Where in the world is Cinderella? It turns out that the Cinderella story is told in many countries around the world with some of the stories beginning in the oral tradition more than a thousand years ago. Students in first grade have discovered many of the more than five hundred versions of Cinderella. Although first graders didn't read five hundred, many were read originating from many different countries including, France, Mexico, Egypt, the Arctic, Russia, China, Korea, Africa, Ireland and the Caribbean. This spring students discovered that while many of the story elements are the same, there are marked differences as well. In the Chinese Cinderella, a magical fish and ultimately the fish's bones help the Cinderella character, Yeh Shen, to escape from her cruel stepmother and stepsisters and find the King. He can tell that she is the one for him when he realizes that she has the tiniest feet. The main character in the Egyptian Cinderella is named Rhodopis. This version is considered one of the oldest and was first recorded in the first century BC. A number of our first graders loved this version of the Cinderella story. In the Korean Cinderella, one student noted that he loved the symbols on the gong and the parade that happened in the story. Adelita, the name of the Mexican Cinderella story was a favorite for the beauty of her name and the illustrations in the story that reflected her culture. The Irish Cinderella story has the main character a lad called Cinderlad instead of Cinderella.
The culture of a particular country and group of people is reflected in their particular Cinderella story. After listening to different versions of the Cinderella story students compared elements using Venn diagrams and charts. They then picked their favorite Cinderella story and wrote a reflection that included specific details to show why this particular story was their favorite one. This then went on a display in the hallway outside of the first grade classrooms with pictures from the various Cinderella stories and a map showing their location. First grade students have discovered that although the world is wide and varied, there are common themes and also unique customs that appear in these stories.
Where in the world is Cinderella? It turns out that the Cinderella story is told in many countries around the world with some of the stories beginning in the oral tradition more than a thousand years ago. Students in first grade have discovered many of the more than five hundred versions of Cinderella. Although first graders didn't read five hundred, many were read originating from many different countries including, France, Mexico, Egypt, the Arctic, Russia, China, Korea, Africa, Ireland and the Caribbean. This spring students discovered that while many of the story elements are the same, there are marked differences as well. In the Chinese Cinderella, a magical fish and ultimately the fish's bones help the Cinderella character, Yeh Shen, to escape from her cruel stepmother and stepsisters and find the King. He can tell that she is the one for him when he realizes that she has the tiniest feet. The main character in the Egyptian Cinderella is named Rhodopis. This version is considered one of the oldest and was first recorded in the first century BC. A number of our first graders loved this version of the Cinderella story. In the Korean Cinderella, one student noted that he loved the symbols on the gong and the parade that happened in the story. Adelita, the name of the Mexican Cinderella story was a favorite for the beauty of her name and the illustrations in the story that reflected her culture. The Irish Cinderella story has the main character a lad called Cinderlad instead of Cinderella. 
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