Rumpelstiltskin and the baby: Independent Reading Purple 8
Independent Reading Purple Series
What’s inside...
This modern adaptation of the classic fairy tale 'Rumpelstiltskin' follows the story of a miller's daughter who is tasked with spinning straw into gold. A mysterious little man appears and offers to help her for a price: her first-born child. The daughter must outsmart the cunning Rumpelstiltskin to save her child.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-7
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think about the choices Rumpelstiltskin made in the story?
How would you feel if you were in the baby's position?
Why do you think the characters acted the way they did?
What would you have done differently if you were in this story?
Can you think of a time when you had to make a difficult decision? What did you learn from it?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in the shoes of the different characters, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of the story.
Ask your child to predict what might happen next at various points in the story to develop their anticipatory and critical thinking skills.
Discuss the moral of the story with your child to help them understand the broader implications of the characters' actions and decisions.
Use expressive reading techniques, changing your tone and volume to match the emotions and actions in the story, to make the reading experience more engaging and dynamic.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: In the story, the miller's lie about his daughter's ability to spin straw into gold sets off a chain of events that almost leads to her losing her child. This highlights the negative consequences of dishonesty.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of telling the truth and how lies can lead to complicated and unwanted situations.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving under pressure
Explanation: The miller’s daughter has to think on her feet and negotiate with Rumpelstiltskin to keep her baby. Her ability to make high-stakes decisions illustrates effective problem-solving.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of staying calm and thinking critically when faced with difficult decisions.
Example Lesson: The power of a promise
Explanation: The story revolves around the promises made by the characters, especially the promise the miller’s daughter makes to Rumpelstiltskin. It demonstrates the weight and importance of keeping one’s word.
Real-World Application: Children learn about the significance of making commitments and the responsibility that comes with making promises.
Example Lesson: Resourcefulness and resilience
Explanation: Throughout the tale, the miller's daughter uses her wits and resourcefulness to navigate challenging situations, showing resilience in the face of adversity.
Real-World Application: This highlights to children how being resourceful can help them overcome obstacles in their own lives.
Example Lesson: The importance of names and identity
Explanation: The climax hinges on the discovery of Rumpelstiltskin's name, which gives the miller's daughter power over him. This underscores how names and identity hold power.
Real-World Application: It teaches children to respect and value everyone's unique identity and the personal significance of names.