Fun Ways to Teach Fairy Tales
Once upon a time…you had to teach fairy tales. Find out how to present an engaging lesson on fairy tales.
Why We Should Teach Fairy Tales
Fairy tales are worth teaching!
All fairy tales are short stories belonging to the folklore genre (even Taylor Swift finds that inspirational).
Fairy tales’ closest literary cousins include legends and fables.
The difference is that legends arise from believing that the events may have happened, and fables have a strictly moral purpose.
Most cultures have myths and fairy tales. Some are quite old and find their roots in oral tradition (spoken from generation to generation).
Learning the fairy tales of various cultures can give you insight into the values and lifestyles of people around the world.
Although we now consider fairy tales entertainment for children, this has not always been the case.
Until the last couple of centuries, children and adults alike were the primary audience for fairy tales.
For more on teaching fairy tales (and a list of fairy tales every kid should know), click here.
Read on to be ready for February 26, Tell a Fairy Tale Day.
The Qualities of a Fairy Tale
Fairy tales are common to nearly all cultures, although every fairy tale has certain traits.
It’s Short
By definition, a fairy tale is a short story. Many are less than a thousand words.
It’s Set in an Unreal World
Some fairy tales are explicitly set in “a land far, far away.”
Fairy tales may also be set in a past time not grounded in history.
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It Has Magic and Enchantment
Magic is a defining feature of fairy tales.
Spells and enchantments are commonplace in fairy tales.
It Has Talking Animals and/or Mythical Beings
Talking animals and mythical creatures (like ogres, dragons, and giants) are often featured in fairy tales.
Good and Evil Are Clearly Defined
Although some modern fairy tales twist this convention (think Shrek and Wicked), traditional fairy tales leave no doubt about who the protagonist and the antagonist are.
Typically, fairy tales have a “young innocent” as the protagonist (think Snow White or Jack and the Beanstalk).
There Is Transformation
Transformation can often be literal in fairy tales: think of Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella.
It may also be a drastic change in circumstances, from poor to rich or commoner to royalty.
Fun Ways to Teach Fairy Tales
You can teach fairy tales to kids using these fun activities.
Fairy Tale Redux
Read a fairy tale to students and then have them retell it with the fewest possible words (while still retaining the required fairy tale elements).
The Fairy Tale Play
Read a fairy tale and then act it out! You can assign characters and use costumes and props to make it extra fun!
The Fairy Tale Mystery Bag
Fill a bag with props that a fairy tale might include.
These could include everyday household objects (like a handheld brom), stuffed animals, clothing items (like a hat), food items (like an apple or a bag of dried beans), or costume jewelry.
Have students draw a few items from the bag and compose a fairy tale inspired by the items.
Fairy Tale Escape Room
After reading some classic fairy tales together, design an escape room of puzzles and activities related to the stories.
Fairy Tale Mad Libs
Try these Fairy Tale Mad Libs to create hilarious twists on classic tales.
Fairy Tale Puppet Theater
Create hand puppets with paper bags or socks and stage a puppet theater retelling of a fairy tale.
Students can perform it for family and friends or a group of younger children.
Reconstruct the Story
Help students develop their reading/listening comprehension by putting the story events in order after they read or hear the fairy tale.
You can do this with a list or with pictures. It’s a perfect post-reading activity.
Walk the Story
Tell a fairy tale on the move!
When the characters travel, you travel.
To make the retelling even more interesting, plan props at your different destinations (even if your destinations are all in the same room).
Play Minute to Win-It Style Fairy Tale Games
Enhance your lesson on various fairy tales by designing a game or activity incorporating a story element.
For instance, you can create tiny houses with toothpicks, popsicle sticks, and Legos for the Three Little Pigs.
You can do relay races involving dried beans on spoons for Jack and the Beanstalk.
You can play a shoe-matching game for Cinderella.
Turn a Fairy Tale into a News Article
Have students write a news article based on the fairy tale. Titles could be “Glass Slipper Found!” or “Gingerbread Man Causes Town Riot.”
Design an Ending
Read an unfamiliar fairy tale to the students and stop halfway through. Let kids compose their own endings.
(Consider using fairy tales from other countries.)
They can draw, write, or say what they think will happen next.
Fairy Tale Lessons and Activities
Teaching fairy tales will end with “happily ever after” when you include their literary structure, read aloud fun genre examples, and add engaging activities.
