In this unit, students compare and contrast events and characters in multiple versions of classic fairy tales, and focus on supporting writing with details.
As part of the upgrade to Fishtank Plus, this unit was revised in November 2020. Some texts, materials, and questions may have changed as part of the revision. If you are looking for the 2018-2019 version of this unit, visit our archives.
This unit is focused on two classic fairy tales: The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. With each fairy tale, students are first exposed to a classic version, familiarizing themselves with the basic plot and lessons. Then students explore the ways authors change setting, characters, and plot while still maintaining the overall essence of the classic story. Some of the changes the authors make reflect the nuances of different cultures and environments, while others are made for entertainment and humor. Either way, students will explore the idea that different authors can use their own perspective and culture to shape the stories they write or retell. By reading multiple versions of the same classic fairy tale, students will also be able to grapple with the bigger lessons of each tale—the importance of not talking to strangers and the importance of respecting others’ property and privacy. Over the course of the unit, students will be challenged to think about how each of these unique themes is portrayed and how in each different version of the fairy tale the characters may learn the lesson in slightly different ways. It is our hope that this unit, in connection with others in the sequence, will help students see the power of storytelling and how simple stories can be changed and improved based on an author’s ideas and preferences.
In reading, this unit builds directly onto the reading strategies from Unit 2. Students will continue to be pushed to be inquisitive consumers of text, asking and answering questions about characters, setting, and plot as they listen to and engage with a text. Students will also continue to work on retelling stories and including key details. Similar to Units 1 and 2, students will continue to think deeply about characters and setting and how the details an author includes in the illustration and text help a reader better understand both. Because most of the focuses for this unit are a repeat of similar focuses from Units 1 and 2, students should be pushed to a much higher level of rigor and understanding than in previous units. One new focus of this unit, however, is on comparing and contrasting the adventures and experiences of characters in stories. Students will be asked at multiple points to use information they have learned about key events, characters, and setting to compare and contrast different versions of the classic fairy tale. Students should be pushed beyond just superficial comparisons across the different stories.
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Book: The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2010) — 550L
Book: The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmel (Two Lions, 2009) — 550L
Book: The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell (Cooper Square Publishing Llc, 1st edition, 1992) — 580L
Book: The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2012) — 630L
Book: Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas (Margaret K. McElderry Books, Reprint edition, 1997) — 700L
Book: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka (Puffin Books; Reprint edition, 1996) — 510L
Book: Little Red Riding Hood by Paul Galdone (HMH Books for Young Readers, First Edition Thus edition, 2012)
Book: Lon Po Po, A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young (Puffin Books, Reprint edition, 1996) — 670L
Book: Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Bilingual edition, 2014)
Book: Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2014) — AD570L
Book: Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007) — AD700L
Book: What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood: The Wolf's Story by Toby Forward (Walker Books Ltd, 2006) — AD520L
Book: Wolves (National Geographic Readers) by Laura Marsh (National Geographic Kids; Illustrated edition, 2012) — 570L
See Text Selection Rationale
This assessment accompanies this unit and should be given on the suggested assessment day or after completing the unit.
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In this unit, students continue to work on using complete sentences to respond to a text. In particular they work on using the conjunctions “because,” “but,” and “so” to show more nuanced thinking and ideas in response to the text. They also learn how to use precise words to show “who,” “what,” “where,” “when” and “why.”
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anticipation bully cunning discouraged equipped frightened hastily hoarseness intelligent kindly outsmart persistent pleasant resourceful scoundrel sly stereotype suspicious wretched
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The Three Little Pigs
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
Retell what happens in The Three Little Pigs.
The Three Little Tamales
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
Describe why the third little tamale was resourceful.
The Three Little Javelinas
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
RL.1.6
Explain why the third little javelina was intelligent.
The Three Ninja Pigs
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
L.1.1.g
L.1.6
Describe why Pig Three is persistent.
Three Little Wolves...
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
L.1.1.g
L.1.6
Use the words “persistent,” “resourceful,” or “intelligent” to describe the three little wolves.
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
L.1.1.g
Defend if the wolf’s side of the story is true or not.
Discussion & Writing
The Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!
The Three Ninja Pigs
The Three Little Javelinas
The Three Little Tamales
Three Little Wolves...
RL.1.2
W.1.1
Determine the moral of the Three Little Pigs and explain how the moral can be used in your own life.
4 days
Writing
Book Template
W.1.3
W.1.5
W.1.6
L.1.1
L.1.2
Write your own version of The Three Little Pigs.
Little Red Riding Hood
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
Retell what happens in Little Red Riding Hood.
Little Red Riding Hood
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
Explain what lesson Little Red learns and how she learns it.
Little Red Riding Hood
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
RL.1.4
L.1.1.f
L.1.4
L.1.6
Analyze specific words in a text and explain how they help the reader better understand the story.
Little Roja Riding Hood
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
Explain why Little Roja is intelligent.
Lon Po Po
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
Defend if the wolf is or is not cunning and why.
Ninja Red Riding Hood
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
RL.1.4
L.1.1.f
L.1.4
L.1.6
Use the words “sly” and “pleasant” to describe how the wolf changes.
What Really...
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
Defend if you agree or disagree with the wolf’s side of the story and why.
Discussion & Writing
Little Red Riding Hood
Lon Po Po
Little Roja Riding Hood
Ninja Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
What Really...
RL.1.2
W.1.1
Determine the moral of Little Red Riding Hood and explain how the moral can be used in your own life.
Wolves (National Geographic Readers)
RI.1.1
RI.1.2
Defend if wolves deserve the stereotype of being evil animals.
Assessment
Project
All unit texts
SL.1.6
Act out and retell different versions of The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Three Bears by dramatically retelling familiar stories.
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