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A Cinderella Story (Grade 2)

Main Core Tie

Elementary Library Media (K-5)
Strand 2 Standard 3

Additional Core Ties

English Language Arts Grade 2
Reading: Literature Standard 2

Social Studies - 2nd Grade
Standard 1 Objective 1

Social Studies - 2nd Grade
Standard 1 Objective 2

Time Frame

6 class periods of 30 minutes each

Authors

Laura Boyd
TERI SOUTHAM

Summary

2nd grade Students will be integrating social studies cultural awareness with cultural stories of Cinderella. Students will listen to the Charles Perrault version of Cinderella and identify the main characters, plot and conflict. They will read another version and identify similarities and differences of the two stories. They will create Venn diagrams to look at similarities and differences of their own school cultures and then use Venn diagrams to look at similarities and differences of Cinderella stories. With this information, they will create their own Cinderella story.


Materials

  • Cinderella books
  • Large chart paper
  • Projector (to show books)
  • Markers
  • Worksheet to get family information from home


Background for Teachers

Resources for Cinderella Stories


Student Prior Knowledge

Students will need to know key terms: character, plot, conflict

Students will need to know about their family history (origin, traditions, language, family structure)

Students will need to know key terms: compare and contrast


Intended Learning Outcomes

  • Students will identify cultures that are in their class.
  • Students will compare and contrast how those cultures are the same and different from their own family and home. Identify language, food, and traditions that are the same or different.
  • Students will use a graphic organizer to identify similar cultural characteristics.
  • Students will identify the key elements of a Cinderella story (characters, plot, conflict).
  • Students will find corresponding elements from other Cinderella stories from other cultures (China, South Africa, Canada).
  • Students will use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast those key elements.
  • Students will create a story that reflects one of the cultures they have identified in their class.


Instructional Procedures

Activity #1 30 mins
Identify nationalities in classroom. Discuss languages, foods, family structure, homes, clothing, location of original home.

Students begin to create their cultural chart.(language, family origin, food, clothing, holidays, religion, family structure, etc...)

Activity #2 30 mins
Introduce Cinderella story themes. Discuss how there are over 500 versions in Europe alone. Identify key details (character, plot, conflict, resolution)

Read Charles Perrault's version of Cinderella (believed to be the original European version)

Create a chart to reflect Cinderella's culture in Europe (language, home, family structure, holiday, clothing)

Activity #3 30 mins
Students will continue with charts. Discuss how cultures borrow traditions, language, food, home styles with each other. Students will walk around room and sign name to each chart that is similar to their own culture.

Activity #4
Review Cinderella story from activity #2.

Students will then read or listen to Yeh Shen (or another Asian Cinderella story). They will be looking at common story elements first. Students will then look at cultural differences (clothing, language, food, family structure)

Discuss-How is this different than the European (Perrault's) version? How is it similar?

Display and model Venn diagram to show similarities and differences in Cinderella stories

Activity #5 30 mins
Read Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (or another African/different cultural Cinderella story). Discuss similarities and differences with prior Cinderalla stories. With teacher/librarian guidance, students add information to charts (Venn diagram) while story is being read aloud.

Culminating Activity/Writing project
Students select a culture other than their own and write a Cinderella story, adding cultural differences such as clothing, language, food, family structure. This can be whole class or small group. Utilize the writing process to present a published piece with illustrations and binding.


Assessment Plan

Teacher assess students' Cinderella stories according to writing rubric.


Bibliography

Cinderella. A Story by Charles Perrault. Retold by Joy Cowley. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story Louie, Ai-Lin. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Steptoe, John.


Created: 09/08/2016
Updated: 02/05/2018
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