Lesson 08: Grimm vs. Disney

• Unit: Horror and Villains
• Duration: 1 hour

• Cycle: 3
• Topic: ELA

To critically reflect on films.

To form opinions about censorship.

• Cross-Curricular

COMPETENCY 3 • TO EXERCISE CRITICAL JUDGMENT

COMPETENCY 7 • TO CONTRUCT HIS/HER IDENTITY

COMPETENCY 8 • TO COOPERATE WITH OTHERS

COMPETENCY 9 • TO COMMUNICATE APPROPRIATELY

• Subject Areas

COMPETENCY 1 • TO READ AND LISTEN TO LITERARY, POPULAR AND INFORMATION-BASED TEXTS

COMPETENCY 4 • TO USE LANGUAGE TO COMMUNICATE AND LEARN

Visual Arts Competencies

COMPETENCY 3 • TO APPRECIATE WORKS OF ART, TRADITIONAL ARTISTIC OBJECTS, MEDIA IMAGES, PERSONAL PRODUCTIONS AND THOSE OF CLASSMATES

• Essential Knowledges

TALK FOR LEARNING AND THINKING

Pens, papers and ideas.

A copy of the Grimm version of Snow White. This is available at www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/snow_white.html. The version used in the preparation of this lesson plan was Grimm (2003).

Development

Goals

2. To communicate clearly in the language of instruction, both orally and in writing, using correct grammar, in various contexts related to teaching.

3. To develop appropriate teaching/learning situations.

4. To pilot teaching/learning situations.

5. To evaluate student progress in learning the subject content and mastering the related competencies.

6. To plan, organize and supervise a class in such a way as to promote students’ learning and social development.

12. To demonstrate ethical and responsible professional behavior in the performance of his or her duties.

Wikipedia (2010). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film). Retrieved April 18, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_(1937_film).

OUTLINE

TIME

ACTIVITY

Introduction

(15min)

Ask for their thoughts about the story, and also their reactions to the fact that it was the first feature length animation film, the first American full length film, the first colour animation and the first Disney movie.

Inform them that, even though the movie is very old, it is not the original version of the story, even though it is the version shared with children today.

(35 min)

Discuss the story. Let students share their reactions.

What differences do you see between the two versions?

The Grimm version is closer to horror than the Disney version. How do you feel about the horrific parts of the story, like when the Queen eats what she thinks are Snow White’s organs or when she is forced to dance in burning shoes until she dies?

How do you feel about reading this to children?

Why?

Do you know what censorship is?

If they do not, this must be described.

Censorship is when you see music videos and the curse words are bleeped out or body parts are blurred out. What this accomplishes is that those in control of the media outlet have the choice over what you, as a viewer, will see or hear. It is a question of controlling what the viewer has access to. Whole books can be censored, and not made available. In the case of Snow White, the violent parts of the book were deemed to be unacceptable to children, so they were taken out. However, this story began as oral folklore. Generations of children heard this story, and it did not seem to impact them negatively.

Given all of the violence we see on television and in video games, why should we censor stories like Snow White?

Do you agree with the censoring of Snow White?

Students will react and bring up their thoughts and ideas. They may ask more questions about censorship or about oral folklore.

This discussion will be students centered but teacher guided, especially for the explanation of censorship.

(10 min)

If they do not keep a journal, have them reflect on a looseleaf. This sort of reflection is not graded for grammar or spelling, only for the ideas presented.