What are the most significant elements in a Fractured Fairy Tale?
(Staff Development Unit)

Unit Summary:
Reading and analyzing traditional fairy tales so students become familiar with sory elements. i.e., character, setting and plots. Student groups will write their own version of a "fractured fairy tale" while experimenting with humor, satire, irony and parody and present their version in a technology tool of their choice or in a visual and performing format.

Subject(s): Elementary, Language Arts (English), Reading, Technology

Topic or Unit of Study: Creative writing with Fractured Fairy Tales

Grade/Level: 6

Objective(s):
Fractured Fairy Tales
Language Arts

Students will read and analyze story elements of four different traditional fairy tales.

Students will compare and contrast similarities and differences using a Venn Diagram of two different traditional fairy tales.

Students will write about the similarities and differences of two traditional fairy tales.

Students will read and analyze the story elements of fractured version fairy tales.

Students will use familiar story elements, i.e., characters, plots, and settings from traditional fairy tales to create "fractured" versions, while experimenting with humor, satire, irony and parody.

Students will write and present a PowerPoint presentation of their fractured fairy tales with a partner. Or a different tech tool with teachers approval.

Optional: Students will write and perform a visual and performing arts format of their fractured fairy tale.

(Top)

Sequence of Lessons:
Fractured Fairy Tales IMPLEMENTATION

Learning Context:
Online integration with Language Arts Curriculum for creative writing with fairy tales

What You Need:
Four traditional fairy tales to read and two or four different fractured versions of fairy tales. On-line links or book copies. (Online recources for fairy tales)
Student Handouts- Fairy Tale Analysis Sheet and Venn Diagram sheet.
Writing materials and a computer with Internet access.
A sense of humor!

What to Do:

Week One:
Ask your students to list some of their favorite fairy tales. Next, read one familar traditional fairy tale. After,ask students to discuss some elements that many of the stories share. You might find it helpful to web their responses on the student fairy tale analysis sheet on large chart paper, or overhead while students fill out their handout.

Some common elements are:
1. A fairy tale begins with “Once upon a time…”
2. Fairy tales happen in the long ago.
3. Fairy Tales have fantasy and make believe in them.
4. Fairy Tales have clearly defined Good characters vs. Evil characters.
5. Royalty is usually present in a fairy tale, a beautiful princess/handsome prince.
6. There may be magic with giants, elves, talking animals, witches or fairies.
7. Fairy tales have a problem that needs to be solved.
8. It often takes three tries to solve the problem.
9. Fairy tales have happy endings- “They all lived happily ever after.”
10. Fairy tales usually teach a lesson or have a theme.

Everyday read a different fairy tale and fill out fairy tale analysis sheet. On the fourth day ask your students to compare and contrast two fairy tales using a Venn Diagram. On the last day of the first week have them write a couple of paragraphs dicribing the similarites and differences of the story elements they noticed of any two traditional fairy tales read. Writing will be done on the computer.
Optional activity for week one: Read one traditional fairy tale and then view the movie/video. Take notes on a Venn Digaram for similarities and difference then write distriptive paragraphs.

Weeks Two and Three:

Day One:
Oral review of traditional fairy tales.
Reviewing books and on-line links with discussion.
Read aloud a fracture version of a fairy tale. i.e. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs ect.,

This delightful departures from the old tales open the door to so many classroom activities that we need to take the time to examine some of the best and see where they lead.

First of all, do not assume that the kids know the basic tales. They may be familiar with the versions of them as seen on TV or in some of the very books we're dealing with here, but, unless you've dealt with the original stories in the classroom, the kids don't know those basics. So, as you get to each group of stories, take the time to work out the tale from which they have sprung. This can be done through storytelling by you or by various members of the class, by reading together a basic version or by building the tale together as a group. At least then, you've got a starting point for each tale.

As always when you're analyzing literature together, keep the touch light or you'll ruin the whole thing. Remember that most of these books are meant to be funny. Don't destroy the humor by making too big a chore out of it.

You may suggest that they categorize these tales by the method the author used: telling the tale from a different character's point of view, putting the tale in a modern setting, looking at the inconsistencies in the story, trying to make the story more realistic, or changing roles,

Day Two:
View on-line links and or books of fracture tales. Discuss favorite tales, elements, and brainstorm list,

(Top)

Day Three:
Tell students that they will have an opportunity to "fracture" one of these tales. A fractured fairy tale is designed to be humorous by changing the story in an unexpected way, like altering a character, or adding modern language and events. Ask for suggestions on ways to fracture "Cinderella." List ideas on the board. These may include:

Cinderella is homely and has beautiful stepsisters.
The prince can't dance.
She likes to cook and clean.
The magic wand is broken and can't get the spell quite right.
She doesn't want to get married anyway.
She didn't want a carriage; she wanted a Mazda!

Tell students that a humorous version of a well-known story is called a parody. Explain that the humor can be satirical (making fun of the Prince, for example), or ironical (the broken wand).

Instruct students that other than the fractured elements, the fairy tales should be true to the classic form. Invite them to work alone or with a partner. Use the writing process to draft, to revise, to edit and to publish the stories in a digital format using power point, hyper studio, or web page program. Students will present their presentations to the class.

Day Four:
Begin writing rough draft with a partner or individually.

Day Five:
Finish rough draft fractured fairy tale and peer edit and share of fairy tale elements,humor, parody, satire,and or irony.

Day Six:
Revise final version

Days Six-Ten:
Use Tech Tool, i.e. Power Point,Hyper studio, or a webpage program to present story.

(Top)

Optional Presentation Choices:
Share and enjoy in a silly authors' circle!
Students may write the stories in script form and act them out for the class.
Students may write in a picture book format.
Students could put on a puppet show of all the fractured stories to share with a younger grade.

(Top)

Procedures for Staff Development:
Teachers will be given and overview of the online educational resources for writing "Fractured Fairy Tales" with links, design, research and information.

Teachers will view our splash page/home page explaining creative writing with Fractured Fairy Tales. Post Staff Development Agenda here or link it, use and ice breaker?

We will presents an overview of our website: Teacher page, Student page, Rubrics for evaluation, Resource Page and Standards. Show student sample of the fractured fairy tale power point.

Teachers will then be given 15 to 20 to complete a fractured fairy tale that we have started for them. Please be as creative as possible and we love your sense of humor. We will then access one ppt with a flashdrive to show as a adult imet student sample. Thanks!!! :)

(Top)

Time Required:
Three weeks with at least a 50 minute daily block.
Prerequisite Skills:

Reading:
grade level reader
prior knowledge with fairy tales and known elements

Writing:
grade level writing abilities

Technology tools:
prior knowlege of Power Point, Kidspiration or Inspiration
Author's Comments & Reflections:

(Top)

Materials and Resources
Instructional Materials:
Fairy Tales

Technology Tools:
PowerPoint
Inspiration or Kidspiration
Hyper Studio
Internet Explorer
Dreamweaver
Front Page
Publisher

Links:
Fairy Tale Planning Sheet

Fairy Tale Analysis Sheet

(Top)

Accomodations for Differentiated Instruction
Resource Students:
Student can work with a partner with higher reading and writing abilities.

(Top)