3.5: Goldilocks - The real story

This activity is intended to assist students to distinguish between facts and opinions.

Tasks

Explain to students that sometimes our opinion or what we think about something or someone is incorrect and unfair. Elicit some examples.
Read or tell the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Ask the students what the author thought of Goldilocks. Tell the students that some people think that Goldilocks was naughty. What are some other possible opinions? (destructive, untrustworthy, sneaky, rude, cowardly…)
Discuss with the class: "If Goldilocks' parents thought that she was naughty and untrustworthy how might they treat her?"
What are some other explanations for her behaviour? What would Goldilocks say?

Her father shouted at her.
She was lonely.
She was hungry.
The chair was already broken.
She'd been up all night looking after her sick sister and she was tired and hungry.

Invite one student to be Goldilocks. Ask other students to interview Goldilocks about her experiences. e.g. Why did she go into the woods?
As a whole class rewrite the story from Goldilocks' point of view giving the real reasons for her behaviour.

Teacher Notes

This activity is intended to assist students to distinguish between facts and opinions.
As a follow up activity, you may wish to read and compare an alternative version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, such as the version by Ian Beck which provides an alternative ending to the traditional tale.
A range of traditional fairy tales, including Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Hansel and Gretel, provide opportunities to explore fair and unfair behaviour.

Resources