The Story of Cinderella

 

The Story of Cinderella

Planning

• Decide the approximate time frame for students to engage in this activity
• Determine which Cinderella books to use for the multiday lesson.
• Discuss with teachers if there are any cross-curricular connections that can be used while engaging in this activity

Promotion

• Verbal promotion among teachers to aid in tying in cross-curricular material
• Verbal promotion among students prior to the start of the multiday lesson
• Create a flyer and/or add information to social media websites

Preparations

• Secure materials needed
• Different Cinderella books to be used
• A few book suggestions are:
• Cinderella by Charles Perrault
• The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin
• Adelita by Tomie dePaola
• Yen-Shen by Ai-Ling Louie
• Chart paper
• Use of projector and document camera
• Construction paper
• Notebook paper
• Stapler
• Markers
• Pencils

Procedures

Day 1

• Discuss with students different nationalities within their class. Include in the discussion the types of languages, foods, family relations, recognized holidays, clothing choices, the origin of past ancestors, etc.
• Students will use a graphic organizer to record information relevant to their family’s culture and origin.
• Tell students that they may take their graphic organizer home to collect information from family members. Remind them to bring back their graphic organizer to their next library visit.

Day 2

• Begin the lesson by sharing with students discussing with students the version(s) of Cinderella they have heard. Share with them that there are over 800+ versions of the story Cinderella.
• Discuss and identify the different story elements within Cinderella, such as character, plot, conflict, and resolution.
• Read one version of Cinderella to students.
• Create a graphic organizer using elements from the story to record culturally specific items (clothing, language, family relations, etc) and discuss them.
• Allow students time to finish their culture graphic organizer if needed.

Day 3

• Begin the lesson by inviting students to share their cultural graphic organizer. Allow students to stand or raise their hand when the presenter shares something they have in common culturally.
• Discuss that although cultures have many differences, there are many similarities as well.
• Finish off the lesson by reading a different version of Cinderella.
• If time allows, discuss elements of the story that shows the cultural elements and add them to the graphic organizer. Write in a different color so that students may see the different versions added to the original chart created.

Day 4

• Discuss with students the elements of the latest version of Cinderella that was read at the end of lesson 3. Record the cultural aspects in a different color (so that students may see the different versions added) on the original chart created.
• This step may be omitted if wanting to create only a Venn diagram to discuss the two versions of Cinderella read.
• Create a Venn diagram if time allows so students can easily see similarities and differences between the two versions of Cinderella read.
• Discuss with students some of the similarities or differences they may have with either version of the stories.
• Read another version of Cinderella if time permits.

Day 5

• Read another version of Cinderella if time did not permit in Lesson 4.
• Discuss the similarities and differences between the two previous versions of Cinderella.
• Add information to the graphic organizer of your choice to record the similarities and differences.
• Share with students that they will be creating their own Cinderella story. 
• Students will pick a culture different from their own and write their story.
• Students will need to include cultural elements specific to the culture they chose. Assist students by providing informational books on different cultures.
• The story needs to include pictures and be in book format. Assist students by providing notebook paper, construction paper, and pencils/markers. If desired, books may be constructed & folded prior to this lesson for ease.

Day 6

• Allow students time to continue working on their Cinderella books.
• Assist students by offering guidance and assistance with writing, placement of pictures, creating a title, and so on.
• If some students have finished, they may share their book with another student who has finished.

Day 7

• It’s time to celebrate students’ creations! Students will present their Cinderella stories and share the culture they incorporated into their writing.
• You may invite other classes, teachers, staff, or administration to share this experience and celebrate student creations.

Payoff

• Provides an opportunity for the librarian to collaborate with teachers
• Provides students with a creative outlet
• Provides students an opportunity to share their writing with others
• Provides students an opportunity to learn about other cultures