a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

a lesson that can be learnt from a story or experience

ways in which girls and boys might be expected to behave differently

a person who is the first to do something; an innovator

Exploring themes in 'Mulan'

English

Understanding the genre of 'Mulan'

Engaging with the legend of 'Mulan'

Building comprehension of 'Mulan' through rich discussions

Developing a character profile for 'Mulan'

In Moon Dragons’, children will encounter a female protagonist who also has to defy authority and challenge female stereotypes.’

In The Children of Lir’, pupils read a traditional tale from Ireland. In ’Mulan’, children will develop their understanding of the features of traditional tales and draw comparisons between their reading. ’

In this unit, pupils read and explore the legend of 'Mulan'. They discuss folklore as a genre and build comprehension around the text. Finally, pupils will explore the key themes and the moral of the text.

'Mulan': reading

consider the deeper meaning or overall message

Which of the following themes are explored in the story of 'Mulan'?

a person who is the first to do something

Girls and boys are not meant to do the same things

A person's abilities should not be judged based on their gender or appearance

Showing courage and mental strength helps us to overcome difficulties

It is always important to follow the rules

Defying expectations may be scary, but sometimes it is the right thing to do

Which morals might we infer from the story of 'Mulan'?

a piece of interesting information from a story

a lesson that can be learnt from a story 

understanding exactly what the author is saying without having to think about it

searching for clues within the text and the illustrations to draw conclusions

What problem was Mulan's country facing in the story?

True or false? During the time the story of 'Mulan' is set, girls and boys were treated the same way.

Which character traits did Mulan show in order to succeed in her quest?

the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery

the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions

having a firm goal and remaining committed to it

Match the character traits Mulan showed to their definition.

Exploring themes in 'Mulan'

Lesson outcome