The Cinderella Project

A WebQuest for 6th Grade Reading

 

Designed by L. Dougherty

 

 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

 

Introduction

Ella Enchanted is just one of more than 1,500 versions of the Cinderella story that have been written in countries and cultures all over the world; many of these variations have become popular in classrooms and homes of America today. As you get to know the people and places that set the backdrop for each Cinderella story, you will find that they all have several elements in common. 

 

What makes a Cinderella story? 

 

The Task

Identify the characteristics that Cinderella stories have in common.  Compare and contrast these characteristics in several stories from other cultures.  Also compare these versions to Ella Enchanted.   Finally, write and publish on the class Web page your own version of a Cinderella story that illustrates the culture in which you live.

 

The Process

 Part I.

 

A.  Read Cinderella stories from three (3) different cultures.  You may choose any of the versions in the classroom (these copies may not leave the room).  Find others at the local library, or read versions found on the web.  Many suggestions are listed in the Resources section of this WebQuest.

 

Grimms’ Fairy Tales: Cinderella

The Cinder Maid (Europe)

Katie Woodencloak (Norway)

Fair, Brown and Trembling (Ireland)

Rashin-Coatie (Scotland)

The Story of Tam and Cam (Viet Nam)

The Wicked Stepmother (India)

Baba Yaga (Russia)

Conkiajgharuna (Georgia)

Egyptian Cinderella (Egypt)

 

 

 

B.     Identify five major "ingredients" and two common themes of Cinderella stories.  Using Microsoft Word, create a table to compare and contrast the three stories you read.  Be sure to include in your table the title and author, the name of the main character, and the surrounding characters, as well as the themes and "ingredients."  Be sure to fill in every space for each book.

 

Mary Pitner’s Cinderella Page

 

 

 

C.     For each of the three versions choose an activity from the list.  You may not choose the same activity more than once.  Your choice should be the one you feel is best for the story you have read.  For all writing, use an appropriate size font that is legible, and use color to enhance your illustrations.  Be sure to include a bibliography for all references you use.

 

MLA Bibliographic Citation Guide

 

 

1.  Write a continuation of the story you read.  What happens AFTER  the ending of the book?  Use the characters and setting provided for you by the author of the book to extend the plot of the story.  Be sure to use proper sentences and paragraphs.  Include the title and author of the book in the heading or your page, so that the readers will know which book you are expanding.  Publish your work on the Cinderella page.

 

2.  Using the illustrations in the book as a starting point, create a presentation that explains how setting can affect the characters and plot of a story.  Research the geography and wildlife of the country of origin for the story.  Write a few paragraphs to describe the culture your story came from.  Gather some pictures of the country to include in your presentation.  Then write a few paragraphs to tell why the setting was an important part of the story you chose.  Finally, publish your work on the Cinderella page.

 

3.  Who are the characters in the story you read?  How do they illustrate the culture from which the story came?  Research that culture.  Explain how characters in a story can communicate facets of a culture to the reader.  Create a presentation using text and graphics that shows some of the traditions of the culture represented in your book. Publish your work on the Cinderella page.

                       

 

4.  Choose one of the major themes of a Cinderella story.  Explain why it is a theme of the book you read.  Cite examples from the story that support your explanation.  Publish your writing on the Cinderella page.

 

 

5.  Research the history of the Cinderella story.  Create a timeline that shows how it evolved and the times the various versions were thought to have been written.  Publish your timeline on the Cinderella page.

 

 

6.  Make an illustration depicting the main character from the book you read.  Be sure the character is in the clothing of the culture.  Present your character in an important scene from the book you read.  Publish your illustration on the Cinderella page.

 

Part II.

 

A.  Compare/contrast at least one of the Cinderella stories you read (not including Cinderella) with Ella Enchanted.  Do not use the chart format to make this comparison/contrast.  Rather, write your comparison/contrast in essay form, using one paragraph for each topic of discussion. (Remember:  a paragraph consists of a topic sentence and at least three supporting ideas.  Use Inspiration to create your outline or organizer.  Type your final copy on Microsoft Word.  Print a hard copy from each program to turn in.

 

B.  Using the information you have gathered about what makes up a Cinderella story; write your own Cinderella story to illustrate the culture in which you live.  Use Inspiration for your pre-writing organization, and Microsoft Word to type your rough draft and final copy.  Print a hard copy from each program to turn in.

 

Resources

 

Evaluation

105 total points

 

Research Rubric



Item

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unacceptable

  Effective Use of Time

5

4

3

2

1

  Effective Use of Internet

5

4

3

2

1

  Pertinent information

5

4

3

2

1

  Bibliography

5

4

3

2

1

 

 

Project Rubric

 

Item

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unacceptable

  Read stories from 3 different cultures

5

4

3

2

1

  Identified 5 “ingredients” of a Cinderella story

5

4

3

2

1

  Identified 2 major themes of Cinderella stories

 

 

 

2

1

  Create table

 

 

 

2

1

  Table – title of book

 

 

 

 

1

  Table – author of book

 

 

 

 

1

  Table – main character

 

 

 

 

1

  Table – supporting characters

 

 

 

 

1

  Table -- 5 ingredients

5

4

3

2

1

  Table –2 themes

 

 

 

2

1

  Neatness of work

5

4

3

2

1

  Research information

5

4

3

2

1

  Pictures of topic

5

4

3

2

1

  Design creativity

5

4

3

2

1

  Use of Color

5

4

3

2

1

  Use of Type

5

4

3

2

1

  Activity 1

5

4

3

2

1

  Activity 2

5

4

3

2

1

  Activity 3

5

4

3

2

1

  Comparison with Ella Enchanted

5

4

3

2

1

  Original Cinderella story

5

4

3

2

1

  Following Directions

5

4

3

2

1

 

 

Conclusion

Every person can find a bit of Cinderella within themselves, regardless of their background, their situation or their country. Perhaps we can learn tolerance along with the morals that the Cinderella stories have to offer. When we hear that countries all over the world share a fondness for a lonely, unloved person, we will realize that even though there are differences among all peoples, there are just as many similarities among them

 

 

Credits and References

 

Cinderella Books from other cultures