Still, the work was very difficult. It is little wonder that the steam drill was one of the first tools developed to speed the process of building railroads. Tall tales tend to be those kind of stories, exaggerated for effect as they are passed on. A good introduction to folktales or tall tales is to give students experience in creating their own tall tales. Begin the activity by having the students sit in a circle and swap stories about happenings in their own lives.
Students can then read their tall tales to the class.
Choose two figures and compare them. Students can collect stories, poems, and songs that could be used to introduce their state. Students could present a program for another class, for a parent-teacher organization meeting, or for an open house, sharing stories and songs from the unit. Here is an activity that will be useful in teaching energy and motion of trains. Tie a piece of rope onto a large piece of cardboard and pull it up a grassy or snowy slope.