The Pied Piper of Hamelin Teacher Resources

There can be dire consequences when you don’t pay the piper! No one learns this lesson more aptly—or literally—than the rat-infested town in the classic fairy tale, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” Complete with a moral about integrity and sticking to a fair deal, the story integrates the grim imagery of rats flooding the streets with the lofty character of the eponymous Piper. His lilting musicality cleans up the bereft town, only to levy an equitable punishment for their refusal to pay his fee.

If you’re planning on using the story in your language arts class, try an engaging activity based on the story, or a worksheet with reading responses. You can also bring a lesson on the Brothers Grimm into the class, and pair it with an insightful presentation on international folklore.

Integrate the story into history class with a video about rats and the bubonic plague, the effects of which are rumored to have inspired the famous fairy tale. Or if your students are in a musical mood, invite them to create their own piper flutes—or to follow you around campus as you play yours!

However you bring “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” into your curriculum, learners will enjoy the enthusiasm of the story, the theme, and the many learning opportunities it inspires!