What an Old Wives' Tale!

  • 30
  • 60
Time
PDF Resource
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Benefits
  • Keep Learning
  • Bring Joy
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Participants
  • Group Activity

What you need

  1. A list of old wives’ tales with origins or - download resource

Intro

Does walking under a ladder bring bad luck? Will eating crusts make your hair go curly? Can an apple a day keep the doctor away? This activity explores some of the tales we’ve been told over and over again throughout the years – and their origins. It’s interesting that we know they’re often a load of old codswallop but we still follow them!

Enjoy this activity as a quiz or just over a chat.

The Activity

  1. Gather the group in a quiet area
  2. Read out the 1st Old Wives' tale  to everyone and invite them to answer what they think it means
  3. Encourage the group to share their thoughts about where they think each tale originated
  4. Ask everyone if they’ve paid attention to the tales and whether they’ve worked (e.g. “I know it’s not true, but I would never walk under a ladder!)
  5. Keep going for as long as everyone is enjoying this

PDF Resource

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