Characters
Choose the character you will play.
Empower your students to be brave (like Nina!) in “Two Turtle Tales,” two Native American folktales about a character named Turtle who never backs down.
Art by Jesús Lopez
Play,
The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds
In this European folktale, Nina goes on a journey to save her village.
By Retold by Tricia Culligan | Art by Jesús Lopez
From the February 2024 Issue
Learning Objective: Students will identify the character traits of the character Nina in a play adaptation of a European folktale.
Complexity Factors
Featured Skill:
Character,
Other Key Skills: cause and effect, plot, inference, text features, problem and solution, character’s motivation, main idea, connecting to the text, theme, opinion writing, narrative writing
Standards
Storytellers 1, 2, and 3 (S1, S2, S3)
Nina, a young girl
Grandfather, Nina’s grandfather
Rosita, Nina’s neighbor
Victor, a villager
All Villagers, to be read by the whole class
Whirlwinds
Blizzards
Winter Witch
Mouse
Squirrel
Deer
Bird
Father Frost
Scene 1
S1: We’re going to tell you a tale from long ago.
S2: Back when animals talked and magic was all around.
S3: In a small village, near a big mountain, a girl named Nina lived with her grandfather.
S1: One morning, Nina woke up shivering.
Nina: Brrrr!
S2: She peered outside.
S3: But all she saw was white!
S1: Nina opened the front door, and . . .
S2: THUMP!
S3: She toppled over as snow piled into her house.
S1: SWOOSH!
S2: Nina’s grandfather limped over to help.
Grandfather: Nina, what happened?
Nina: Our house is buried under snow!
Grandfather: We must meet with the villagers at once!
S3: So Nina dug a tunnel through the snow to her neighbor’s house.
Rosita: Nina, my house is buried under snow!
S1: Rosita’s neighbor Victor popped out of another tunnel in the snow.
Victor: My house is too!
Nina: Let’s meet at my house tonight. Help me spread the word!
Scene 2
S2: So the villagers built tunnels to get from home to home.
S3: Then they gathered at Nina’s house.
Grandfather: This is the work of the wicked Winter Witch.
All Villagers: NOOO!
Grandfather: She has cast a spell that hides the sun behind the clouds and buries the earth in snow.
Rosita: What will we do?
Victor: Someone must break the spell!
Grandfather: Only Father Frost has the power to end this winter.
Rosita: But Father Frost dwells high in the mountains!
Victor: It’s too dangerous to travel there.
All Villagers: Who is brave enough to go?
Grandfather: I will go.
S1: Nina’s grandfather was old and frail.
Nina: No. I will go!
All Villagers: You’re too slow!
Nina: I’m as fast as a mountain goat.
All Villagers: You’ll freeze!
Nina: My heart is as warm as the sun. It’s filled with love for my grandfather and my village.
Grandfather: Do you really think you can do this, Nina?
Nina: I know I can.
Scene 3
S2: The next day, the villagers saw Nina off.
Rosita: Take my hat.
Victor: And my scarf.
All Villagers: Good luck, Nina!
Grandfather: Go, my child. You have my love and the love of our village.
Nina: I will be back soon.
S3: Nina climbed up the icy mountain.
S1: Suddenly, she heard a harsh hissing noise.
Whirlwinds: HSSSSSS! Who goesss there?
Nina: I am Nina, and I must save my village!
Whirlwinds: Why, it’sss only a little girl. We’ll teach you a lesssson.
S2: So they tried to blow Nina down the mountain.
Whirlwinds: HSSSSSS!
S3: Nina’s hat went flying off her head.
Whirlwinds: Ha! She won’t last long now!
S1: Nina persevered—she didn’t give up.
Nina: My heart is warm with love for my village!
S2: Soon the Whirlwinds were exhausted and gave up.
Whirlwinds: She’s too ssstrong. We’ll call our sssisters, the Blizzards!
Scene 4
S3: Nina climbed higher and higher.
S1: Soon she heard a howling noise.
Blizzards: AWOOOOOO! Whooo are youuu?
Nina: I am Nina, and you cannot stop me!
Blizzards: Youuu made it past the Whirlwinds, but youuu cannot get past us! Oh nooo youuu cannot!
S2: The Blizzards sent forth a powerful gust of snow.
Blizzards: AWOOOOOO!
S3: Nina’s scarf blew off.
Blizzards: Ha! She’ll turn back now!
S1: But once again, Nina persevered.
Nina: My heart is warm with love for my grandfather!
S2: Finally, the Blizzards were exhausted.
S3: They too gave up.
Blizzards: We’ll have to call in our mother . . . the Winter Witch!
Scene 5
S1: The Winter Witch was wicked and clever.
S2: She crafted a plan.
Winter Witch: I’ll turn myself into a lovely fairy with a sparkling dress and crown.
S3: She strolled toward Nina in her disguise.
Winter Witch: You look tired from your travels, my dear.
S1: At first, Nina was suspicious.
S2: But the fairy (who was actually the witch) seemed kind.
Nina: I could use a rest.
Winter Witch: Take a nap, my sweet, and I’ll sing you a lullaby.
S3: Nina was soon fast asleep in the snow.
S1: The Whirlwinds and the Blizzards swirled around her and cackled with delight.
Whirlwinds: HA HA HA!
Blizzards: Now we have her!
Scene 6
S2: Before long, Nina’s lips turned blue from the cold.
S3: A little mouse popped out from under the snow.
Mouse: Squeak, squeak! Forest friends, we must help this little girl!
S1: Squirrels scurried over and curled their furry tails around the shivering girl.
Squirrel: We’ll warm you up!
S2: Deer formed a circle around her little body.
Deer: We’ll protect you from this winter wind and snow!
S3: Birds sang to Nina.
Bird: Tweetly dums, tweetly dees! Wake up, child, before you freeze!
S1: Finally, Nina opened her eyes.
Mouse: The Winter Witch tricked you into falling asleep!
Nina: Thank you for saving my life!
Squirrel: What are you doing so high in the mountains?
Nina: I am on a journey to see Father Frost. I must end this terrible winter and save my village!
Deer: We’re coming with you, brave girl.
Bird: We’re tired of this winter too!
Scene 7
S2: So Nina climbed the last part of the mountain with her new companions.
S3: At last they arrived at Father Frost’s cabin.
Father Frost: My dear friends, what has happened?
S1: Nina and the animals told him everything.
Father Frost: Thank you for your bravery, Nina. Thank you for your kindness, animals. I will fix this at once.
S2: Father Frost found the Winter Witch, the Whirlwinds, and the Blizzards.
Father Frost: I am locking all of you in a dungeon until it is time for winter again!
Deer: Hop on my back, Nina. We’ll take you home.
S3: So Nina returned to the village with her new friends.
Mouse: Squeak, squeak! The sun is shining!
Squirrel: The snow is melting!
Deer: Plants are growing. Yum!
Bird: Spring is here!
All Villagers: Thank you for saving our village!
Grandfather: I knew you could do it, Nina.
Nina: I had the love from you and our village in my heart. There was no way I could fail!
Think and Write
Imagine you are one of the villagers. Write a note to Nina thanking her for saving your village. Include the traits that helped Nina on her journey.
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Can't Miss Teaching Extras
In “The Girl and the Chenoo,” you’ll meet a girl named Tala who uses bravery and kindness to fight a people-eating monster.
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Table of Contents
5. Differentiate and Customize
Struggling Readers, Multilingual Learners, Advanced Readers, Creative Writing
1. Preparing to Read
Set a Purpose for Reading/Preview Text Features
- Instruct students to study the title, subtitle, and illustration on pages 24-25. Ask them to describe the illustration and predict what the play will be about.
- Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 25 and the Think and Write box on page 29.
Introduce Vocabulary
The play includes bolded vocabulary terms in the text but does not include definitions. A Vocabulary Skill Builder online previews the vocabulary terms (dwells, frail, persevered, exhausted, disguise, suspicious, cackled, and companions). You may also show our Vocabulary Slideshow.
The play includes bolded vocabulary terms in the text but does not include definitions. A Vocabulary Skill Builder online previews the vocabulary terms (dwells, frail, persevered, exhausted, disguise, suspicious, cackled, and companions). You may also show our Vocabulary Slideshow.
2. Close Reading
Storyworks 3 plays provide a perfect opportunity for students to build fluency.
Perform the plays as a class or have students follow along as they listen to the audio Read-Aloud.
Project or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions. (Alternatively, assign all or part of the Learning Journey Slide Deck.)
Storyworks 3 plays provide a perfect opportunity for students to build fluency.
Perform the plays as a class or have students follow along as they listen to the audio Read-Aloud.
Project or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions. (Alternatively, assign all or part of the Learning Journey Slide Deck.)
Close-Reading Questions
- Read Scene 1. Why does Nina dig a tunnel through the snow to Rosita’s house? Nina digs a tunnel to Rosita’s house because the village is buried under snow. Nina’s grandfather tells her that they must meet with the villagers. Nina digs a tunnel to travel to her neighbor’s house through the snow and spreads the news. (cause and effect)
- Read Scene 2. Why does Nina want to find Father Frost? Nina wants to find Father Frost because only he can break the spell of the Winter Witch. The Winter Witch is the one who has buried the earth in snow. (plot)
- Read Scene 3. Why can’t the Whirlwinds blow Nina down the mountain? The Whirlwinds can’t blow Nina down the mountain because Nina refuses to give up. She is too strong for the Whirlwinds. (character trait)
- Read Scene 4. What happens after the Blizzards realize they cannot force Nina to turn back? When the Blizzards realize they cannot force Nina to turn back, they give up and decide to call in their mother. Their mother is the Winter Witch. (plot)
- Read Scene 5. Why do the Whirlwinds and Blizzards cackle with delight when they see Nina asleep in the snow? They cackle with delight because they think that Nina will freeze in the snow. (inference)
- Read Scene 6. How does the illustration on page 28 help you understand what is happening in this scene? The illustration shows how the forest animals save Nina’s life. Squirrels wrap their furry tails around her to keep her warm. Deer forms a circle around Nina. Bird sings to Nina to wake her up before she freezes. (text features)
- Read Scene 7. How does Father Frost end the terrible winter? Father Frost locks the Winter Witch, the Whirlwinds, and the Blizzards in a dungeon until it is time for winter again. When Nina and the forest animals return to her village, it is spring. (problem and solution)
Critical-Thinking Questions
- Why did Nina decide to go on a dangerous journey to save her village? Why does she succeed? Nina wanted to find Father Frost because of her deep love for her grandfather and her village. She decided to go on the dangerous journey in place of Grandfather because Grandfather is old and frail. Nina succeeds because she carried the love of her village and Grandfather in her heart. She was brave and didn’t give up on her journey. She also had help from forest friends along the way. (character’s motivation, main idea)
- Think of a time you did something brave. What did you do? Did anyone help you along the way? Answers will vary. (connecting to the text, theme)
3. Skill Building and Writing
Featured Skill: Character Traits
- Distribute or digitally assign the Character Traits Skill Builder.
- Ask students to write a response to the Think and Write prompt on page 29.
Differentiate and Customize
For Striving Readers
Build fluency and boost confidence with unison reading. Choose a scene, preview any challenging words, then assign students two or three of the characters to read aloud together while you take on the other roles.
For Multilingual Learners
The characters Whirlwinds and Blizzards may be unfamiliar to your multilingual learners. Start by sharing pictures or video clips of whirlwinds and blizzards. Ask students to offer descriptions of these natural forces. Then ask students to act out those descriptions, which will prepare them to read those lines in the play.
For Advanced Readers
Share the October/November 2023 feature “Two Turtle Tales,” which highlights the character Turtle. Have students read both plays. Then ask students to write a well-organized paragraph telling how Turtle and Nina are similar and different. Which character traits do they share? Which character traits do they have that are unique?
Text-to-Speech