TITLE: WEE LITTLE HAVROSHECHKA
NOTE TO TEACHERS
This page is designed to help teachers develop a unit on Russian culture. The Russian fairy tale "Wee Little Havroshechka" can be paralleled to the famous story "Cinderella". It is suggested that "Cinderella" be used as a springboard to point out both the similarities in the stories and the differences. The students can then be led in discussions and activities concerning Russian culture. To learn more about Russia, click any of the links in the Background Information Section.
Read a Version of Cinderella
OBJECTIVES
After finishing the exercises, the students should be able to:
- Draw parallels between the Russian fairy tale "Wee Little Havroshechka" and the Anglo-Saxon fairy tale "Cinderella"
- Identify the theme that is central to both stories, and the stories' similarities
- Identify the differences between the two stories, and relate those differences culturally to Russia
- Gain a firmer cultural understanding of Russia
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Russia has a rich cultural history that spans many years. If teachers have Russian students, it would be a helpful visual aid to have them bring in items of their heritage. To learn more about Russian culture, click the links below.
Russia On the Web Russian Laquer Boxes A Tour of Alexander Palace Illustrated History of Russia
PRE-READING ACTIVITY
Place the students in groups, with three to four students per group. Ask them if they know the story "Cinderella". It is relatively certain that most students will have heard of this famous fairy tale. Have each group talk among themselves and collectively tell the story of Cinderella. The students should then write their version of the Cinderella story, and share this version with the class.
ACTIVITIES
- Begin by having students read WEE LITTLE HAVROSHECHKA. From this story, have students draw parallels to the "Cinderella" stories that they created in their groups. Have students find the overall theme of both stories. Then have the students identify the aspects of the Russian fairy tale that are different from the traditional "Cinderella" story. Use these differences to begin a discussion of Russian culture.
- Ask if any students in the class are Russian or have Russian heritage. If so, ask those students to bring in some of the more traditional items of Russian culture, such as marioshka dolls, pioneer boys' and girls' bandannas, laquer boxes, trading pins, pepsi bottles with russian writing, etc. If students in the class cannot provide this material, almost anyone who has travelled to Russia would probably be able to. Display these items and discuss them with the class.
- Time and age-level permitting, have students pick recipes for Russian dishes to cook at home and bring into class. This is a great activity to help get parents involved in students' education. Encourage parents to come into class and share the food that the students have prepared. A great place to find recipes is A Russian Cookbook.
- Have the students perform a short writing activity. The activity could be in the form of a journal activity, if the students keep journals. Have the students write about what they have learned as a result of the lesson, and reflect on the differences and similarities between Russian and American culture.
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