📖 ReadingGrade 2Lesson 34
← Back🔒 PDF with full access

Read Around the World

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Name the seven continents
  • 2Know that folktales come from every one except Antarctica and define a folktale
  • 3Explain what a moral is
  • 4Spot universal themes that appear in stories across different cultures
📘

Mini Lesson

Every country, every culture, and every community in the world has its own stories. Some are ancient folktales passed down for thousands of years. Some are brand-new picture books by modern authors. All of them are windows into how people around the world think, feel, and see the world.

The seven continents

  • The world is divided into seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia (Oceania), and Antarctica.
  • Stories and folktales come from every continent except Antarctica, where no permanent communities live.

What is a folktale?

  • A folktale is an old story that was passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation before it was ever written down.
  • Folktales often teach a lesson — called a moral — about kindness, honesty, courage, or cleverness.
  • Most cultures have their own version of similar stories — for example, Cinderella-type tales have been found in over 400 cultures worldwide.

Universal themes in stories

  • Even though stories from different countries use different names, places, and animals, they often share the same themes.
  • Common universal themes: good vs. evil, the importance of kindness, helping others, courage in the face of fear, working together.
  • Recognizing these shared themes helps readers understand that all people — no matter where they live — share many of the same hopes and values.
The seven continents and a story from eachSeven labeled continent chips with an example story type from each: North America tall tales, South America jungle legends, Europe fairy tales, Africa animal fables, Asia wisdom tales, Australia Dreamtime stories, and Antarctica no folktale tradition.Stories From Every ContinentNorth America — tall talesS. America — jungle legendsEurope — fairy talesAfrica — animal fablesAsia — wisdom talesAustralia — DreamtimeAntarctica — no permanent communities; no traditionA folktale teaches a MORAL — a life lessonabout kindness, courage, honesty, or cleverness.passed down by word of mouth for generations
The seven continents with an example story type from each — plus a note on what a moral is.
Universal story themes shared across world culturesSix universal theme chips: good vs evil, the importance of kindness, helping others, courage, working together, and honesty — each with a short description and a note that stories from different countries often teach the same lesson.Universal Story ThemesGood vs. eviljustice wins in the endKindnessa kind act is rewardedHelping othersteamwork leads to successCouragefacing fear brings rewardWorking togetherunited we are strongerHonestytruth is the best pathStories from different countries may usedifferent characters and settings, butoften teach the very same lesson.
Six universal story themes found across world cultures — showing that different stories often teach the same life lesson.
💡

Ask yourself: "Where in the world does this story come from? What lesson does it teach? Does it remind me of any story I have read before?"

Vocabulary
Continent
One of the seven large land areas on Earthe.g. Africa is a continent.
Folktale
An old story passed down by word of mouth from generation to generatione.g. Anansi the Spider is a West African folktale.
Moral
The life lesson a story teachese.g. The moral was that kindness is rewarded.
Universal theme
A message or idea found in stories from many different cultures around the worlde.g. Courage is a universal theme.
Dreamtime
The ancient storytelling tradition of the Aboriginal peoples of Australiae.g. Dreamtime stories explain how the world was created.
Free · 7 days · No credit card

Unlock the full HSEA system for 7 days.

Add your first kid profile and your 7 days start: every lesson in every grade, saved progress for each child. Nothing to set up, no card required, nothing to cancel.

  • ✓ All 1,680 lessons, Grades 1–6, every subject
  • ✓ Profiles + saved progress for every kid
  • ✓ Printable lessons with answer key
Start your 7-day free trial →
Already convinced? See full membership plans →
← Lesson 33: Create a Favorite Author PosterLesson 35: Design a Cozy Reading Corner →