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Cinderella

Unit Study and Lapbook by Rachel Harris

This unit study is based on the story by Charels Perrault
       

Lapbook Templates


 

Science

Botany: Pumpkins
Cinderella’s godmother turned a pumpkin into an elegant coach for her to ride to the ball.  Pumpkins are common as decorative jack-o-lanterns around Halloween and are served in pies and treats for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but do you know much about pumpkins? 

The pumpkin seed goes through many changes on its way to become a giant pumpkin.  First, it begins its life as a seed.  As all plants do, the seed requires lots of sunshine and water to grow, and before long that seed begins to sprout.  The sprout eventually becomes a vine.   With continual water and sunshine, the vine grows and eventually yellow flowers begin to bloom.  As time passes, little green unripe pumpkins begin to grow on the vines.  The pumpkins continue to grow larger and turn from green to orange in color by the fall. 

This link will take you to an integrated lesson plan on pumpkins that includes a cut out/art project of the life cycle of a pumpkin, as well as other enrichment ideas.

Pumpkin Facts
1. Contrary to popular belief, a pumpkin is actually a fruit, not a vegetable!!
2. While a pumpkin is traditionally seen as an American food used to represent Thanksgiving, they are actually grown all across the globe!  In fact, Antarctica is the only continent that pumpkins are unable to grow in!
3. Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites!
4. The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds!
5.  Pumpkins are squash and squash was served at the first Thanksgiving.  Most likely, pumpkin was served at the first Thanksgiving!
6. Pumpkins are 90% water!

Lapbook Components:
Pumpkin Shaped Fact Cards with Primary Dotted Lines
Pumpkin Shaped Fact Cards with Primary Outlines
Pumpkin Shaped Fact Cards with HWOT Font
Pumpkin Facts Pocket
Pumpkin Lifecycle Hot Dog Book (your student will need to draw the pictures to go with the text or you can use clip-arts provided in file at the beginning of the unit);  cut the rectangle out as one piece and follow these Hot Dog Book Instructions
 

Social Studies

Human Relationships:  Acting Like a Princess

Common characteristics associated with being a princess include the following:
Kind – Having a generous and compassionate nature; showing courtesy to someone

Smart – Clever; Intelligent and showing mental alertness

Caring – Showing concern for others

Brave – Having or showing courage, especially when faced with danger, difficulty or pain

Polite – Showing or possessing good manners and common courtesy; elegant

Geography:  France
The French version of Cinderella written by Charles Perrault is the most popular version.  Talk about France with your child.  Show them on the map where France is located and show how far away it is from where you live.  France is roughly the size of the state of Texas!

Lapbook Components
Where in the world is France?
Flag of France Simple Fold
For more resources to discuss France, you can also read Madeline and talk about some of the landmarks shown, including the Eiffel Tower.  Another children’s book, Crepes by Suzette, is a cute tale of a girl and her pushcart that she takes around Paris, making crepes or pancakes for people.  At the end of the book is a recipe that would be fun to make with your child!

Culture:  French Words
Since the story is set in France, you and your student may want to practice some French words this week.

Hello - bonjour

Goodbye - Au Revoir

Please - s'il vous plait

Thank you very much - merci beaucoup

Yes - oui

It's good - c'est bon

Language Arts

Literature: Various Versions of the Same Story
Check various versions of this story out from your local library.  Discuss the similarities and differences.  Which version is your student’s favorite?  Why?
Read different versions of Cinderella online


Vocabulary  
Odious- Inspiring Hatred, contempt, disgust
Scour – clean by rubbing
Cinder- Small piece of charred wood or coal, especially one that continues to glow.  Ashes
Stomacher – Stiff panel of material, often decorated with embroidery or jewels, worn over the chest and abdomen by women in the 17^th and 18^th centry, and earlier by both males and females
Coach – Horse drawn carriage
Coachman – driver of a horse drawn carriage or coach.

Genre: Fairy Tale
A Fairy tale is a story written for children, often containing a moral message.  Fairy tales, like folk tales, have an oral tradition and often occur “a long time ago.”  Fairy tales usually contain the beginning words, “Once upon a time” and/or the ending words “And they lived happily ever after.”  They usually contain both good and evil characters, and often royalty is involved.  Some sort of magic usually happens and often things happen in “threes” or “sevens.” 

Checklist/Questions for student: 
Was there a moral message in Cinderella, and if so, what was it? 
Did it contain the beginning words “Once Upon a Time” or the ending words “And they lived happily ever after?” 
Was there a good character? 
Was/were there an evil character(s)? 
Were royalty present in the story? 
Was there magic in the story? 
Did anything happen in “threes” or “sevens”?

Writing:  My Cinderella Story
After reading a variety of Cinderella stories to your student, have her write her own version of this tale. 

Encourage your young student to tell you a story (and story) about Cinderella.  Type it as she dictates.  When she is finished, read it to her.  Print it and store it in the pocket.

Use the prewriting guide with an older student.  Guide her as she makes decisions about plot and character.   After she is done prewriting, let her dictate her Cinderella story to you.  Store it in the pocket provided.

Lapbook Components:  Prewriting Guide and Story Pocket

Applied Math

Telling Time
Cinderella had to leave the ball by midnight.  This allows for a good opportunity to discuss telling time with your student.  You can do the lapbook component and attach brads to cut out arrows and make a moveable clock for your child to practice with.   Other good resources to add in discussing telling time would be:  Spot Tells the Time by Eric Hill and Winnie the Pooh Tells Time.  

Lapbook Component:  Clock Shutterfold

Extra Activity—Matching Puzzles


Measuring
Let your student use a ruler to measure his foot, your foot, dad’s foot, and even brother or sister’s foot!   Chart results on a graph.  Who has the longest foot?  Who has the shortest?   After he has charted the length of your feet, bring out some shoes.  Have him measure the shoes to determine who each shoe belongs to.  If at all possible, bring shoes out that he’s never seen before. 

Lapbook Component:  Foot Measuring Chart

Bible & Character

Forgiveness
The main reason I chose the French version of this tale is because of the forgiveness ending at the end (Cinderella forgives her step-sisters).  A similar amazing tale of forgiving ones siblings is in the Old Testament, where Joseph forgives his brothers.  Read this story with your child from your Bible or Bible Story Book, and then have them color this sheet

Using a paper bag, help your child make a coat of many colors!

Some verses you may want to discuss and memorize this week: Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 4:32

If you have the book, Big Thoughts for Little People be sure to read  "K" For Kindness and "F" is for forgive.

Lapbook Component:  Memory Verse

Just for Fun

Art project for Forgiveness

~Have a royal ball and dance with daddy!

~Scrub the house while you pretend to be Cinderella

~Check Crepes by Suzette out from the library and make some French food after you enjoy the story together.