writing ideas.

Do you have some homeschool high schoolers who need a burst of fun, creativity, and inspiration? Want some Tall Tale writing ideas?

Start by watching the movie Tall Tale. It is a wonderful Tall Tale about a young teen who discovers the power of knowing his roots. Starring famous Tall Tale heroes like Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, and John Henry, it is a downright fun, yet meaningful film. Discuss the characters and the Code of the West.

 

Read some Tall Tales online or have some fun with Mary Pope Osborne’s American Tall Tales. Get the whole family involved with a read-aloud day.

Discuss the differences in the different Tall Tale heroes. How does the personality and job description differ in the characters from different regions?

Discuss regional dialects. Brainstorm a list of sayings typical of the area where you live:

• Do you say: Y’all or Youse?
• Do you drink: Soda or Pop?
• Do you shop at the: Grocery Store or Food Store?

Discuss the kinds of problems the heroes in the Tall Tales solves?

• Whoops bad guys?
• Helps get his friends out of a fix?
• Rescues locals from dangerous critters?
• Fixes environmental issues? 🙂

Discuss the “superpowers” each hero has:

• Can ride tornadoes
• Can chop down entire forests in one swoop
• Can behave himself like a gentleman always
• Can tell tall tales

Discuss “hyperbole”. Hyperbole is what makes Tall Tales so much fun. What are some hyperbolic statements or actions in the Tall Tales?

Write a Tall Tale together as a family or in your learning co-op. Have lots of laughs. It is easy as pie when your homeschool high schooler uses 7Sisters’ Tall Tale Writing Guide.

This no-busywork, adaptable Tall Tale Writing Guide contains step-by-step, self-guided instructions in a short, daily lesson format.

Your teen ain’t had so much fun since the cat had kittens!