Lesson Plan: The Theme of Honesty Compare Texts with Cinderella

Teaching the Theme of Honesty while Comparing/Contrasting Similar Texts

with

"Cinderella" and “The Native American Cinderella” 

by

Stories to Grow by

Looking for a great text on teaching the Theme of Honesty? Would you also like to teach Elementary students (Perfect for 2nd-4th) how to Compare/Contrast Similar Texts? At the same time, would you like to build student engagement, fluency and comprehension? Then we have the lesson plan for you! Utilize the below lesson plan with our Story or Reader’s Theater Script, “A Native American Cinderella” and our Story or Reader's Theater Script of "Cinderella". Stories with a positive message while teaching an important literary skill: this is what you will find in all the Stories to Grow by Stories and Reader’s Theater Scripts. This week’s Honesty story is The Native American Cinderella from Canada:

The Native American Cinderella:

A unique version of a classic tale: A tale out of Canada from the Abenaki tribe: a Native American warrior with very special gifts searches for a maiden who is honest and worthy to be his bride. After a series of beautiful but deceitful maidens, he finds a maiden who is truly honest, but is she worthy? Find out here! Read the Reader's Theater Script Here or the Story Here.

The content of this tale prompts skill-building for the Common Core Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.2, 2.6,3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 4.2, 4.3, 4.9:

Essential Question: How has Honesty played an important role in your relationships with others?

Objective: Students will Compare and Contrast similar texts with varying points of view as well as create a create a “modern day” ending from a Classic Fairy tale.  

Anticipatory Set: Predict what you think the Native American “Cinderella” might be about. **** Students will be surprised at how different this version is from the traditional Disney version they are familiar with. (5 mins)

Activities: Teacher will assign the 9 parts (could give students 2 parts if working in small groups) or divide class in half to create two/three reading groups, depending on class size. Students read the script aloud, creating a “Reader’s Theater Round” working on fluency and expression 20mins. Groups should stop at the end of each scene to discuss the setting, main characters and main events. Students can write character descriptions on page 1, or highlight important plot details. Once finished the read aloud, have the students complete a Compare/Contrast chart to look at the similarities and differences between this tale and our version of the Classic Cinderella Story  or Reader's Theater Script here (10-15 mins)

We offer one in our “Native American Cinderella Teacher’s Resource/Activities Guide”. 

Closing: Have students look back at their predictions and see how different this version was from their original thought. Day 2-3 Have students work in their groups (or individually as you prefer) to rewrite Scene 3 of the Reader’s Theater Script with a more “modern day” alternate ending or if you are using the story have them create and write their own “modern day” ending.  If using the Script, have groups “perform” their new creative ending for the class.

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