Country
Spain

Tale typology
Intercultural traditions

Age Suitability
5

Tale summary
The legend of San Jorge describes the conflict between a dragon and a Spanish kingdom. To avoid the mass-killing of all the kingdom, they have decided that each day will sacrifice one villager. One day, the princess has been selected to sacrifice herself, but a knight in shining armour (Saint Jorge) appeared and killed the dragon.

Educational potential / Learning Outcomes
Description of the education potential of the tale

Full Plot
There was once a dragon living in Montblanc, who terrorised the villagers and devoured their animals. Soon enough, all the animals had vanished, and it was time for the dragon to turn his wraf upon the people. The villagers decided to draw lots and sacrifice a person each day, by offering him to the dragon. On one of these occasions, the unfortunate person whose name was picked up was the princess. People offered to take her place, owing to her kind nature, but the King refused to let anyone sacrifice their lives for his daughter. The princess was sent to the dragon, and just as she was about to be swallowed up, a knight in shining armour appeared and decided to fight the creature. After a rough confrontation, he was able to kill the dragon with his lance and spill his blood. From the spot where the blood had spilt, grew a red rose, which the knight then plucked and presented to the princess. The knight was called San Jorge (Saint George). To commemorate this event, every year on the 23rd of April, a huge celebration is carried out on the streets and men give roses to the women they love.

One Lesson Plan
PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTIONS
Introduction Activity: The teacher will listen together with the class the audio book with the legend of Saint Jorge.
After they listen it, the teacher proposed the following questions:
What is the deal made by the villagers to the dragon in order to spare their lives?
Why the princess agreed to respect her fate? Do you think she was equal with the other people in the kingdom?
Who defeated the dragon and save the princess?
Main Activity: What Does Courage Look Like? (Suggested for all grades) Materials: Drawing paper
Have pupils draw a picture of courage in action. Have them title their picture by completing the sentence "Courage is...." If possible, display the pictures in the classroom.
The Courageous Egg
Materials: Wide mouthed glass or jar, uncooked rice, egg Place the egg in the middle of the glass completely covered by rice. Explain that the egg represents someone who hanging with the crowd. One day the group starts making fun of other people, the egg doesn't like it so he tells them to stop (tap the top of the rim, the egg will rise up from the rice with each tap). Next, the group of friends starts excluding others from their games (tap the rim) and they start telling lies. Each time the egg refuses to go along with his friends and stands up for what's right (tap again). Continue until the egg has completely risen above the rice. Tell the students it takes courage to do the right thing when others are not. A courageous person will rise to the top and stand out from the rest.