Using Cinderella Stories to Study Venn Diagrams
and Other Graphic Organizers

Designed by:  Lisa A. McClain, Hand Middle School

1) CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVE(S):  Complete graphic organizers depicting relationships among story elements such as outlining, webbing, Venn diagrams, T-charts.  (6-CM-9) (PACT:  I.C.4)

RESTATEMENT: After reading several Cinderella stories, students will organize story information using a variety of graphic organizers, including Venn diagrams, T-charts, story maps, and webs.

GRADE LEVEL: 6th       SUBJECT(S):  Reading/Language Arts

2) OVERVIEW:     After reading several Cinderella stories, students will organize story information using a variety of graphic organizers, including Venn diagrams, T-charts, story maps, and webs.

3) FOCUS/ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S):

* What are graphic organizers?

* How can graphic help us remember and organize information?

* What are the types of information can be used on various graphic organizers?

* How can we organize the details from the stories we've read to remember and compare what we've read?

4) TIME FRAME:    Four 45 - 50 minute periods - one/two  for direct instruction and modeling, one/two  for individual/group work, and one for presentations

5) RESOURCES:  The following are Cinderella versions, which work well for the activities:

* Cendrillon: A Carribean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci

* Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe

* Smoky Mountain Rose, An Appalachian Cinderella by Alan Schroeder

* Bubba the Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman

* Prince Cinders by Babette Cole

* The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo

* The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

* The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo

* The Golden Sandal:  A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox

* Cinderella Penguin, or The Little Glass Slipper by Janet Perlman

* Yeh-Shen, a Cinderella Tale from China by Ai-Ling Louie

If you do not have access to these through either your school or local library, check out the following web sites:

* http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/cinderella.html  (for an extensive list of Cinderella stories)

* http://www-personal.si.umich,edu/~srichard/ER/cinderella.html  (for a history of Cinderella stories)

* http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/tam.html (for stories)

* http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/ashliman.html  (for stories)

* http://www.col.k12.me.us/bcs/Library/Cinderella/cinderel.html  (for stories)

* www.graphic.org/goindex.html (site about/for graphic organizers)

Additional Resources:

* copies of the graphic organizers (included in lesson)

* transparencies of the graphic organizers

* overhead projector and projector pens

6) ASSESSMENT:

Students will read Cinderella stories and complete four graphic organizers based on that story.  Students will also present their graphic organizers to the class.  There will be a quiz on the types of graphic organizers and their uses.  A rubric is used to grade the students' use of graphic organizers and their presentation.  A grading scale for the quiz is included.  See the forms and rubric that follow the lesson.

7) INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

ACTIVITY ONE:

* Ask students to recall the traditional story of Cinderella - the "Disney version" is familiar to most students.  Tell them to give the details in sequence.  As they give story details, write the details in a story map (flow-chart style).  Make sure to include the five elements of plot: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.  There is an example of this type of graphic organizer at the end of this lesson.

* After completing the review of the traditional Cinderella, provide students with background information about Cinderella stories.  Make sure you tell them that there are hundreds of Cinderella stories and that almost every culture in the world has a version of the Cinderella story.  Cinderella stories originated in Asia and have been around for thousands of years.  The idea for the glass slipper originated because of the Chinese love of small feet for women.  The slipper would be so tiny that only the true Cinderella could fit into the slipper.  Visit the site http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/cinderella.html to get some information about the modern history of Cinderella stories.  The teacher can present this information to the students, or if computers are available, students can visit the site themselves.  

* Tell students that the purpose of this lesson is two-fold: one, to learn about Cinderella stories, and two, to learn about graphic organizers and how they can be used to organize information.

* Draw students' attention back to the graphic organizer you completed as they recalled the Disney version of Cinderella.  Explain that what they are looking at is one example of a graphic organizer.  Define graphic organizer on the board; students should copy the definition into their notebooks.  Also explain that a story map or flow chart is used to put events into sequence.  This should also be put into notebooks.

* Select one of the Cinderella versions (Cendrillon works well) and read it out loud to the class.  After reading, present the students with a blank diagram (provided in this lesson) and use it to compare and contrast the traditional Cinderella and Cendrillon (or the story you chose to read).  Explain to students that Venn diagrams are used to determine the similarities and differences between two objects.  Students should write Venn diagram into their notebooks, define it, and describe its uses.  Complete the Venn diagram on either the board or overhead as the students provide responses and complete individual Venn diagrams at their desks.  (Note:  The Learning Center will make poster size copies of graphic organizers for a minimal charge.  These work well during this activity.)

* Next, still using Cendrillon, complete a T-chart.  Again, students should complete a T-chart at their desk while the teacher completes one on the board/overhead.  T-charts are especially useful to identify relationships between two things.  For this T-chart, (example at the end of the lesson) students should identify specific events in the story and then indicate how the Cinderella character would feel. Students should write T-chart into their notebooks, define it, and describe its uses.

* Discuss the four elements most Cinderella stories contain.  Explain that not every Cinderella story will have every element, but that most will.  The four elements are (1) a mistreated but kind and deserving main character (Cinderella - can be male or female), (2) some type of celebration, (3) magic, and (4) a token by which the Cinderella character is identified.  Use the web to depict these elements (example at the end of the lesson). Students should write web into their notebooks, define it, and describe its uses.

* Review the four types of graphic organizers presented: flow chart/story map, Venn diagram, T-chart, and web.

ACTIVITY TWO:

* Divide students into groups of either two or four.  (The number of Cinderella stories you have available will determine the size of your groups.  If you have enough stories for every student to have their own Cinderella version, divide into groups of two.  Otherwise, use groups of four and have two students share one Cinderella version. The amount of time allotted for presentations will vary depending on the size of your groups.)  To divide students into groups, you can have students count by 1-2 (1-2-3-4), students can self-select partners, or the teacher can pre-selects partners.

* Each student/pair of partners should be assigned a Cinderella story.  Students can randomly select a story or the teacher can assign the stories.  (This is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of ethnic and cultural differences among children.  For example, if you have an Asian student in you class, you may wish to assign him or her an Asian version of Cinderella.  For the boys, you may wish to select a Cinderella story with a male as the main character.)

* Students should read their assigned story.

* Each student or pair of partners should complete a story map of their Cinderella version, a T-chart, and a web identifying how the four elements of a Cinderella story are manifested in their story.  (See rubric at the end of the lesson for specific requirements for each graphic organizer.)

* If each student read a different Cinderella story, each should pair up with another student to complete a Venn diagram comparing their story with their partner's story.  If two students read the same Cinderella version, they should work with another pair who read a different story to complete a Venn diagram.

*  Students will publish all graphic organizers using transparencies or poster paper (as well as on their graphic organizer forms) to allow students to present their information during activity three.

* For homework, have the students should complete any incomplete graphic organizers.  They should also review their notes on the types and uses of graphic organizers discussed for a quiz the next day.

ACTIVITY THREE:

* Administer the quiz on graphic organizers.

* Students will present their graphic organizers to the class.  Each student (or pair of partners) should individually present his or her story map, T-chart, and web.  Venn diagrams will be presented by the group of students that created it.

* After presenting their information in class, the graphic organizers created by the students can be displayed in a hall display, on a classroom bulletin board, or in the school's media center.

Date:  _____________________  Period:  ______________

Graphic Organizer Quiz

Directions:  Complete the chart below.  Include the four types of graphic organizers we discussed in class.  Describe how to best use each type of graphic organizer.

Type of Graphic Organizer	Use of Graphic Organizer	Diagram of Graphic Organizer

KEY

Date:  _______________ __________   Period:  ______________

Graphic Organizer Quiz

Directions:  Complete the chart below.  Include the four types of graphic organizers we discussed in class.  Describe how to best use each type of graphic organizer.

Type of Graphic Organizer	Use of Graphic Organizer	Diagram of Graphic Organizer
T-chart	To show relationship between 2 things
Story Map or Flow Chart	To show the sequence or order
Web	To organize details into categories/show relationships
Venn diagram	To compare and contrast things

  (Modified T-chart - Works well for cause and effect.)

 Name________________________    Date____________  Per._________

CINDERELLA GRAPHIC ORGANIZER ACTIVITY RUBRIC

  Comments: 

Name________________________ Date____________ Per._________

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUIZ RUBRIC

Name________________________  Date____________ Per._________

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUIZ RUBRIC