Elementary Library Media (K-5)
Strand 2 Standard 3
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
6 class periods of 30 minutes each
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.
Resources for Cinderella Stories
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
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.
Teacher assess students' Cinderella stories according to writing rubric.
Cinderella. A Story by Charles Perrault. Retold by Joy Cowley. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story Louie, Ai-Lin. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Steptoe, John.