Fairy Tale Hop

Activity Overview

In this magical game, children will have the opportunity to imitate characters and creatures from their favorite storybook classics! Jumping on picture cards that correspond with fairy tale creatures, children will identify their corresponding actions and play the game until they have reached the end of the adventure.

What You Need

• Fairy Tale Picture Cards

• Scissors

Steps

1. Print and cut each individual Fairy Tale Picture Card then place them in a line on the floor or scattered throughout the room. The layout is up to the student - just make sure they’re close enough for jumping!

2. With your student, explain the rules of the game: They hop on a picture card and act out the fairy tale character’s actions. When they’re done with the card, they hop to the next, until all picture cards have been completed!

3. Play along! Model the actions on each card before having the student complete the action (Jump like a frog, spin like a royal, kneel like a knight)

Guiding Questions

• How do we hop like a frog? How do we kneel like a knight?

• What does spinning like a royal look like?

• What other actions might the characters do?

Extensions

• The game can be played multiple times. After the child has memorized each action and understands how to do them, they can play the game without modeling from their adult.

• If your student enjoys acting out movements, read From Head to Toe by Eric Carle and imitate the animal motions. Then go on a bear hunt with Michael Rosen!

• Lots of fairy tales and characters in the stories have traditionally gendered roles. To combat these stereotypes, read The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch before or after the activity, and start a discussion about the idea that not all fairy tale characters fit that narrative.