Asia Education Foundation

A Chinese folk story

This lesson plan is based on the folk story 'Fifteen honest coins', collected in Brewer, W 1995, Many Flowers: Folk Stories from Asia, Curriculum Corporation, p 25.

Learning area

English: Years 4-6

Outline

Students read the folk story Fifteen honest coins and complete related activities. This folk story would complement stories from other cultures which deal with honesty and truthfulness being rewarded.

Materials required

Students will require access to copies of Fifteen honest coins. They could read it in the screen or from printed copies.

Activities

  1. Have students read the story individually, or read it with the class as a whole.
  2. Clarify any unfamiliar vocabulary.
  3. Discussion:
    • What options did the boy have? (You could list them and discuss each separately.)
    • What do students believe was the ‘best’ option?
    • What options did the mother have?
    • What motivated the merchant’s statements?
    • What does the story teach us? (What is the moral?)
    • What aspects of the story seem to belong particularly to China rather than other cultures? (One aspect is that the judgement of a ‘wise man’ has been valued in Chinese history rather than reference to a body of law.)
    • Does this story remind students of other stories they have heard?
  4. Writing tasks:
    • Students could write their own stories which illustrate the rewards of honesty and truthfulness. Alternatively, some might want to write stories which illustrate that honesty and truthfulness are not always rewarded.
    • Students could write an account of what might happen if they (or other children in their neighbourhood) found a wallet containing $500 in their local shopping centre. They could also be asked to write a justification for the actions they suggest.
  5. Extension

    Compare Fifteen honest coins with the story of Solomon in the Bible.

Related resources

Many Flowers: Folk Stories from Asia contains a range of other folk stories which could also be compared with Fifteen honest coins, particularly in relation to the moral messages conveyed.

DL Ashliman of the University of Pittsburg maintains an extensive folklore and mythology site, with an academic bent. One section is Folktales from China. Teachers should be sure to pre-read these, as some have subjects which may be considered unsuitable for some students.

Chinese Folk Stories, Myth and Legends

6 Chinese Folk and Fairy Stories includes some lesson plans.