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WHICH CINDERELLA?
 
Project Description
 
Some of the first stories that children hear are fairy tales and myths.  These stories are usually from the children’s own culture.  A few of these stories may have been passed down from relatives. These stories still relate to their own cultures. 

However, since we live in a world where there are hundreds of different cultures, students should be exposed to cultures that are not their own.  For example, Smyth School is located among Mexican, Chinese, and Italian neighborhoods.   Many of our students have not been exposed to these cultures.

In this unit students will become acquainted with customs and traditions of other cultures.  In addition, students will learn story telling techniques (language development), sequential order of events, character development, problem solving skills, and moral lessons.  To accomplish this task, the students will write their own fairy tales. 

 
 
Project Goals
 
Essential Question:
  • How can fairy tales tell us about a specific culture?
 
Specific Questions:
  • What do certain characters in the story tell us about that culture?
  • What moral lessons can you learn from fairy tales or myths?
  • How would you solve the problem in the fairy tale?
 
Illinois and CPS Learning Standards
 
State Goal # CAS letter CSF #
STATE GOAL 1 A All
STATE GOAL 3:  C All
STATE GOAL 18:  A, B All
STATE GOAL 17:  A All

 
 

Unit Prerequisites
 
  • Have knowledge of more than one version of Cinderella.
  • Understand cultural differences.
  • Be able to compare and contrast.
  • Have basic computer skills.
  • How would you solve the problem in the fairy tale?

 

 
Performance Actions
 
Access
  • Read/listen to fairy tales from other cultures
  • Investigate the common characteristics of fairy tales
  • Explore the possibility of writing a new version of a fairy tale
Interpret
  • Compare similar cultural features among the same fairy tales using a Venn diagram.
  • Contrast different cultural features among the same fairy tales using a Venn diagram.
  • Decide which cultural features are similar to your own culture.
Procedure
  • Plan with your group to write your own version of the fairy tale that you read.
  • Write the new fairy tale.
  • Draw pictures to illustrate your fairy tale.
  • Design a cover page for your fairy tale.
Communicate
  • Publish your fairy tales using the computer with the assistance your teacher.
  • Present your fairy tale to your class and other classes in your school.
  • Dialogue with a neighboring school to present your fairy tale to a similar grade level class.
Evaluate
  • Critique your fairy tale using the rubric provided.
  • Improve on areas that your group found weak.
 
Performance Assessment Plan
 

Performance Indicators

Assessment Tool

Reading – Grades K-4  
1.A.All Oral Presentation Rubric; group work checklist; teacher observation
Writing – Grades K-4  
3.C.All Writing Rubric; group work checklist, teacher observation
   
 

Teacher Resources
 
Addresses Description
In Search of Cinderella Multiple Cinderellas
Chinese Cinderella Teachers Guide
2nd Grade Mexican Cinderella Lesson Plan
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter African Cinderella
http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq121/ Cinderella

 

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