Put a new twist to age old favorites! In this English lesson plan, you will find a few guidelines and tips on how to carry out a genre study using retold and remixed folk tales and fairy tales using literacy boxes and readings.
Rationale for the Study
“The archetypes of fairy tales and legends can provide adolescents with answers, reassurance, and the opportunity to safely explore new thoughts, values, and self-identities. Retold fairy tales and legends allow young adults to both link with the past and create their own future by adding their voices to the old tales.” (Source)
Lesson Overview
Learning Area: English – Genre study
Topic: Retelling and Remixing of Folk Tales and Fairy Tales
Suggested Year Level: 5/6
Lesson Aim/Objective(s):
• To introduce the topic of folk tales and fairy tales and to challenge students to think of new ways to approach traditional and well-worn ideas.
• To introduce a range of books that retell/remix folk narratives and to ensure that each student has a book to read for the topic.
• To discuss the expectations for the unit of work.
Student outcomes:
• That every student chooses a book to study and records the book’s basic details in their reading response journals.
• That all students understand the concept of creating their literacy boxes.
• That some students will write initial ideas and feedback regarding their selected books, comparative analysis worksheets/hand-outs, and/or their literacy boxes in their reading response journals.
Lesson Preparation/Resources:
• A wide selection of books that depict retellings of folk tales and fairy tales, as well as sample of books that tell folk tales and fairy tales in the traditional format
• A list of books in this genre (retold folk narratives), including titles that may not be available in the classroom book display
• Class literacy box for the introduction (including items in the box)
• Comparative analysis worksheet/hand-out
• Instructions for student literacy boxes
• Class schedule for the topic
• Book record sheet for recording each student’s book selections
Note: For a sample book list, check out - Book List: Retold and Remixed Folk Tales and Fairy Tales
Teaching Notes
Basic Definitions
• Folk tale - a narrative that is primarily about people that may or may not have existed (or exist).
• Fairy tale - a narrative that often has magical characters and elements.
Allowances for Students
• Allow students with learning/reading difficulties and/or other issues to work with the graphic versions of the stories (e.g., Lauren Child’s remixed fairy tale/folk tale stories; Shannon Hale’s graphic novel, “Rapunzel’s Revenge”, etc).
In the next page, you will find the lesson sequence for this study.