Before Activity
1. Remind the students of all the different versions of Cinderella they have read during the past week. Tell students that today they will read another version of the story Cinderella. Review Cindy Ellen -A Wild Western Cinderella by Susan Lowell which was read the previous day by taking a quick picture walk through the book. Review the main characters, setting, problem, and solution.
2. Show the students the book Bubba The Cowboy Prince - A Fractured Texas Tale by Helen Ketteman. Tell the students to turn and talk with their partners about what they think might happen in this version of Cinderella. Give students the opportunity to respond orally to the group.
During Activity
3. Read aloud the book Bubba, The Cowboy Prince - A Fractured Texas Tale by Helen Ketteman. Ask students to pay close attention to the similarities and differences between this story compared to the one they reviewed earlier in the lesson (Cindy Ellen). Stop periodically in the story and ask students to turn and talk to their partner giving an example of each similarity and difference that they have noticed. The teacher will also ask questions relating to characters, setting, plot, problem, and solution. Continued reading the story aloud, the teacher will periodically make connections to the previous version (Cindy Ellen) of the story.
4. Display a two-column chart with one column titled Cindy Ellen and the other column titled Bubba the Cowboy Prince. Pass out sticky note papers with details from each story listed on them. Ask students to work with their partners and decide which column their sticky note would need to be placed in. Call on students to share what is written on their note paper and come up and put it on the chart. The other students should give a thumbs up or thumbs down according to the accuracy of the placement of their notes.
5. Use the information the students placed on the two-column chart and transfer it to a Venn diagram. After placing those notes on the chart (which would all be differences), pass out blank sticky notes and ask the students to write one way the two stories are similar. Call on the students to share their responses with the class. Place notes on the Venn Diagram. An alternative way for this part of the lesson would be to use an interactive writing slate, the teacher could draw the two-column chart and the students could pass the tablet around and write their answers on the slate as it is projected for the class to see on the screen.
After Activity
6. Pass out the handout titled My Opinion, ask the students to write about which Cinderella version is their favorite and tell why stating two reasons, then write about which Cinderella version is their least favorite and tell why stating at least two reasons. Once the students are finished writing their opinions ask them to turn and share their writing with their partners. The teacher will walk around the room and check their report.