Number the Stars: Fairy Tales & Little Red Riding Hood--Story-Within-a-Story

Number the Stars: Fairy Tales & Little Red Riding HoodStory-Within-a-Story Connections Gallery | Grades 5–8

Help students explore why Lois Lowry repeatedly weaves Little Red Riding Hood into Number the Stars. This no-prep literary analysis lesson guides students beyond simply noticing the fairy-tale references to investigate how the familiar story connects to Annemarie’s dangerous journey and deepens the meaning of the novel.

Students trace specific fairy-tale connections, examine textual evidence, compare the fairy tale’s danger with the much more complicated realities of Annemarie’s world, and consider why a familiar children’s story can help readers process frightening historical events. Groups then transform their research into a Story-Within-a-Story Connections Gallery.

Included
- Teacher Directions & Student Overview
- Mini Research Questions & Online Resources
- 5-Step Group Activity
- 3 Research, Analysis & Planning Pages
- Connections Gallery Panel Templates
- Color + Black-and-White Student Pages

Why Teachers Love This
- No prep and ready to use
- Designed for 1–2 class periods of 45–60 minutes
- Moves students from identifying connections to deeper literary analysis
- Focuses on author’s craft, textual evidence, symbolism, and story-within-a-story technique
- Combines individual research with collaborative analysis
- Provides ready-to-use gallery panels for planning or the final product

Perfect For
- Number the Stars novel studies
- Author’s craft lessons
- Theme and symbolism analysis
- Textual evidence practice
- Literature circles
- Collaborative projects

Important Disclaimer
This is an independently created educational resource designed to accompany the novel Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. It is not affiliated with, authorized by, endorsed by, or sponsored by Lois Lowry, the publisher of Number the Stars, or any related rights holder.
Number the Stars and its characters, storylines, settings, and other elements originating from the novel remain the intellectual property of their respective copyright holders. Little Red Riding Hood is referenced as a traditional fairy tale for educational and literary-analysis purposes.
No part of Number the Stars is reproduced or included in this resource, and this product is not intended to replace the novel. Students and teachers must have access to legally obtained copies of Number the Stars to complete activities requiring reading, textual evidence, or reference to the text.
Purchase of this resource does not include a copy of the novel and does not grant permission to reproduce, distribute, scan, upload, or otherwise share the novel. References to its characters, events, themes, and literary techniques are included solely for educational instruction, literary analysis, discussion, and classroom activities.