The Fairy Godmother Lesson

[velvetpage]

It's Report Card Season. You and another teacher decide to buy yourselves some prep time by showing a movie. But in the interests of making every minute count, you want to give them a purpose for viewing and a response afterwards - in other words, something to think about while they're having fun.

Enter the Fairy Godmother Media Literacy lesson.

First, get all the kids who will be watching the movie, together in one room. Get them to think-pair-share or otherwise come up with their images of a fairy godmother; record these on chart paper or an overhead or what have you. Then read them Cinderella - look in 398 in your library for fairy tales. Have them focus on the character of the fairy godmother, especially character traits or attributes - kind, generous, selfless, etc. (This is mostly for the sake of kids who may not have access to Disney movies, and to provide a common framework.) You should end up at the point where this fairy godmother is a kind person without a motive for helping other than that she wants to.

Enter the prep-time part.

Give the kids a Venn diagram, and tell them they're going to compare two fairy godmothers: the one in the story they've just heard, and the one in Shrek II. Wait for the cheering to die down a bit, then remind them of how a Venn diagram works. Play the movie. At this point, all but one of the teachers involved can leave to get some extra prep, while one remains to supervise. Trade off as necessary throughout the movie.

At the end of the movie, review the character of the fairy godmother in Shrek II. What were her motives? What are her attributes? What are her similarities and differences with the godmother from Cinderella?

The rest of the venn diagram is homework, and can be marked under media literacy and reading. You can give them a Viewing Response, as well: Think about the song the Fairy Godmother sings when she introduces herself to Fiona. In it, the Fairy Godmother suggests that all of Fiona's troubles can be solved with more money or by "fixing" her appearance. Do you agree with that? Why or why not?

At that point, you've satisfied all need for higher-order thinking questions, you've engaged at least three levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, and thoroughly covered your butt - not to mention getting about an hour extra to work on your report cards. It's made of win.

Comments

[neebs.livejournal.com]

That's flippin awesome. Did you come up with that??? I've said it before, but you totally rock as a teacher!! =)

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I've developed the habit of looking critically at things, and I often think of ways I could use them in the classroom. This one works better than most, because it's fun, accessible to the kids, and it's already satirical.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

See, I wouldn't bitch about movies in school IF THEY JUST DID IT LIKE THIS.

They just plunked em in front of a screen in Brooklyn. This? This is cool.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

I've done some plunking in my day. I've moved beyond it, now.

If you want to share it with your children's teacher, go ahead - tell them it's an offering from a friend online.

[grrl-next-door.livejournal.com]

that's awesome! I will keep it in mind for when I teach!!

[hillarygayle.livejournal.com]

That is really a pretty awesome idea. Very definitely made of win.