favourite fairy tale: molly whuppie

Molly Whuppie is a Celtic fairy tale over two hundred years old. It’s unusual for its time because it features a girl rather than a boy defeating a giant. In the story, Molly is forced to leave home with her two sisters. She finds shelter with a giant who wants to eat them. Molly and her sisters escape and she tells the king how they got away. He is impressed and asks Molly to face the giant again and bring back his most precious possessions. Brave Molly agrees.

© storytimemagazine.com 2019

StorytimeTM

Teaching ResourcesFavourite Fairy Tale: Molly Whuppie

In Brief

1 literacy lesson ideas See our Storytime Glossary Sheet for the meanings of some of the more complex words in Molly Whuppie and other tales in Storytime Issue 54.

Look at our Class Discussion Sheet to start a conversation about some of the most interesting parts of the story.

Complete our Quick Story Quiz to make sure you understand the story.

Put the story in the right order using our Story Sequencing Sheet.

Use our Molly Whuppie Simple Storyboards to tell the story in short paragraphs.

Our Reading Comprehension Extract focuses on one part of the story in more depth. Can you complete the tasks on this sheet?

Break down the key elements of Molly Whuppie using our Story Structure Sheet.

Compare Molly Whuppie with Jack and the Beanstalk (which was in Storytime Issue 5). They both feature children who visit a giant three times to steal his possessions – and both children get away with it. Look for similarities and differences between the two stories and their characters. Use our Story Comparison Sheet to help you.

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2 PSHE lesson ideas Molly Whuppie is the youngest of her three sisters, yet she is the heroic one. She helps her sisters find food and shelter, she saves them from the giant and she wins them homes and riches. Use the story as a starting point to discuss looking after siblings as opposed to sibling rivalry. Children could pair up to talk about when they have helped their siblings.

Cut out our Storytime Storyteller Cards and in small groups or pairs make up new versions of the story.

Use our Storytime Writing Template to write the story from the giant’s perspective. What did he think of Molly tricking him? Did he change his ways? Alternatively, make up a new adventure for Molly. Perhaps she went on to face a dragon or an ogre.

Use our Molly Whuppie Map Sheet to plot her journey from the king’s palace to the giant’s house and back. Include the Bridge of One Hair and other interesting obstacles along the way. Include her parents’ and sister’s homes too.

Print out our Molly Whuppie Masks to act out this fairy tale in class.

3 PE lesson ideas Play Sleeping Giants following these instructions:

– Children sit in a big circle. One child lies in the centre pretending to be asleep. – Place one of the giant’s magical possessions just behind the sleeping giant. Pretend

a beanbag is the magic purse, for example. – The giant closes his or her eyes and you randomly select a child to creep into the

circle and steal the beanbag. – If the giant hears the thief, he or she leaps up and chases them. – The aim of the game is for the thief to be as quiet as possible and get back to their seat

with the stolen goods in hand – or to outrun the giant and get back to their seat. – If the thief is successful, he or she is the giant in the next game. If not, the giant wins.

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4 Design and Technology lesson ideas

This story links nicely to a STEM-focused bridge-building project. Can your class build bridges stronger than the Bridge of One Hair? Ask pupils to plan what they will need to do (step-by-step), design and build a bridge strong enough to carry the heavy giant. Experiment with different materials to see which is strongest and will work best. Use straws, spaghetti and lollipop sticks, for instance. You could use a plastic toy or small doll as your giant to test the final results. Look at different styles of bridges, such as suspension and arch bridges, for inspiration before you begin.

5 Art lesson ideas Make story sacks using brown paper bags or envelopes and decorate them. Fill the sacks with our Storytime Storyteller Cards and pluck out cards one by one to tell the story, or print out, cut out and colour in our Inside the Giant’s Sack Sheet. It has a dog, a cat, a needle, some thread and some shears. Pop them in the sack with the picture of Molly and the giant’s wife to act out this part of the story.

Colour in the giant’s three magical possessions on our Storytime Colouring Sheet and make up a magical object of your own.

Draw Molly Whuppie’s castle in our Storytime Picture Frame.


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Make sure you know what all the words mean in Storytime Issue 54.

STOrYTIME GLOSSArY

The Giraffe and the Warthog (Page 6)

Exclaimed – declared, cried out Boastfully – in a showing off kind of way Elegant – graceful Snout – nose and mouth area, muzzle Lush – rich and healthy, jungle-like Scrambled – crawled quickly Advantages – benefits, good points

Guto and the Fairies (Page 9)

Clutching – gripping, holding Concerned – worried Mourned – felt sad about, grieved Guiltily – in a sorry or ashamed way Tailored – made, sewn Glumly – sadly Fierce – strong, powerful Budge – move Wealth – fortune, riches

The Strongest Animal on Earth (Page 14)

Ringmaster – person in charge of circus Acrobatic – performing amazing stunts Stupendous – amazing Strongman – very strong person Enthusiasm – excitement Anticipation – suspense, excitement Drab – boring, dull Scurried – hurried Wailing – crying Cocoon – a silky case where insect

larvae transform into butterflies or moths Highlight – favourite bit Doubtful – unsure Backstage – area behind a stage where

actors get ready and people prepare props, scenery and costumes

Filed – walked in an orderly line

Spectacularly – in an impressive way Precarious – dangerous Suspiciously – strangely Without further ado – without any delay Anxious – worried Barbell – a long metal bar with heavy

balls or discs at each end for weightlifting Plinth – stand Catastrophe – disaster Scuttled – hurried with quick short steps Collided – crashed into, hit Whooping – calling out, cheering Pong – smell Flexed – tensed

Silly Simon (Page 18)

Pieman – man who sells pies and pastries Ware – goods, products Penny – money Pail – bucket Thistle – plant with prickly stem and leaves Adieu – French for ‘goodbye’

Molly Whuppie (Page 21)

Took pity on – felt sorry for Boomed – said loudly Lassies – girls Lair – hiding place Splendid – wonderful Bounded – ran with big, long strides Bellowed – shouted Sprinted – ran quickly Presented – showed Casket – wooden chest Snatched – quickly grabbed Jangled – jingled Shears – big scissors

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STOrYTIME GLOSSArY

Juha the Joker (Page 30)

Had a reputation for – well known for Reluctant – unwilling Complimented – praised Blessing – gift, favour Allah – the Arabic word for God Willingly – keenly, happily Sumptuous – luxurious, grand Troubled – worried Expression – look on face In mourning – grieving Have mercy on – be kind to Soul – spirit, life force

Happy Loses His Smile (Page 33)

Drowsily – sleepily Strode – walked Grumbly – moaning Coming down with something – getting

an illness, such as a bad cold Trudged – plodded, walked slowly Scowling – looking bad-tempered Stunned – shocked Slumped – flopped Exhausting – very tiring Relied – depended Spirits – good moods Huddled – stood closely Eventually – finally Croissants – French pastries with a

crescent moon shape Seven-a-side – football match with

seven players on each team Ref – referee, person who makes

sure everyone is playing by the rules in a sports match

Familiar – well known Beamed – smiled

The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (Page 38)

Cowherd – someone who herds cows Heavenly Empress – queen or goddess

in charge of heaven Shimmer – shining light Descended – came down Plucked up the courage – forced self

to be brave Mortal – human Startling – surprising In awe of – amazed by Charmed – delighted Humble – simple, plain Hide – skin Enraged – greatly angered Violently – with strength and power Severely – very badly Hurriedly – quickly Soared – flew Hairpin – grip that holds hair in place Vast – huge Bitterly – angrily Reunited – together again

Storytime Disaster (Page 43)

Doomed – going to be disappointed Impact – (positive) effect

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Use these questions to kick-start a discussion about this classic fairy tale.


Favourite Fairy Tale: Molly Whuppie StorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Name Class

CLASS DISCUSSION SHEET

Text Questions

1. Molly was the cleverest of the three sisters, but what do you think

Shona and Caitlin did best? Come up with some ideas.

2. Why do you think Molly was suspicious of the giant? How did she guess

he would trick them?

3. Did the king really want to teach the giant a lesson or did he just want

to own the giant’s precious magical possessions?

4. What do you think of the giant’s punishment for Molly?

5. Facing a giant is very dangerous. Were the king’s rewards enough?

Should Molly have asked for something else?

picture QuestionWhat is the giant thinking in this picture after Molly escapes? Write it in the thought bubble.



Teaching Resources

Name Class

Quick Story Quiz 1. Why did Molly and her sisters set off to make their own way in the world?

2. Why did the giant’s wife take pity on them?

3. What did the giant put around their necks when they went to bed?

4. After they escaped, who did Molly tell their story to?

5. Which of the giant’s magic items did Molly steal first?

6. What did the king promise to give Molly if she stole a third item from the giant?

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Answer: 1. Their parents were too poor to feed them, 2. She had three daughters of her own, 3. Gold necklaces, 4. A palace guard, 5. The magic sword, 6. A huge castle and all the riches she could ever wish for, 7. Cat, dog, needle, thread and shears, 8. She pretended there was something exciting inside the sack. Do you know?: 1c, 2a.

1 How many times did

Molly beat the giant?

a) 2

b) 3 c) 4

Do you know?

2 Of the three sisters, Molly Whuppie was...a) youngest b) oldest c) in the middle



Teaching Resources

Name Class

Quick Story Quiz 2 OF 2

7. What did the giant put in the sack with Molly?

8. How did Molly trick the giant’s wife into setting her free?

Molly stole the magic purse from the giant, but he woke and chased her. Once more, he couldn’t cross the bridge, so Molly escaped.


Molly Whuppie: Story sequencing sheet StorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Name Class

Finally, the king asked Molly to steal the giant’s magic ring. Molly did this, but the giant woke and captured her.

Next the king asked Molly to steal the giant’s magic purse in return for a reward for her middle sister. Molly agreed and set off.

The giant put Molly in a sack with a cat, a dog, a needle and thread and some shears. He asked his wife to guard the sack.

The giant said the girls could stay the night. He gave them gold necklaces, but Molly put them on his sleeping daughters.

The king heard about brave Molly. He asked her to steal a magic sword from the giant in return for a reward for her eldest sister.

Molly tricked the giant’s wife into getting inside the sack. Molly got out and hid.

Three sisters set off to make their way in the world. They found a giant’s house. The giant’s wife invited them in for bread and milk.

Molly stole the sleeping giant’s sword, but he woke and chased her. He was too heavy to cross the Bridge of One Hair, so Molly got away.

The giant couldn’t cross the bridge again, so Molly took the magic ring to the king. The king gave her a castle and lots of riches.

The giant didn’t know his wife was in the sack, so he swung it round his head. Then he spotted Molly escaping and chased her.

The giant felt for the necklaces in the dark. He put his daughters in a sack and carried them off. Molly escaped with her sisters.

Number the sentences from 1 to 12 to put them in the right order.


1

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2

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3 4

Use the pictures below to write Molly Whuppie in your own words.

Molly Whuppie: Simple Storyboard 1 of 2 StorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Name Class


5

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6

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Use the pictures below to write Molly Whuppie in your own words.

Molly Whuppie: Simple Storyboard 2 of 2 StorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Name Class

idea!

Write this story from the

point of view of the giant’s

youngest daughter. What

does she think of Molly

Whuppie?


Favourite Fairy Tale: Molly Whuppie

READING COMPrEHENSION SHEET

StorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Name Class

Read the extract below and answer the questions.

Once inside, she crept under his bed and waited.

At last, the giant came to bed. When he started snoring, she slipped her

hand under his pillow, snatched the magic purse and tiptoed out of his

room. But just as she reached the door, the purse jangled loudly. The

giant jumped out of bed.

1. Circle two verbs that suggest quick or sudden movements.

2. Circle three verbs that suggest Molly is moving quietly.

3. Underline the only adverb in this extract.

4. Underline a phrase that tells you time has passed. Think of one other

way of saying this phrase and write it here.

____________________________________________

GET CREATIVE!

The purse jangled loudly and woke up the giant. Can you think of three

different noisy verbs to use instead of jangled? Write them in this box.

Answers: 1. Snatched and jumped, 2. Crept, slipped and tiptoed, 3. Loudly, 4. At last. Instead you could say ‘finally’, ‘eventually’ or ‘after a long time’.

Where is the story set?

Who is the main character?

What is the main problem?

What is the solution?

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Teaching Resources

How does the story end?

WrITE

IT! Write a paragraph imagining what would have happened

if Molly kept the magic sword, purse and ring for herself.


Molly Whuppie: Story Structure Sheet

Name Class

StorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Compare the stories and characters in Molly Whuppie and Jack and the Beanstalk. Which parts of their stories are the same and which parts differ? How are Molly and Jack similar? We’ve put some ideas below to get you started.

CHArACTEr COMPArISON SHEET

SAME DIFFErENTMolly and Jack are both children

Both giants’ wives invite the children in for food

Molly is a girl, Jack is a boy

Molly’s giant knows her from the start. Jack’s giant only sees him at the end.

? Who is

braver – Molly or Jack?

? ?



Name Class

StorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Use these cards to make up a new version of Molly Whuppie.

STOrYTIME STOrYTELLEr CArDS


Favourite Fairy Tale: Molly Whuppie Mo

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Magic

Ring

Magic

swor

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Magic

purse



WrITING TEMPLATEStorytimeTM

Teaching Resources

Name Class


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Molly Whuppie: Mask 1 StorytimeTM

Teaching ResourcesPrint out and cut out our Molly Whuppie and Giant masks to act out the story.

2018


Molly Whuppie: Mask 2 StorytimeTM

Teaching ResourcesPrint out and cut out our Molly Whuppie and Giant masks to act out the story.

2018



Teaching Resources

INSIDE THE GIANT’S SACK



Teaching Resources

Name Class

COLOUrING PAGE

Make up your own magical object and draw it here.



Teaching Resources

Name Class

PICTUrE FrAME

favourite fairy tale: molly whuppie

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