1st 2nd Grade Objectives CCSS Reading: Literature RL.2.1: Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. RL.2.2: Recount stories, including fables and folk tales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral. RL.2.9: Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures. Materials Needed Any copy of Cinderella A copy of a Cinderella story from another culture, such as Yeh-Shen or The Rough-Face Girl Whiteboard or chart paper The Tortoise and the Hare The Heron and the Hummingbird Comparing Stories reproducible Preparation Print a copy of The Tortoise and the Hare, The Heron and the Hummingbird and the Comparing Stories reproducible for each student. Introduction Tell students that you are going to read two different stories and then compare them to find similarities and differences. Ask students to pay special attention to the characters, the plot and the lesson that each story teaches. Procedure 1. Read aloud both Cinderella stories. 2. Ask, What do you notice about these two stories that is alike? 3. Write student responses on a whiteboard or chart paper. (Guide students in identifying similarities, such as in theme or plot elements.) 4. Ask, What do you notice about these two stories that is different? 5. Write student responses on a whiteboard or chart paper. (Guide students in identifying differences, such as in characters or plot details.)
Independent Practice 1. Give each student a copy of the Comparing Stories reproducible, a copy of The Tortoise and the Hare and a copy of The Heron and the Hummingbird. 2. Have students write the title of one story on the left side of the reproducible and the title of the other on the right side. 3. Help students identify one or two elements from the stories (e.g., characters, plot, setting, moral) that are the same or similar to one another and write them in the center of the reproducible. 4. Encourage students to identify one or two elements from each story that are different from the other and write those beneath each title on the left and right sides of the reproducible. Extension Activity Continue to use the Comparing Stories reproducible with other stories throughout the year.
O ne spring day, Hare was hopping through a fi eld. Duck, Cow, Pig, and Tortoise were enjoying the sun together. You know, said Hare, I have never been beaten in a race. Not once has anyone or anything run faster than me. Would any of you like to challenge me? The other animals looked at each other, none of them eager to lose a race to Hare, for Hare would never stop bragging about it. At last, Tortoise said, I will race you, Hare. I accept your challenge. You are too funny, Tortoise, said Hare. I could pass the fi nish line fi ve times before you even start the race. Seriously, you ll be eating my dust! I ll ask you to keep your bragging to yourself until the race is done, said Tortoise. It won t be long then. Shall we race? asked Hare. Tortoise just nodded his head slowly. The other animals decided on a course. Okay, line up, said Pig. On your mark, get set, go! Hare was halfway down the dusty lane before Tortoise even had his legs over the starting line. Slow and steady, said Tortoise. Slow and steady. By this time, Hare was almost to the bridge. He looked back to see if he could spot Tortoise. He wasn t sure if it was Tortoise, but there was a green and brown lump moving toward him very slowly. Start My goodness, thought Hare, I could take a nap and still win this race. Wait! I could take a nap and win. Hare curled up on the ground and, laughing to himself, fell asleep. As Tortoise inched his way forward, Hare dreamed of running past the fi nish line, shaking hands with the other animals, and eating carrots. As he woke from his dream, Hare rubbed his eyes and saw Tortoise crossing the fi nish line. No! shouted Hare. I m faster! Slow and steady wins the race, Hare, said Tortoise with a smile. Slow and steady.
H eron and Hummingbird were old friends. Being birds, they both loved to eat fi sh. While Hummingbird liked small minnows, Heron liked bigger fi sh. One sunny morning, Hummingbird said, There may not be enough fi sh in the world for both of us. So let s have a race. Whoever wins will get all the fi sh in the rivers and lakes. Heron thought for a moment and said, That sounds fair. The two friends agreed to have a race lasting four days. Whoever was fi rst at the tree at the far end of the river would win the race and all the fi sh! At dawn the next morning, the race began. Hummingbird was fi rst into the air, fl ying circles around Heron before Heron got off the ground. Then Heron fl apped his wings and moved ever forward. Hummingbird was fast, but he always fl ew here and there to drink nectar from the fl owers and talk with the animals along the river. By the end of the day, he was tired. Knowing he was winning the race, he decided to sleep. Heron just fl apped his wings and moved ever forward. On the second morning, Hummingbird woke to see Heron fl ying by. Hummingbird caught up with Heron and fl ew circles around him before racing down the river. By the end of the day, Hummingbird was very tired. Once again, he had spent his time fl ying here and there, talking with animals along the river. While Hummingbird slept during the night, Heron just fl apped his wings and moved ever forward. On the third morning, Hummingbird woke to see Heron far ahead. He quickly caught up to him. Heron just fl apped his wings and moved ever forward. Tired from another day of fl ying here and there, Hummingbird slept. I ll catch Heron tomorrow, he thought. There s still time. But when he woke in the morning and fl ew down the river, he saw Heron sitting in the tree. The race was won, and now Heron thought of all the fi sh that were his to eat and all the nectar that was Hummingbird s to drink.
Comparing Stories Name Story 1 Story 2 Story Elements That Are the Same Story Elements Story Elements