Myths and Legends
for kids
Myths and Legends for kids. Primary homework help in English. Find out what a myth, legend, folktale and a fable is.
What is a Myth?
A myth is a story that explains why people, animals or things are the way they are. They are normally set a very long time ago such as when the world was being created. Myths may have gods and goddesses who have amazing powers to make extraordinary things happen.
Examples of myths
- How giraffes got their long necks
- Hercules (Greek myth)
- Pandora's Box (Greek myth)

See if you can find 10 stars in 50secs. Can you complete all six levels of the Mythology Gods?
Greek myths links

Listen to free audio stories on Greek Myths.
What is a Legend?
Legend - A traditional story based on truth but that has had bits added and which have been passed on from person-to-person.
A legend is about people and their actions or deeds. Stories about people mentioned in history are often told for a purpose and are based on facts, but they are not always completely true. The added bits make the story more interesting such as in the cases of Robin Hood, Queen Boadicea and King Arthur. For example, King Arthur was a man in the 5th/6th century but the parts about the round table and Merlin the Magician maybe not true. There was a Robin of Loxley (Robin Hood) and he helped the poor but he didn't have a band of robbers. Boadicea did exist but legend says that she escaped prison and carried on fighting, rather than dying there which is what really happened.
Myths and legends links

These poems, about people and creatures from myths and legends, make excellent bedtime stories for young children, or fun poems for older children.

Watch videos of Myths & Legends and follow the suggested activities to explore the stories.

Stories from around the world. Explore them and find out how the Kangaroo got his tail, how Coyote made people and what happened to the ungrateful tiger.

Read the ancient myths & folktales. Stories from Africa, Ancient Greek, Native American, Ancient China, Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Rome, Egypt and more.

Feel your spine tingle when you stand in the presence of these myths and legends in truly awe-inspiring places.
Follow Super Brainy Beans's board Myths and Legends on Pinterest.
What is a folk tale?
Folk tales are also known as fairy tales and they are stories that have been made up by people (or folk). Folktales have imaginative characters, happy endings and may contain magic. These stories have always been children's favourite stories and many of them have been turned into well-known films.
Examples of folk tales/fairy tales
- Cinderella
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Three Little Pigs
- Beauty and the Beast
- Little Red Riding Hood

A Fairytale of Hansel and Gretel in Taleans. Trapped in the dark forest. Help them to find their way home

The Cinderella story. Follow the story and do the activities along the way.

Run through the streets of Baghdad and avoid obstacles.

Find all the hidden objects and answer the riddle in order to unlock all the princess dress up items.

Links for craft downloads, fun games, word games based on traditional stories/fairy tales.

Read The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Little Red Hen and The Three Little Pigs online.
Follow Super Brainy Beans's board Fairy Tales on Pinterest.
What is a fable?
Fables are short stories that have a meaning. This meaning is called a moral. It teaches how we should behave and live our lives. Fables have animals as the main characters who can talk and act like humans. There is usually one animal who is weak and it often contains a hero or villain.
Examples of a fables
- The hare and the tortoise
- The wind and the sun
- The boy who cried wolf
Fable links

Read the most famous fables.

40 of Aesop's Fables are told by an all-star cast, including Lindsay Duncan, Richard E Grant, Jane Horrocks, Alison Steadman and the late Richard Briers.