Fairy Tales

Pre-Reading Activity:

  • List the names of as many "fairy tales" as you can remember.

  • Why are they called "fairy" tales?

  • What do children love them, but eventually grow out of them?

  • Why are they still important?

  • Why are they still read?

  • How have they influenced culture/childhood today?

Individual Preparation:

  • Read five different fairy tales with your group. Use these websites to find your stories:

  • OR you can choose to read one larger work.Click here for suggestions / possibilities.

  • Summarize each of these stories (in a way that best suits you: visually, bullet points, retell story) on the front side of a large poster paper. Choose one of these options to summarize at least TEN different parts of the story:

    • Bullet Points

    • Paragraph retelling story

    • Pictures with Captions

    • Comic Strip

    • Journal from character's perspective

  • Compare and contrast these three fairy tales on a large poster in your choice of an illustrated Bubble map, 3 column notes, or Venn diagram.

  • Choose and analyze one fairy tales in three different ways; however, one interpretation must be your own original interpretation. See this page for some possible interpretations.

Original Creation:

  • Create your own fairy tale to present in class and hopefully give to your own children.

  • Write a myth by choosing one of these inspirations:

    • Write it about a common theme of fairy tales you read

    • Write it in the style of someone you read

    • Write it about the characters of a fairy tale in a different situation

    • Reinterpret an fairy tale with a different outcome

    • Write an original fairy tale for our time--represent our cultural values for years to come.

  • This can be a group or individual assignment.

  • Presentation Mediums:

    • Illustrated Book

    • Movie

    • Comic/Manga

    • Children's Theater/Puppet Show

    • Glogster

    • Animoto

    • Movie Maker

    • ???