Lessons & Units :: Genre Studies: Fairy Tales 1st Grade Unit

Lesson 1: Plot Problems

Lesson Plan

Rumpelstiltskin | 740L

Rumpelstiltskin
Learning Goal
Explain that fairy tales are focused around a problem that needs to be solved.
Identify a problem that needs to be solved in a fairy tale.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Unit Example Chart, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: Rumpelstiltskin retold by Paul O. Zelinsky, chart paper, markers, familiar fairy tales from the classroom library

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain to students that one characteristic of fairy tales is that they are focused around a problem that needs to be solved. I will add this to my Characteristics of Fairy Tales Chart (Example Chart is provided in Unit Teacher and Student Materials). A problem is a difficulty or challenge that a character in the story faces. I can identify the problem in a fairy tale by thinking about what my main character wants, and why he or she cannot get it. What is in his or her way? I will model identifying a problem in a familiar fairy tale—Cinderella. I will recall that Cinderella, the main character, wants to go to the ball. She cannot go to the ball because her evil stepmother locks her away in a cellar, and she cannot get out. Also, she cannot go to the ball because she is poor and has nothing to wear. Therefore, one of the problems in Cinderella is that she cannot go to the ball, even though she wants to. I will add Cinderella to my Characteristics of Fairy Tales Chart because it is a fairy tale with a problem that needs to be solved.

  • Think Check

    Ask: "How do I identify the problem that needs to be solved in a fairy tale?" Students should answer that you identify what the main character wants and what is stopping them from getting it.

  • Guided Practice

    will read the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin retold by Paul O. Zelinsky. We will identify the problem in the fairy tale by identifying the main character, describing what the character wants, and then discussing what is in his or her way. Once we identify the problem, we will add Rumpelstiltskin to our Characteristics of Fairy Tales Chart because it is a fairy tale with a problem that needs to be solved

  • Independent Practice

    will identify a familiar fairy tale and describe the problem that the main character faces. You will explain that this is a fairy tale because it is focused around a problem that needs to be solved. (Independent Practice Worksheet is provided.) Note: Teachers will need to provide the class with a variety of fairy tales for the Independent Practice.

Build Student Vocabulary weep

Tier 2 Word: weep
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story When the miller’s daughter was locked into a room and told to spin straw into gold, “she grew more and more frightened and then she began to weep.”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) To weep means to cry or shed many tears. When the miller’s daughter began to weep, she began to cry out of fear that she would not be able to save her life and spin the straw into gold.
Students repeat the word Say the word weep with me: weep.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts I wanted to weep when my goldfish died, but I had to be strong for my younger brothers and sisters. I try not to weep when I am afraid, but sometimes it is hard to stop the tears.
Students provide examples Have you ever seen someone weeping? Start by saying, “I saw someone weeping when_______.” When do you weep? Start by saying, “I weep when _____________________________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? weep
Additional Vocabulary Words spinning, fury

Build Student Background Knowledge

Explain to students that the machine that the miller’s daughter in Rumpelstiltskin uses to spin straw into gold is called a spinning wheel. Spinning wheels were invented to spin fiber into thread and yarn. For example, the wool shaved off of a sheep might be spun into yarn that would be used to knit a sweater. An old spinning wheel works by pressing the pedal to move the wheel around. It catches the fiber and twists it into a thicker piece of thread or yarn. The finished product is wrapped around a spool. Spinning wheels are still used today, but they are operated by machines.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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User Comments

Looking forward to implementing lesson.

Submitted by FELICIA.QUINN_1801169 on 10/1/16

Awesome!

Submitted by Margaret.marsh_1286707 on 5/11/16