ALEX Learning Activity

  

Compare and Contrast Fairy Tale Versions

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Ginger Henderson
System:Monroe County
School:Excel High School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2460
Title:
Compare and Contrast Fairy Tale Versions
Digital Tool/Resource:
Venn Diagram ~ Blank ~ FREEBIE!!
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this whole group activity, students will listen to two versions of a familiar fairy tale. The students will complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast elements of the two fairy tale versions.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 2
26. Compare and contrast important details presented by two texts on the same topic or theme.

a. Compare and contrast different versions of the same story by different authors, from different cultures, or from different points of view.

Examples: The Three Little Pigs and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs; Cinderella and The Rough-Face Girl

b. Compare and contrast story elements of literary texts.

Examples: characters, settings, sequence of events, plots
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
26.
  • Compare
  • Contrast
  • Topic
  • Theme
26a.
  • Compare
  • Contrast
  • Authors
  • Cultures
  • Points of view
26b.
  • Compare
  • Contrast
  • Story elements
  • Literary texts
Knowledge:
26. Students know:
  • Compare means tell how things are alike or similar.
  • Contrast means tell how things are different.
26a.
  • Compare means tell how things are alike or similar.
  • Contrast means tell how things are different.
  • The same story can be told by different authors, can exist in different cultures, or can be told by different narrators.
26b.
  • Compare means tell how things are alike or similar.
  • Contrast means tell how things are different.
  • Literary texts include common story elements.
Skills:
26. Students are able to:
  • Compare and contrast important details after reading two texts that have a common theme or topic.
26a.
  • Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story by different authors, from different cultures, or from different points of view.
  • For example, The Three Little Pigs and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs or Cinderella and The Rough-Face Girl.
26b.
  • Compare and contrast story elements in literary texts, such as characters, settings, sequence of events, and plots.
Understanding:
26. Students understand that:
  • Texts about the same topic or theme will have similarities and differences.
  • Comparing and contrasting texts with the same topic or theme will improve their overall comprehension of the texts.
26a.
  • Similarities and differences between the same stories can teach the reader about different cultures and explain different points of view.
26b.
  • Comparing and contrasting story elements of literary texts can improve their comprehension, or understanding, of the texts.
Learning Objectives:

Students will complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast two versions of the same fairy tale.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

  1. Tell students that in this lesson they will listen to two versions of the same fairy tale and then look for ways the two versions are alike and different.

  2. Pass out blank copy paper to students. Instruct students to use this paper to jot notes and/or draw pictures of story elements as they listen to the story. Remind students that story elements are things like characters, setting, and plot.

  3. Read aloud using the tool The Story of the Three Little Pigs. Pause frequently during the reading to allow time for students to make notes.

  4. After the read aloud is complete, allow time for students to turn and talk about the story elements they jotted. Have students add to their notes after talking with a partner.

  5. Hand out a second blank sheet of copy paper to students. Repeat the activity using the tool The Three Little Pigs Animated Stories for Kids.

  6. Hand out copies of the tool Venn diagram. Use chart markers to draw a Venn diagram on chart paper. Label the Venn diagram with the titles "book" and "video". Use the label “both” for the intersecting portion of the diagram. Explain to students that a Venn diagram is a type of graphic organizer that can help a reader easily see how two things are alike and how they are different. Point out the sections of the Venn diagram and explain that things that relate to only one of the two versions go in the outer circles, while things that are common to both versions go in the intersection.

  7. Allow students to turn and talk about the things they noticed that were alike and different in the two versions of the fairy tale. At this time, students should only be talking. They will write in the next step.

  8. Allow student volunteers to share ideas from their discussions. Chart the student responses in the appropriate spaces on the Venn diagram, and have students complete their Venn diagram from your model.
Assessment Strategies:

The teacher will access students using observations.  The teacher will drop and listen as students are talking about the similarities and differences they noticed in the two versions of the story. Students should identify the similarities in characters and settings. Students should identify the slight differences in plot events. (In the video, the pigs run away instead of being eaten. In the book, the last pig kills the wolf, but in the video, the wolf runs away. In the book, the last pig outsmarts the wolf several times, but this is omitted in the video version.)
Advanced Preparation:

  • Make enough copies of the tool Venn diagram for each child.

  • Open the video and ensure it loads and plays correctly.

  • Ensure you have enough plain copy paper for each student. (Students will need 2 sheets each.)
Variation Tips (optional):

This activity can be repeated with additional fairy tale versions.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: characters, compare, contrast, fables, fairy tales, literature, plot, reading, setting, story elements, story events, story map