• The hero is usually the main character. But in many fairy tales, especially those with female main characters, the hero who actually completes the task is another person, usually male. In the case of Sleeping Beauty, the main character is the Princess Aurora. The person who performs the task and solves the problem is the prince. In tales such as Jack in the Beanstalk, the male hero is both the main character and the problem solver.
• The love story usually involves royalty, and sometimes involves a mismatch between a poor peasant and a prince or princess. It also usually, as in Sleeping Beauty, involves love at first sight. In this case, one of the pair isn't even awake before the love has been declared.
• The villain is an almost universal element. In this case, it is the bad fairy Melificent.
• The task is usually to save the princess from the villain or to defeat the villain in some way.
• The solution is usually an act of strength and bravery by the hero, and often involves the use of a magical element or help from a magical character.
• The prize is the happiness or good thing to be gained at the end. Sometimes, it is treasure. Very often, it is marriage to a beautiful princess.

Guided Practice
Guide students to figure out how the elements are portrayed in the story of The Moon Bowl. Then, help students compare and contrast the elements of The Moon Bowl with the elements from the example story. What do students think The Moon Bowl might be making fun of about traditional fairy tales? For instance, you may ask students if the hero really solved the problem with his own cleverness. How was the villain an evil person? Or was he?

Independent Practice
Allow students to complete the worksheet. If they have difficulty, you may wish to draw the group together and discuss how the story might make fun of fairy tales. 

Evaluate Stereotypes
Introduce students to the idea of stereotypes, or simplified ideas we have about other groups of people. Explain that stereotypes try to make many different people look the same. They also are often uncomplimentary and inaccurate.

• Ask students what the women in fairy tales are normally like. Ask them what the men are normally like. Are fairy tales realistic portraits of men and women, boys and girls?
• Ask students what the people in the kingdom say about the woman on the moon. Why do they think that about women? Is it right to think that way about a large group of people?
• Who is actually on the moon? What does this prove about stereotypes and preconceived notions?