The Jataka Tales, a collection of 547 stories, celebrate the past incarnations of the Buddha. The tales show the attitudes and actions that develop compassion, and serve as vehicles for understanding the fundamental principles of Buddhism. The following three interrelated lessons are intended to be used after secondary students have studied the history of and the basic principles of Buddhism. 

The first lesson has students compare and contrast two different versions of the popular Jataka Tale,"The Hare." The second lesson has students listen to a third version of "The Hare", a children's story, and then asks that students select another tale to rewrite as a children's book. 
The third lesson reminds students that Jataka Tales were originally part of a rich oral tradition and has them learn to "tell" the story they have rewritten. 

For background on Buddhism: 
http://www.buddhanet/e-learning/buddhism/bs-s_syll.htm (7 units on Buddhism designed for secondary students)