Lesson #4: Matryoshka in the Middle

Peter and the Wolf
Lesson #4: Matryoshka in the Middle
c Unit Essential Question/ Enduring Understanding: How has exploring and connecting the text to the live
ballet performance helped you to better understand the symphonic storytelling of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf?
c Subject: Reading Literacy c Concept: Story Elements c Lesson Essential Question:
What is the structure of the story, Peter
and the Wolf?
Standards Correlation:
ELACC2RL5: Describe the overall structure of a
story, including describing how the beginning
introduces the story and the ending concludes with
action.
Key Knowledge: Just as Matryoshka (ma-try-osh-ka) dolls nest in a specific order, a story follows a structure that includes a
beginning, a middle, and an end.
Key Skills: Students will be able to describe the structure of a story including how the beginning introduces the story, the middle
moves the story along with a series of events, and the ending concludes with action.
Evaluating/Checking for Understanding: Teacher may ask students to recall the Russian folk story of Peter and the Wolf.
Materials:
Wooden Set of Russian Nesting Dolls, or
Special Note: Any version of the Russian folk
tale is fine for these lesson plans. Please
inquire in your local library or purchase any
one of the beautifully constructed and
illustrated texts described in the resource page
at the end of this lesson.
Russian Nesting Doll Set*
Russian Nesting Doll Event Cards*
*See below for printables
Peter and the Wolf, children’s picture book
These are exceptionally well told versions.
Procedure:
Opening/Introduction: Teacher will read the essential question.
Teacher will show the class a picture of a set of traditional Matryoshka dolls
from Russia. Also called Russian Nesting Dolls, these wooden dolls fit inside
one another.
Matryoshka dolls, also known as Russian Nesting
Dolls, are a set of dolls carved of wood and hand painted
which nest, or stack, inside each other. Traditionally, the first
doll is a matryoshka which, in Russian, means “little matron”
or motherly figure. As each doll is opened to reveal a smaller
doll “nested” inside, they may alternate between boy and girl
dolls. The last doll is a solid piece of wood and is typically a
baby. The dolls follow a theme ranging from women in
peasant costumes to fairy tales. This set features the Russian
Folk Tale, Peter and the Wolf.
Step-by-step Procedures: You are going to see a ballet at a theater! In music, you identified the four instrument families and
heard Prokofiev’s symphonic story, matching the characters to their motif, or theme. You also answered the question, “Where’s the
Wolf?” by placing event cards in sequential order and answering the questions Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Today
we are going to use the nesting dolls to describe the beginning, middle, and end of our story.
Teaching Strategies: Teacher describes the parts of a story while taking apart a real Russian Nesting Doll or unstacking the paper
version created from Russian Nesting Doll Demonstration Set at the end of this lesson plan. The first doll represents the beginning
of the story. It introduces the story. What takes place in the beginning of Peter and the Wolf? Students answer with something
similar: (*Note: Sequence is for the Vagin retelling. For the Schulman retelling, Peter and the procession take the wolf back home to
the forest, and the duck is referred to as “her”.) Peter and his friends enter the meadow. The bird and duck play and argue around the
pond. The cat sneaks up and tries to grab the bird. Grandfather warns Peter about a wolf coming out of the forest and takes Peter
home. Now, let’s see what is inside the first doll. Teacher takes apart the doll and reveals the next smaller doll. This doll represents the
middle of the story. The middle includes a series of events and moves the story along. What takes place in the middle of Peter and the
Wolf? Students answer: As soon as Peter and the grandfather leave, the wolf does come out of the forest. The duck jumps out of the
pond and the wolf swallows him whole. Teacher may take out another nesting doll to show how the events move along in a series.
Teacher takes apart another doll to reveal the next smaller doll. What else happens in the middle? Students answer: The wolf tries to
get to the bird and the cat who are now in the tree. Teacher may take apart another doll depending upon how many dolls are in the set.
Peter watches them and makes a plan to capture the wolf. Now we have come to the ending which concludes the action. Teacher takes
out the last doll which is a solid wooden baby. What happens in the ending? Students answer: Peter and the bird work together to
catch the wolf with a lasso Peter made from the rope. When the hunters arrive, Peter asks them to help him take the wolf to the zoo. As
a celebration, they make a parade toward the zoo where the duck, who is still alive, is heard quacking and comes back as the wolf
coughs him out.
Guided Practice: Students may place Russian Nesting Doll Event Cards in sequential order using sequencing words (first,
so, then, next, after that, finally) to describe the structure of the story.
Differentiated Instruction: Students who struggle with this activity may review sequencing words and story structure and
may refer back to the story with a student buddy. Students who already demonstrate ability may assist other students or describe how
the problem and solution fit within the sequence of the story.
Closure: Congratulate the class on their ability to use Russian Nesting Doll Event Cards to represent and build story structure. Place
the actual set of nesting dolls (or the paper version) back in their proper sequence to demonstrate how the parts of a story “fit” back
into place. There was an ending (baby doll). Before that, there was a series of events which moved the story along (middle dolls).
Teacher places dolls back inside one another. In the beginning, there was one doll who caught our interest and got the story started.
Teacher shows the class the original Matryoshka doll.
Evaluation/Assessment: Students will describe the parts of a story (beginning, middle, and ending) and place event cards in proper
sequential order using sequencing words to demonstrate story structure for Peter and the Wolf.
Reflection: Teacher will read the Essential Question/Enduring Understanding. The class will reflect upon the experience evaluating
their ability to determine beginning, middle and ending. Students may also discuss whether or not they think watching the ballet will
help them visualize the sequence of events.
References: The pronunciation for matryoshka sounds like mah-trioshka with the emphasis or accent on the long o in “trio”. For
correct Russian pronunciation of matryoshka, visit
http://www.forvo.com/word/%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%80%D1%91%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B0_%252F_matryoshka/
Credits:
Russian Nesting Dolls for teacher demonstration may also be made by following the directions courtesy of ActivityVillage.co.uk and
are available with free printable pdf files from:
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/printable-russian-dolls
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/russian_doll_printable_1.pdf
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/russian_doll_printable_2.pdf
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/russian_doll_body_template.pdf
An alternative Babushka (Matryoshka Doll) for teacher demonstration of story structure during the lesson is available for free
download courtesy of Teachers Pay Teachers. A Log In is required and is available for free with a valid email address. This file may
be accessed from http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nesting-Doll-Printable-1058166
Instructions for prin tables: Print the first set of dolls for demonstrating story
structure. Cut around each Matryoshka doll to create a set of five single dolls.
Laminate for durability. Use body template to stand dolls up and stack them inside
one another. Now you’re ready to demonstrate story structure!
Print the next set of dolls (two pages) as event cards. Color and cut around
each of the 10 Matryoshka dolls. Using the decorative dolls as the front, glue the
dolls with sequencing words and actions to the back. You should now have a set of
five dolls with a front and a back. You may wish to laminate them for durability.
Now you’re ready to place the event cards in sequential order!
Russian Nesting Doll Set for
Demonstrating Story Structure
Russian Nesting Doll Body Template for
Demonstrating Story Structure
Doll 5
Doll 4
Doll 3
Doll 1
Doll 2
Russian Nesting Doll Body Template for
Demonstrating Story Structure
Russian Nesting Doll Set Event Cards: Front
Russian Nesting Doll Set Event Cards: Back
First,
So,
Peter and his friends enter
the meadow. The bird and
duck play and argue.
Grandfather warns Peter
about the wolf in the forest,
takes Peter home, and
locks the gate.
after they leave,
a wolf does
come out of
the forest.
*Note: Use this sequence with
the Vagin retelling.
Then,
the duck jumps out of
the pond, and the wolf
swallows him whole.
Next,
the wolf eyes the cat
and bird in the tree.
After that,
Peter makes a
plan to capture
the wolf.
Finally,
Peter and the bird
catch the wolf with
a lasso, and the
hunters join them
in taking the wolf
to the zoo. The
duck returns!
Russian Nesting Doll Set Event Cards: Back
First,
Peter and his friends enter
the meadow. The bird and
duck play and argue.
Grandfather warns Peter
about the wolf in the forest,
takes Peter home, and
locks the gate.
So,
after they leave,
a wolf does
come out of
the forest.
*Note: Use this sequence with the
Schulman/Malone retelling.
Then,
the duck jumps out of
the pond, and the wolf
swallows her whole.
Next,
the wolf eyes the cat
and bird in the tree.
After that,
Peter makes a
plan to capture
the wolf.
Finally,
Peter and the bird
catch the wolf with
a lasso, and the
hunters join them
in taking the wolf
back home. The
duck returns!
Resources:
Children’s Literature and Recordings:
Local public library and school library collections may vary; however, inter-library loan systems are in place in most states making the book readily
available to all! The following texts may be available for purchase, both used and new, through the internet or your local book sellers. Excellent
choices for comparison/contrast are the Janet Schulman/ Peter Malone, Vladimir Vagin, and Ian Beck versions.
Peter and the Wolf Children's Picture Books
Book Cover
Author/Illustrator
Library
Information (GA)
Ian Beck
Peter and the Wolf Children's Picture Books
Author/Illustrator
Library
Information (GA)
13 copies
Sylvia Kamerman
1 copy
J808.82 CHI
Nola Brantley Branch
Janet Schulman/
Peter Malone
12 copies
E PRO Available @
Nola Brantley Branch
Georgia Pines
Library System
Michèle Lemieux
4 copies
Vladimir Vagin
33 copies
E 398.2
Loriot and Müller
3 copies
Boris Karloff, Narrator
Vienna State Opera
Orchestra with Mario Rossi
conducting
4 copies
JCD MUSIC
Prokofieff or CDJ
784.1843 PETER
Retold by Johnny Morris/
Jenny Thorne
Narration by David Bowie
AUDIO MUSIC CD
PRO
Tony Palazzo
2 copies
Barbara Cooney
3 copies
Sergei Prokofiev/
Charles Mikolaycak
7 copies
E PRO Available @
Nola Brantley & Perry
Branches
Carin Dewhirst and Joan
Dewhirst/ Naomi Howland
2 copies
Sergei Prokofiev/
Erna Voigt
5 copies
Samantha Easton/
Richard Bernal
3 copies
Chris Raschka
21 copies
Electronic resources
Celina Hastings/
Reg Cartwright
5 copies
James Riordan/
Victor Ambrose
1 copy
E RIO
Available @ Perry
Branch
Joe Johnson/
Miguelanxo Prado
9 copies
J Fiction or J 398.2
Fiction
Gerlinde Wiencirz
6 copies
Book Cover