Bubba the Cowboy Prince

 This Texas Cinderella story is great for teaching compare/contrast. Get students to list the differences/likenesses to Cinderella. 
Creative Writing

After reading Bubba, read a few other fractured fairy tales, then ask the kids to try writing their own fractured fairy tales.  Because some children are initially intimidated at the thought of writing a story themselves, try writing a fractured fairy tale as a group first.

a) get several suggestions for a tale

b) get suggestions for various ways to rewrite the story - put it in a different setting, a different culture, retell from a different point of view, etc 
 c) talk about language, how you can adapt it to add to story - throw out some words that work with new slant, get suggestions from kids, try some puns, get playful with the language

d) then divide the class up into groups of four and let each team write their own story - they can choose from the list on the board, then
illustrate it, act it out, or read it aloud  to the class. Try to getll the kids in each group to participate in the reading!

Ask the students to choose a familiar fairy tale and rewrite it in some way. Another fun thing to do with this story is create a play out of  it. Be sure to use TEXAS accents!

Plan a Wedding for Bubba and Miz Lurleen - Not just ANY wedding - a special, COWBOY wedding!!

A) Design the invitation Bubba and Miz Lurleen would send out to invite everyone to the wedding. What would it look like? Cow spots? Might it be a rope and read, "Bubba and Miz Lurleen are gettin' hitched?" What would it say? Play with the language and make sure it's pure cowboy!

B) What would Miz Lurleen wear? A cowgirl outfit? Would it be all white? A white hat?  White boots? What kind of flowers would she carry? Wildflowers? Texas Bluebonnets?  Sunflowers? What would Bubba wear? A rhinestone cowboy suit? What about a cow  cumberbund?

C) Who would be in the wedding party? Maybe the Fairy Godcow, all dressed up?  How about Bubba's and Miz Lurleen's dogs? Might they carry flower baskets?

D) Think about the wedding vows - write some cowboy vows - Bubba and Miz Lurleen  would be getting Hitched, maybe, or be tying the knot. Bubba might say something like, "I, Bubba, take Miz Lurleen to be my lawful wife. In branding season, in roundup," etc.     Think of all the possibilities!

E) Think about the wedding banquet - figure out some cowboy foods they might have - Steak? Jalapeno peppers? Chili? What else?

F) Music - what kind would they have? Name some of the songs the band might play - make up some names, or use real song names.

G) What kind of gifts might their guests bring them? What are some of the things they could     use around a ranch?