JAMES MARSHALL’S CINDERELLA

JAMES MARSHALL’S CINDERELLA • How does magic usually work in fairy tales? • Are there any characters that are both bad and retold by Barbara Karlin, ill. by James Marshall good? (If students have no answer, suggest that Themes: Fairy tales, Families, Humor, Magic Read aloud several fairy tales to the children. Tell the father does and says both bad and good Ages: 3-6 them to listen for magical elements. Make a list or things.) Running Time: 12 minutes chart that identifies the magical components of • Do any of the characters change throughout the well-known fairy tales. Then, encourage students to story? How? SUMMARY look for magical components in the movie as they Have students create their own fairy tales using the This classic fairy tale is retold and illustrated with watch. elements of fairy tales that they saw in the movie spark and humor. The familiar story comes alive in and heard in the other book versions shared with the this movie that will bring smiles to the faces of chil- AFTER VIEWING ACTIVITIES class. Some of these elements are: magic, good and dren and teachers alike. Cinderella’s plight at the Read aloud non-traditional Cinderella stories. evil characters, trickery, and an ending in which hands of her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters Suggested titles: justice is served (“happy ending”). This could be a is given a light-hearted twist through colorful, exag- • Cinder-Elly by Frances Minters (a modern, whole class exercise in which the students work gerated animation. This movie will provide pre-lit- urban Cinderella story set in New York City) together to create characters and a plot. Work erate students with visual cues that will allow them • Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella by through the writing process to write at least two to make inferences and predictions about characters Susan Cowell drafts. For developing writers, you can transcribe and plots, and help build overall early reading com- • The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo the story and they can illustrate it. Then, bind the prehension skills. • The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern pages together to make a published piece. Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox OBJECTIVES • Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Put on a class play of a fairy tale. You can use the • Students will become familiar with the elements Ai-Ling Louie tale of Cinderella and expand parts of the movie to of a fairy tale. • Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson (a Cinderella who either change the story or further develop the • Students will compare and contrast Cinderella prefers penny loafers to glass slippers) characters. For younger children, you can rewrite stories. • Prince Cinders by Babbette Cole these parts for them, or older children can help to do • Students will use what they have learned about • The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo this. Alternatively, students can act out one of the fairy tales to write their own. As you read, use a Venn Diagram or a T-chart to fairy tales that you read aloud or the one that was compare these non-traditional stories with the written by the class. BEFORE VIEWING ACTIVITIES movie. Discuss why the authors chose to change Elicit background knowledge about fairy tales. major elements or characters in the different sto- OTHER FAIRY TALE PRODUCTIONS Guiding questions: ries. Guiding questions: AVAILABLE FROM WESTON WOODS • What is a fairy tale? • How are the Cinderella characters in the stories ARE: • What fairy tales do you know? you read different from the character in the The Elves and the Shoemaker, retold and ill. by • What happens in the fairy tales that you know movie? Jim LaMarche about? • Are the Cinderellas in the stories stronger than Hansel and Gretel, by James Marshall • What do you like about fairy tales? What don’t the one in the movie? Why or why not? Princess Furball, retold by Charlotte Huck, ill. by you like? • How does a boy “Cinderella” character differ Anita Lobel from a girl character? Rapunzel, by Paul O. Zelinsky Discuss magic in fairy tales. Guiding questions: • How do Cinderella stories from different cultures The Ugly Duckling, adapted and ill. by Jerry • How do you know when something is magic? vary? Pinkney (Spells, fantastic creatures, phenomenal events). Analyze the other characters in the story of • Can magic occur in real life? How do you Cinderella. Guiding questions: know? (If students do believe in magic, do not • Who are the good characters? What do they do try to debunk these beliefs, rather, help students or say that makes them good? compare their experiences with “magic” to events • Who are the bad characters? What do they do or from fairy tale that they know.) say that makes them bad? TO ORDER OTHER WESTON WOODS PRODUCTIONS: 1-800-243-5020 This guide may be photocopied for free distribution without restriction.