Cinderella Stories From Around the World

Summary

Several version of Cinderella are read to students as they fill out comparison charts. The fairy tale genre is introduced.

Materials

• Several Cinderella storybooks from different cultures and time periods (See list of titles and authors below in the bibliography.)
• One Compare / Contrast chart (pdf) for each student for each Cinderella storybook.

Background for Teachers

• Collect Cinderella stories (See the list of the suggested stories in the bibliography.)
• Understand what makes a fairy tale

Student Prior Knowledge

Students will understand what a fairy tale is.

Instructional Procedures

1. Provide each student with a comparison chart for each version of Cinderella stories that you are going to read.
2. Read a different Cinderella story to the class each day.
3. As you read each story, have students complete the comparison charts.
4. Discussion: orally compare and contrast the stories.

Extensions

Personal stories can be illustrated and shared with other grade levels, parents or peers. A reader's theatre could be organized as well.

Assessment Plan

Each student will write their own version of Cinderella including all elements of a fairy tale.

Bibliography

Here are some of the many Cinderella stories you may want to use for this lesson:

• Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie
• The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin
• The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition by Nina Jaffe
• The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox
• Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
• The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story by Penny Pollock
• The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
• Fair, Brown & Trembling : An Irish Cinderella Story by Jude Daly
• Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
• Estrellita de oro / Little Gold Star: A Cinderella Cuento by Joe Hayes
• Sootface by Robert D. San Souci
• Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci
• The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo
• Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
• Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
• Raisel's Riddle by Erica Silverman
• Smoky Mountain Rose by Alan Schroeder
• The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story by Judy Sierra
• The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
• The Golden Slipper: A Vietnamese Legend by Darrell H. Y. Lum
• Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale by Robert D. San Souci
• Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave by Marianna Mayer
• Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella by Myrna J. De LA Paz
• Chinye: A West African Folk Tale by Obi Onyefulu