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Overview:
Students have probably read or heard fairy tales and stories that take place long ago, such as Grimms' fairy tales. In this lesson, they will read an old fairy tale or story and list the geographical features and characters described in the story. They will then think about how the story might be updated to reflect their own modern setting and culture. Students will conclude by performing an updated version of the story.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, literature
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 10: "The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics"
Time:
Three to four hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access (optional)
- Art materials to make props and scenery for the performance
Objectives:
Students will
- read or listen to a fairy tale or story, and discuss the story's main events and themes;
- list words and phrases to describe the story's geographical setting and characters;
- write paragraphs explaining if they would like to live in the world depicted in the story;
- discuss whether the story would make sense if it took place in their community, and list the ways they could change the story to make it more relevant to the world they live in today;
- discuss whether old fairy tales can still be interesting and relevant today; and
- plan and perform an updated version of the fairy tale or story.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Read the class a fairy tale or story of your choice. It should take place in another time period. You can use National Geographic's Grimms' Brothers site, link to "Great Stories" on the New Takes on Old Tales activity, or use a print version.
Discuss the main events and themes of the story to make sure students understand what it is about and what major lesson, or moral, the story is trying to teach.
Development:
Have students describe the story's setting in a class discussion or in small groups. Ask them to list words and phrases that describe the natural environment depicted in the story, including the climate, scenery, and landscape features. Have them make additional lists to describe the story's main characters.
Ask students if they would like to live in the world depicted in this story. Why or why not? Have them write short paragraphs answering this question and providing examples from the story to support their position.
In a class discussion, ask students to imagine that this story was just written by someone at their school or in their community. Would the story make sense? Would things have happened the same way in their town today? Ask them how the story would be different if it took place today. What would the setting look like? What clothes would the characters in the story wear? What objects would they use? What would they say? Write the students' ideas on the board.
Closing:
Discuss whether students think old fairy tales can still be interesting and relevant today. What can these stories teach us about the past? What can they teach us about other countries and cultures? Does the moral of the story they have read still apply today?
Suggested Student Assessment:
Ask students to modernize the story so that is takes place in the world they are familiar with, and then have them perform it. If you teach younger students, rewrite the story as a class and request volunteers for different roles. If your students are older, they can perform the story in smaller groups so that each group has its own modern version. Have them use modern props and set the story in a place they're familiar with (e.g., the school or an amusement park).
Extending the Lesson:
Have students read two to four fairy tales, stories, or myths from different parts of the world. They can link to many at Yahooligans! Mythology and Folklore. Ask them to list the geographical characteristics of each story, including where in the world it takes place, what the landscape looks like, what the climate and weather are like, and how the characters and the plot are affected by the environment (e.g., a storm changing the course of events or characters having to build strong shelters because of the climate or weather). Have them create posters that illustrate these geographical features and that include a world map showing where each story takes place.
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