Fantasy Is there only one way to tell a tale?

Lesson One Introduce the fairy tales that will be covered. Have the students talk about how they remember the stories going. Let the children get into small groups and either illustrate or write their favorite scene form each book. As a class make a list of differences that arise during this activity. Present the question: Is there only one correct way to tell a fairy tale?

Lesson Two Read the Disney version of Cinderella. As a class fill out a chart noting the Main characters, villains, beginning, middle and end of the story. Read Rough Faced Girl. As a class fill out the same chart for the second book. Post the two charts where they are visible to the whole class. Have the children get into pairs and fill out a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the two versions. (At the bottom of the page have the students mark which story they prefer.) Go over the charts as a class.

Lesson Two Activity Cinderella Rough Faced Girl

Lesson Three As a group have the students list what they remember of the story of the Three Little Pigs. Using a felt board retell the story using the preprinted sentence strips about the story. Read the Three Little Javelinas. Have the students order the new story board under the first. As a class fill out a compare and contrast chart on The Three Little Pigs and The Three Little Javelinas.

Lesson Three Comparison SimilaritiesDifferences

Lesson Four Talk about piggyback tales. Read The True Story of the three Little Pigs. Discuss change of perspective. Have students offer other stories where this tactic could be used. Read Cindy Big Hair: A Twisted (and Teased & Braided) Cinderella Story Talk about plot twisting. Using characters and main ideas to tell your new story. Have the students break into small groups and list the barrowed parts of Cinderella seen in Cindy Big Hair.

Lesson Five Review all of the stories read during the week. Have the students discuss in their table groups which book they like best. Pass out writing paper and have the students write their own piggyback tale. (Let them choose any story to piggy back.)

The Big Questions Is there only one way to tell a tale? What is makes a story a version? What is a piggyback tale?