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A Little Princess (1995) A Homeschool Learning Network® Learning Guide Format: DVD Age Levels: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Genre: Family Category: Entertainment, Ethics & Morals Rating: G Length: 97 minutes Producer: Warner Brothers Warnings:

Some war scenes and discussion about death.

Summary

Vocabulary (Grades 1-12) Try the following activities with the vocabulary words to the right. Depending on the age and ability of your students, they may be able to complete assignments from multiple grade levels. 1-2: Ask your students to copy the following words in alphabetical order,

and to describe each of the words verbally. Practice spelling. 3-5: Look up each word in a dictionary, and write down its definition.

Write each word in a sentence, or write a paragraph using the words. 6-8: Write a description or review about this DVD using the vocabulary

words. Above each vocabulary word, write N if it is a noun, V if it is a verb; ADJ if it is an adjective; ADV if it is an adverb.

9-12: Write down words you hear in the video you don’t understand. Break the words into parts and see if you can determine the meanings. Look up the meanings.

Vocabulary India France War Multiplication Memorize Heaven Silk Castle Saffron Feast Princess

From the beloved classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess is an endearing, emotional, and sometimes heartbreaking story about a girl named Sara. Sara moves from India to a boarding school because her father has to serve in the military during the war. She has been given an immense foundation of love and imagination from her father and from the country of India, and these things are her saving grace as she faces life without her father under the cruel and strict rule of the headmistress of the boarding school. All the students around her see her courage, imagination and kindness, and even when she faces her darkest moments, she and her new-found friends find a way to find hope, happiness and love. This film is absolutely touching, and speaks to the virtues and triumphs of a kind and creative heart.

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Discussion Questions Ask students to read through their questions carefully before watching the film, and take notes during the film. After watching it, ask students to write their answers to the following questions on a separate piece of paper.

Elementary 1. What happens when Ermengarde gets the math problem wrong in class, and how does it make

her feel? 2. Why do the girls want to gather in Sara’s room at night? 3. Why does Lotty have temper tantrums on the floor of the school? 4. What does Sara do to help her? 5. Sara gives a pastry to some poor people in the street. What do the people give her in return?

What do they say to her? What does she do with what she is given? 6. Why do the police come, and what does Sara do? Intermediate 1. Explain why the movie is named “A Little Princess”. What was the origin of that, and how is it

carried throughout the movie? 2. What does the doll, Emily, that Sara’s father give, her symbolize throughout the movie? 3. What happens when it is Sara’s turn to read, and why does that happen? 4. Why does Sara draw a circle around herself when she is in the attic? 5. Who is Becky? How and why does Sara befriend her? How does their relationship develop?

What is their relationship at the end of the movie? 6. Why does Ms. Minchin lock Becky and Sara in the attic with no food, and what do they do? Advanced

1. How does the Indian fairytale parallel the story throughout the movie? 2. What do you think about the Indian gentleman throughout the movie? What is his purpose in

the film? 3. Explain how wind is used as a metaphor in this film. 4. Explain what happens to the locket throughout the movie, and its importance and symbolism.

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Lessons & Activities Creative Storytelling Subjects: Language Arts Grades: 3-12 Style: Visual/Auditory/Experiential/Kinesthetic Concepts: You will learn about storytelling and writing a story. Lesson: In A Little Princess, Sara uses storytelling and her imagination to weave beautiful and suspenseful tales about the land of India. It includes magical beasts, a princess, a prince, a castle and other stunning images. She tells the story to her new friends at boarding school, and enchants them all! In this lesson, we will take a look at storytelling, and the process of creating imaginative stories. First let’s take a look at what makes a good story. Think of some of your favorite short stories. Why do you like them? Make a list of them, and then choose your favorite from the list. Consider the following points as if you were going to tell your favorite story out loud to an audience. 1. Is the story short enough?

Ideally your story should be under 5 minutes. If your story is longer than that, you may start to lose the interest of your audience. It takes a skilled storyteller to hold attention for long stories. Also, since it takes a lot longer to tell a story than to read it, be sure to time your story when you practice it.

2. Do you like this story? Is it interesting, funny, or scary to you? Chances are, if you find it interesting, you can make it fun and exciting for your audience, too.

3. Does it have a simple plot? It is easy to lose your place in your storytelling if the story is not simple to follow. Your audience might get confused too.

4. Does this story have colorful characters with unique characteristics that distinguish them from each other? Too many characters or similar characters will confuse your audience! Make sure to clearly define your characters within the story.

5. Is there action and suspense that will keep your listeners wanting more? Will your audience want to know what happens next? Examine your plot to make sure it is interesting and entertaining.

6. Is the introduction interesting? Keep your introduction short and intriguing! Use inflection and tone to build excitement for the coming story.

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7. Does the wording of the story create visual images for the listener?

Use adjectives and adverbs to draw interest to your story. 8. Does your story suit the audience you're going to tell it to?

What do they want to hear? Are you telling your story to 4-year-olds, or 14-year-olds? Gear your story to the age and interests of your audience.

Now it’s time to write your own story! These following steps can be simplified for younger grades: 1. Spend some time thinking about a story. You may adapt a favorite story into modern times,

create a story about a favorite vacation, or develop a new plot related to your favorite fantasy character.

2. Write an outline with the following information A) Story Title B) Author (you!) C) Source (is this an adaptation from another story, or your own original?) D) Theme (One sentence describing the main theme or point of the story) E) Setting F) Characters G) Story Outline

(1) Introduction (2) Beginning Event (3) Plot Development (Write out a list of events, just a list, not paragraphs) (4) Climax (5) Conclusion

3. Now check your outline against the 8 points listed above. How does it hold up? Rewrite as needed!

4. When you are done, write a narrative of your story, following your outline closely. 5. Memorize and practice your story! 6. Have a storytelling party to share your hard work, and share in a tradition of storytelling that has

existed for centuries! Learn More! Books and Online Resources BOOKS A Little Princess Frances Hodgson Burnett, HarperCollins; ISBN: 0064401871 A Little Princess: The Story of Sara Crewe (Puffin Classics) Frances Hodgson Burnett, Puffin; ISBN: 0140366881

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Sara Crewe: Or What Happened at Miss Minchin's Frances Hodgson Burnett, Dramatic Pub.; ISBN: 0871297345 The Little Princess, Sara Crewe Nancy Seale, Anchorage Press; ISBN: 087602231X ONLINE RESOURCES A Little Princess http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/BurLiPr.html Full online text of the original classic story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. A Little Princess Movie Review http://www.allwatchers.com/Topics/Info_5185.asp This is a detailed review and analysis of the plot, setting and characters in A Little Princess A Little Princess Review http://www.online-literature.com/burnett/little_princess/ Read about the book, the movie, and the author, or contribute to a message board. Storytelling Resources and Lesson Plans http://web.archive.org/web/20000306055501/http://www.ualberta.ca/~lmireau/intro.html The purpose of this page is to provide a lesson plan in storytelling. The National Storytelling Network http://www.storynet.org/ An association dedicated to bring individuals and organizations together to share all forms of storytelling. Be sure to visit the calendar of events. Books for Storytellers http://www.lilliput.co.uk/story/books1.html Storytelling resources hosted by Lilliput Press. India for Kids http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/india.htm This section is for children aged 7-9, to give them an insight into the diverse culture and landscape of India.

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DISCLAIMER: Homeschool Learning Network, Inc. has provided this Learning Guide to enhance your learning experience. Reviews, questions and resources within this Learning Guide are not endorsed by DVD producers. Links to outside Web pages do not constitute an endorsement of the sites by Homeschool Learning Network, nor does Homeschool Learning Network maintain the sites. Links are included at the discretion of the editors and are intended as a service to readers. We urge you to exercise care and parental guidance when visiting Web sites. © 2011, Homeschool Learning Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.hlnfamily.com | http://www.hlnfamily-estore.com

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ANSWER KEY:

Elementary 1. Ermengarde struggles for the right answer, Ms. Minchin makes fun of her, Ermengarde feels sad, and a tear runs

down her cheek. 2. To hear Sara’s stories. 3. Because she is sad that her mother is dead. 4. She says that her mother is in heaven too, as an angel, and that their mothers can hear them if they listen closely. 5. She is given a flower in return, and they say “for the princess”. Sara puts the flower on the door of the man whose

son was killed in the war. 6. The police come because Ms. Minchin thinks that Becky and Sara have stolen the items and feast that appear in

the attic. Sara escapes from the window across to the house next door, and there she discovers her father. Intermediate 1. A woman in India told Sara that all girls are princesses, and all boys are princes, and Sara says that throughout

the movie to all of her friends. It is a way that Sara holds on to her own self worth. 2. It symbolizes her father’s love (giving the doll hugs sends hugs to her father), and the doll is also a way for Sara to

have someone to talk to. It is serrogate family. 3. Sara changes the story because it was boring and she didn’t like the plot. All the students sit up and listen, and

Ms. Minchin tells them that no imagination is allowed at the school. 4. It is a circle of safety, just like in the Indian fairytale she told to her friends. She is trying to find a way to feel safe. 5. Becky is the black servant girl, who is treated very poorly by Ms. Minchin. Sara does not understand, sees how

lonely Becky is, and wants to be her friend. Sara gives her a pair of slippers when she sees Becky’s sore feet. When Sara’s father is thought to be dead, Ms. Minchin makes Sara go live with Becky and be a servant, and over time they swear to always look out for each other. By the end of the movie, Sara and Becky are like sisters, and Becky travels back to India with Sara and her father.

6. She locks them in the attic because she thinks that Sara stole the locket back from Ms. Minchin. Becky is scared because she will be so hungry going without food for a day, so Sara tells her to imagine a feast! In the morning when they wake up, the feast has turned real, and they have an Indian palace room surrounding them.

Advanced 1. The Indian story is about a princess who is locked up in a tower by a monster creature, and a prince who is trying

to save her. The prince almost dies, as yellow poison gas penetrates his safety circle, but an gazelle comes and gives its life so that he can live and save the princess. This parallels the hopelessness of the plot of the movie, when Sara thinks her father is dead, and she is being overcome by the evil Ms. Minchin. She even draws a circle around herself to try to protect herself from the bad, but it still exists. Similar to the story she tells, even when things seem completely hopeless, life can be renewed, and magic can happen.

2. The gentleman shows up first when Sara and her father are sailing to the boarding school, and then, “coincidentally”, he becomes the helper of the man who lives next door to the school. This same man also takes in Sara’s father, and his monkey befriends Sara. He appears when a magical force is needed, or when Sara needs to be inspired. He is the “helper” or “wise man” of the movie that engages Sara to remember, at least metaphorically, her home in India, and the wisdom she learned there. He also helps Sara’s father recover from amnesia. He is a real character and person in the film, but he has an almost ethereal, magical presence.

3. Wind is another magical element of the film. Wind is a metaphor for a higher power, a higher force that makes you take pause and take notice. When the wind blows strong, the viewer should understand that an important or significant event, somewhat steeped in a magical element, is going to take place.

4. It is her dead mother’s locket, and was a gift from her father. It symbolizes her family and her ties to those who love her, past and present. Ms. Minchin confiscates it when Sara’s father is thought to be dead, and the other students steal it back. She gets caught with it again, and while that seems like a moment of doom, it is the leading event which helps her discover her father is still alive, so it becomes a literal symbol of her family’s ties to her.

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