The Mermaid
Module
Storytime
Unit
The Mermaid
Programme outline
Hera, abeautiful mermaid,longs for human life above the sea. She even falls in love with a human- Prince Eric. Her dream and her love for him cause her much pain. She leaves home and gives her lovely voiceto the Witch of the Sea in exchange for a pair of legs.In human form, Hera meets Prince Eric again. However, he has to marry Princess Gloria. Hera is desperate.Will she kill the Prince to get her eternal life back as a mermaid? Whatgives Hera the power to stand all the pain? Is it love?
Key Stage 2 Learning Targets
To develop an ever-improving capability to use English
~ to identify ideas in simple spoken and written texts, form opinions and express them (K.S.c)
~ to respond to characters and events in imaginative texts through oral, written and performative means such as making evaluative comments, describing one’s feelings towards characters and events (E.S.b)
Communicative functions
1. Describe simple situations and conditions
2. Make predictions about future events
3. Give comments on what people did
Suggested activities
1. Print out a picture of Hans Christian Andersen, the author of The Little Mermaid. Introduce to pupils this famous 19thcentury author who created manyfamiliar fairy tale characters such as the ugly duckling, the emperor who paraded naked through his city,etc.
2. Introduce the programme and the characters: Hera, Prince Eric, Flounder and Witch of the Sea. Ask pupils to talk aboutthedifferent versions of the story.
3. After watching the programme, tell the class to complete COPYMASTER 1to check their understanding of the fairy tale.
Part 1a
How many characters are therein the programme?Write down their names.
Answers: Hera, Prince Eric, Princess Gloria, Witch of the Sea, Sea King, Flounder
Part 1b
Who are the main characters of this programme? Which character do you like the most? Why?
(Pupils’ answers within reason are acceptable.)
Part 2
Where does the story take place?
Answers:Kingdom of the Sea, the Palace, the beach
Part 3
Can you retell the story?Put the sentences in order. The first one has been done.
Answers:
( 4 ) Hera turns into a human.
( 1 )Hera ventures into the human world.
( 8 ) Hera and the Prince live happily ever after.
( 6 ) Prince Erichas to marry Princess Gloria.
( 2 ) Herafalls in love with the Prince at first sight.
( 5 ) Prince Erictakes good care of Hera at the palace.
( 7) Hera’strue love moves the Sea King and the Witch.
( 3 ) Heraasks for help from the Witch of the Sea.
4. Print out COPYMASTER 2 for the class.In Part 1, encourage pupils to interpret thefairy tale in their own way by thinkingof answers to the guiding questionsas they watch the programme.Theguiding questions are as follows:
a. Do you think Hera is old enough to take care of herself?
b. Should Hera talk to her father about her wish?
c. Should Hera give up hope of getting the Prince’s love?
d. What could a mermaid do to win a human’s love?
e. What makes Hera strong enough to stand the pain?
f. Could it be her true love for the Prince?
g. Do you think Prince Eric should marry Princess Gloria even though he does not love her?
h. What choice does Hera have- to live or to kill the one she loves?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Pupils should be encouraged to discuss and analyse the story in groups and thenpresent their own thoughts andexplanations in class.
Most fairy tales have a lesson to teach.In Part 2, ask pupils to write down what they have learnt from this fairy tale. Their answers could be about the character traits and actions of Hera and her ways of solving problems.
5. Encouragepupils to sing along to the lyrics in COPYMASTER 3.
COPYMASTER 1
THE MERMAID
Part 1a
How manycharacters are there in the programme? Write down their names.
______
______
Part 1b
Who are the main characters of this programme?Which character do you like
most? Why?
______
Part 2
Where does the story take place?
______
Part 3
Can you retell the story? Put the sentences in order. The first one has been done.
( ) Hera turns into a human.
( 1 ) Hera ventures into the human world.
( ) Hera and the Prince live happily ever after.
( ) Prince Eric has to marry Princess Gloria.
( ) Hera falls in love with the Prince at first sight.
( ) Prince Eric takes good care of Hera at the palace.
( ) Hera’s love moves the Sea King and the Witch.
( ) Hera asks for help from the Witch of the Sea.
COPYMASTER 2
THE MERMAID
Part 1
Think and Discuss
a. Do you think Hera is old enough to take care of herself?
b. Should Hera talk to her father about her wish?
c. Should Hera give up the hope of getting the Prince’s love?
d. What could a mermaid do to win a human’s love?
e. What makes Hera strong enough to stand the pain?
f. Could it be her true love for the Prince?
g. Do you think Prince Eric should marry Princess Gloria even though he does not love her?
h. What choice does Hera have- to live or to kill the one she loves?
Part 2
What did you learn from this story?
______
______
______
COPYMASTER 3
THE MERMAID
Sing along
My heart is beating fast
With a strange feeling for
A human I’ve never known before
Could he be the one whom
I can trust and love?
1