Introductory Activity :

Duration: Three to Four 50-minute sessions

Description: In this lesson, students re-tell a fairy tale or nursery rhyme from a different character's point-of-view.

Goals: For students to develop their creative writing skills -- by thinking and writing in a broader scope.

Body :

Begin the lesson by reading a familiar story told from a different point-of-view (such as The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, told from the wolf's perspective). Inform students that they will have an opportunity to re-tell a fairy tale or nursery rhyme from a different character's point-of-view. Divide students into groups of 3 or 4. Have each group select a fairy tale or nursery rhyme from the collection of books provided. (If the teacher gives advanced notice of the activity, then students can bring in other stories as well.) Each group member selects a character from the story and re-tells the story from that character's perspective. Each member in the group has to select a different character. Once each member has completed his/her story (a minimum of two pages typed and double spaced), the group will compile the works into a book. Students must include a cover page with title, along with illustrations.

[ Author's Note: Below are two examples that a teacher can use to help students get started with their project, using the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty."]

For example, the members of your group select the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" --

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Could not put Humpty together again.

One member of the group could opt to be Humpty. Here are some questions to ponder:

1. What would I, as Humpty, be doing on the wall in the first place?
2. How would I fall? Did someone push me? Was there some sort of plot to destroy me? If so, who was in charge of this plot? Why was there a plot against me?
3. Explain the pain that you, as Humpty, would be in to be cracked, literally? How would you react to the fall, if someone had indeed pushed you?
4. Explain the scenario with the king?s men and the king?s horses. Describe the mass chaos, embarrassment, and confusion.
5. Why would you be impossible to reconstruct? What happens next?

Another member of your group could opt to be a soldier in the king's army. Here are some questions to ponder:

1. What is my ranking in the army? How long have I been in service for the king?
2. Working with the group, and deciding how Humpty would have fallen, how does this affect me as a soldier? Was I part of the conspiracy?
3. Did I know that there was a price on Humpty's head but chose to ignore it?
4. What were my feelings on being asked to assist in aiding the fallen "person?"
5. What about my loyalty to the king? Would it be in question if I chose not to aid this "person?"
6. Did I have friends in the army with me who were part of the plan to destroy Humpty Dumpty? Did I act alone?

Evaluation Activity :

Finished booklets will be assessed on the basis of creativity of re-telling the story, cohesiveness of story's new viewpoint, and accuracy of character's perspective.