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Cinderella in Geography
(The Girl Gets Around!)

Where in the World is Cinderella?
Target Audience: 3rd - 6th grade (can be modified "down" by making this a group dictated activity or modified "up" by going into the three extension activities found at the end of this section)
Objectives: The learner will identify various countries, their locations, and aspects of their culture.

On-Line Resources:

Shen's Books

This site describes the elements of a Cinderella story, and contains a link called "In Search of Cinderella," which offers a list of countries, leading to Cinderella versions from those countries.

Cinderella Books from Around the World

A list of various Cinderella books, although this list is not categorized by country.

A great site to start discussion for older students. What is the role of a woman in the society that began the Cinderella story? Do other variations provide a look at other societies' views of women?

Procedures: Use the online resources to compile a list of Cinderella stories from around the world. After reading various Cinderella stories, locate each country of origin on a map. As a bulletin board and/or individual activity, create a map with a map key to identify each country and the title of their Cinderella story.

As an additional activity, students may choose a country and use research and writing skills to write a paper about that country.

Older students may use this activity as an introduction to comparative sociology, by creating a database or comparative graph. After reading the information in the propaganda website mentioned above, discuss the similarities and differences between the stories and the cultures that created the stories. The students will need to use research skills to find background information on each country. Some possible fields may include:

Country
Type of Community (rural, urban, etc.)
Foods Mentioned in Story
Buildings or Homes in Story
Clothing in Story
Gender of Main Character
Positive Characteristics of Main Character
The "Important Person" in the Story
How Main Character Receives Wish

Write Your Own Fairy Tale Lesson Plan

Students write a narrative that combines realistic and fantastic elements. It can be as short as 2 paragraphs or as long as 10 pages depending upon the students ability and enthusiasm. The only thing it can’t be is boring.

Students listen to the teacher read Perrault’s version of Cinderella

Students discuss how this version differs from or resembles the version that they remember from their childhood.

Students read John Steptoe's  Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.

In a discussion the students compare the two versions.

Students decide upon the wording for the theme of Perrault’s story. Is the Steptoe version similar in its moral?

Students review the Cinderella fairy tale.

Students read Little Cindy Ella by Jackie “Moms” Mabley taken from The Book of Negro Humor by Langston Hughes.

In a discussion the students compare the two versions. The historical context of the story, the statement it makes about race relations in the United States, its use of humor to make that statement all are worth noting.

Students decide upon the theme or message of “Little Cindy Ella”.

Students browse through anthologies of fairy tales to find one that they might want to rewrite. Those who wish to write an original fairy tale are encouraged to do so. Some students may feel more comfortable with this assignment if they can use familiar comic book characters.

Students read their stories to their classmates to solicit praise for their wit and suggestions for improvement.

Students submit a second draft of their fairy tales which could be copied and bound into a classroom fairy tale anthology.