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Year 4 - English

Exploring the genre of 'Hansel and Gretel'

'Hansel and Gretel': reading

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and explore the classic fairy tale 'Hansel and Gretel'. They use inference to develop their comprehension of the text and characters. Finally, pupils will explore the key themes and engage in rich discussions.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain what a fairytale is.

Key Notes

  • A fairytale is a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.
  • Fairytales belong to the genre of folklore where oral stories are shared and passed down over time.
  • Hansel and Gretel originated in Germany and was first recorded by the Brothers Grimm.
  • Fairytales have specific features e.g. they involve magical elements and often include good vs evil.
  • Anthony Browne wrote his own adaptation of 'Hansel and Gretel' and uses his illustrations to convey hidden messages.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • fairytale: a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands
  • folklore: a genre in which oral stories are shared and passed down over time
  • good: refers to characters that are considered moral and kind
  • evil: refers to characters that are considered extremely immoral, wicked or wrong
  • features: a distinctive characteristic or aspect of something

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children might think that because fairytales are magical they never touch on serious or dark topics.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

A fairytale is a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands. Fairytales belong to the genre of folklore where oral stories are shared and passed down over time.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'fairytale'

a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Children might think that because fairytales are magical they never touch on serious or dark topics. Correction: Fairytales are stories that have been passed down through generations and often have deeper meanings related to serious topics.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 4 English guide library.