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Lessons
Cinderella Folk Tales: Variations in Character
Discipline
Reading
Grades
3, 4
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Professional Commentary

Although the Disney version is the most popular in America, hundreds of versions of the Cinderella story exist. This resource provides lessons, in which students define the major differences in the characteristics of the heroine (e.g., meek, assertive) in a variety of Cinderella tales. Students compare common characteristics of character, plot, and conflict resolution among variations of the Cinderella story. After listening to a variety of Cinderella stories, students work in small groups to analyze other variations of the fairy tale. This lesson may be taught either as a stand-alone lesson or as a follow up to the complementary EDSITEment lesson Cinderella Folk Tales: Variations in Plot and Setting, which concentrates on variability of plot and setting among Cinderella tales. Online extensions and background information are available; however a few of the links are no longer active. (author/ncl/jg)


Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Kindergarten–Grade 5
Reading: Literature
Grade 3
Key Ideas and Details
RL.3.2 
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
RL.3.3 
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Grade 4
Key Ideas and Details
RL.4.3 
Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
Grade 5
Key Ideas and Details
RL.5.3 
Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
Writing
Grade 3
Text Types and Purposes
W.3.3 
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
  1. Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
  2. Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
  3. Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.
  4. Provide a sense of closure.
Grade 4
Text Types and Purposes
W.4.3 
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
  1. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
  2. Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
  3. Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
  4. Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
  5. Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Grade 5
Text Types and Purposes
W.5.3 
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
  1. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
  2. Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
  3. Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
  4. Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events
  5. precisely.
  6. Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Ohio English Language Arts Standards (2001)
Reading Process: Concepts of Print, Comprehension Strategies and Self-Monitoring Strategies Standard
Benchmarks (K–3)
D.
Apply reading skills and strategies to summarize and compare and contrast information in text, between text and across subject areas.
Benchmarks (4–7)
B.
Apply effective reading comprehension strategies, including summarizing and making predictions, and comparisons using information in text, between text and across subject areas.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 3)
3.
Compare and contrast information between texts and across subject areas.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 4)
3.
Compare and contrast information on a single topic or theme across different text and non-text resources.
Reading Applications: Literary Text Standard
Benchmarks (K–3)
B.
Use supporting details to identify and describe main ideas, characters and setting.
C.
Recognize the defining characteristics and features of different types of literary forms and genres.
Benchmarks (4–7)
A.
Describe and analyze the elements of character development.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 3)
2.
Use concrete details from the text to describe characters and setting.
4.
Identify and explain the defining characteristics of literary forms and genres, including fairy tales, folk tales, poetry, fiction and non-fiction.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 4)
1.
Describe the thoughts, words and interactions of characters.