Writing a Fractured Fairy Tale From a Different Point of View

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

2

Overview

In this whole group activity, students will write their own fractured fairy tale versions, told from the point of view of the villain.

This resource was created as a part of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
After/Explain/Elaborate
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.26

Compare and contrast important details presented by two texts on the same topic or theme.

UP:ELA21.2.26

Vocabulary

  • Compare
  • Contrast
  • Topic
  • Theme

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Compare means tell how things are alike or similar.
  • Contrast means tell how things are different.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Compare and contrast important details after reading two texts that have a common theme or topic.

Understanding

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.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.40

Write a personal or fictional narrative using a logical sequence of events, including details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings and providing a sense of closure.

UP:ELA21.2.40

Vocabulary

  • Personal narrative
  • Fictional narrative
  • Logical
  • Sequence of events
  • Details
  • Actions
  • Thoughts
  • Feelings
  • Closure

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • A narrative story describes a sequence of events in a logical order (beginning, middle, end).
  • A narrative story describes the actions, thoughts, and feelings of the characters.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Write a personal narrative that recalls a personal experience or write a fictional narrative with a made-up story.
  • Write a narrative with a logical sequence of events and provide details that describe how the character feels, acts, and thinks.
  • Write a narrative that ends with a sense of closure.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Narrative writing includes predictable elements, like a logical sequence of events and an ending that provides the reader with a sense of closure.
  • Narrative writing can be used to tell about something that happened to them personally or it can tell a story they made up.

Learning Objectives

Students will write a narrative piece in which they recount the sequence of events in a familiar fairy tale as told through a different character's point of view.

Activity Details

1. Remind students that changes in point of view can dramatically affect the way story events are portrayed or shown to the reader. Use the following digital tools as examples of how changes in the points of view of characters can change the way readers understand the events of the story.

2. Hold a whole class discussion to review what students have learned about how changes in point of view change the effect of the story on the reader. 

3. Tell students that in today’s lesson they will move from reader to writer. In this lesson, they will use what they’ve learned about point of view to draft their own fractured fairy tale retelling. In this retelling, they will retell a familiar fairy tale from the villain's point of view. Explain that in their fractured fairy tales, they will use the same characters, settings, and events, but they will change the way the reader experiences the plot events by showing them what happened from the point of the villain, just as in the two examples shown in the digital tools.

4. Divide students into small groups. Have student groups meet to share and discuss their ideas for writing. Meet briefly with each group to listen and guide discussions. Students should define the fairy tale they will retell and explain to the groups what elements in their fractured fairy tale will change due to a change in point of view. Student groups should listen and provide feedback to the writer about his or her ideas.

5. Tell students that they will now begin working on writing the first draft of their stories. Write the following expectations on the board or use them to create a rubric to hand out to students. Review the expectations and remind students to keep them in mind as they write. (Please see the assessment section for rubric information.)

6. Circulate as students draft and provide guidance as necessary.

 

Assessment Strategies

As students finish their drafts, compare their writing with the writing rubric below in order to determine mastery of the objective. Confer one-on-one with students to provide editing and revision feedback.

Writing Rubric:

CHARACTER/POINT OF VIEW

  • 2 points: Student writing clearly shows changes based on change in POV
  • 1 point: Student writing shows slight change based on change in POV
  • 0 points: Student writing shows no change based on change in POV

ORGANIZATION

  • 2 points: Student writing is clear and focused
  • 1 point: Student writing attempts clarity but is disorganized
  • 0 points: Student writing is confusing and difficult to follow


STRUCTURE

  • 1 point: Student maintains integrity of plot events
  • 0 points: Student does not maintain integrity of plot events

Mastery: 80% (4 points)

 

Variation Tips

This lesson may be continued through the stages of the writing process (revising, editing, publishing, presenting) in order to complete a full writing unit and assess multiple writing standards. Students may be encouraged to add illustrations to their published copies, to use technology to publish their stories online on a school or teacher webpage, or to create a book for use in the classroom or school library.

Background / Preparation

Pull up the videos used in the lesson and ensure they load properly.

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