Lessons & Units :: Compare and Contrast 2nd Grade Unit

Lesson 3: Compare and Contrast Fairy Tales

Lesson Plan

Cinder Edna | 610L

Cinder Edna
Learning Goal
Use key words to compare and contrast two fairy tales.
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Example Venn Diagram
Not Provided: Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson, markers, chart paper, lined paper
  • Teacher Modeling

    will review the traditional story of Cinderella. I will explain that we are going to compare and contrast the stories of Cinderella and Cinder Edna. I will read aloud the first half of Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson and begin comparing and contrasting Cinderella to Cinder Edna using a Venn diagram. (Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Graphic Organizer is provided in Teacher and Student Materials below.) I will write one sentence comparing Cinderella to Cinder Edna using a “compare” key word. For example, “Both Cinderella and Cinder Edna worked for their stepmother and stepsisters.”

    TIP: Support students by providing a book or movie of Cinderella to remind them of the story before comparing and contrasting to Cinder Edna. Disney’s Cinderella is a great resource.

  • Think Check

    Ask: How did I compare and contrast two fairy tales? Students should respond that you read a fairy tale and used a Venn Diagram to identify the similarities and differences between another fairy tale. You then used compare and contrast key words to write sentences about the similarities and differences identified in the Venn Diagram.

  • Guided Practice

    will finish reading Cinder Edna and complete the Venn diagram comparing and contrasting Cinderella and Cinder Edna. We will write one sentence contrasting Cinderella to Cinder Edna using a “contrast” key word. For example, Cinderella took a fancy carriage to the ball, but Cinder Edna took the bus to the ball. (Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Graphic Organizer is provided below.)

  • Independent Practice

    will write your own sentences or a paragraph comparing and contrasting the stories of Cinderella and Cinder Edna using the information from the Venn diagram. You will use “compare” and “contrast” key words in your sentences or paragraph.

Build Student Vocabulary adorned

Tier 2 Word: adorned
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story When Randolph was looking for the owner of the glass slipper, he found many toenails adorned with pink nail polish.
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Adorned means decorated. In the story, the character’s toenails were decorated with pink nail polish.
Students repeat the word Say the word adorned with me: adorned.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts The purple dress was adorned with lace and sequins. Posters from rock concerts adorned my nephew’s bedroom. The birthday cake was adorned with roses.
Students provide examples Can you think of something or someone that is adorned? Tell me about it by saying “____________ is adorned with _________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? adorned
Additional Vocabulary Words elegant, disbelief

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading the book, explain to the class that the "solar panels" mentioned on the last page are panels that collect energy from the sun. Point to the panel on Edna's roof. Explain that the panels store the light and convert into energy that can be used to power a house. Many people are thinking of using solar panels as an alternative (or different way) to getting power and electricity from gas and coal. This might be better for the environment because eventually we will run out of gas and coal, and we will not run out of sunlight.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment


User Comments

I used this activity to compare Cinderella with Yeh-Shen, a Chinese version of the fairy tale. Thanks!

Do you know any other books I could repeat the lesson with?

There are a whole bunch of "fractured fairy tales" you could compare and contrast with. The three little pigs and The True Story of the Three LIttle Pigs, etc.

Hi Melanie. You can find a list of alternate books on the unit page (click here) under the section titled, "More Books for Teaching Compare and Contrast."

I can't hardly wait to implement the lesson this week with my 2nd graders. I have the literature books that was part of the compare and contrast lessons. I'm so happy to have found this web resource.

Great tool! Thanks!

This is indeed a wonderful resource!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, love love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

great lessons