Rational: 

The great quality about fairytales is that they all, for the most part, align with a book. Every activity can also double as an experience with literature. Kindergarteners really enjoy the simple plot lines and predictable ending that go along with fairytales, and it is a topic with stories the students can relate to.

Objective: 

My goals is create activities that meet the national and local standards that are fun and interesting to the students. I focus primarily on math and literature, but there are activities involving communication, poetry, and art which all bring out creativity for the kindergarteners.

Table of Contents:

This blog includes:

1. A List of Math and Literacy activities to use throughout the unit
2. 10 Fairytale books that relate to the theme
3. Poems and Songs
4. Math Center
5. Literacy Center
6. Art Project
7. Communication Tool
8. Detailed Literature and Vocabulary  project
9. Letter recognition and formation activity
10. Chart Project
11. Detailed Math Project

 

Math:

1. Count by characters

http://owensfamily-gwyn.blogspot.com/

This activity would work to help them practice their counting. I would get them safety pins to mark the correct answers.

2. Build a castle with pattern blocks

https://mathgeekmama.com/using-pattern-blocks-to-create-cinderellas-castle/

This is a fun hands-on activity that introduces how shapes fit into other shapes. For example, two trapezoids makes one hexagon

3.  Jack and the Beanstalk measure center

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Measurement-272320

For this center or activity, I would lay out multiple sizes of cut out beanstalks and have the kids measure them using blocks. On the back of the beanstalk I would write the correct number of blocks for them to check their work.

4. Gem 10 frame  

https://www.prekinders.com/fairy-tales-theme/

This activity seems fairly simple, but every princess or prince needs his crown! Help the kindergarteners learn sequencing and visual representation of numbers through the gems.

5. Pig Builders Place Value

https://planningplaytime.com/place-value-worksheets

This activity is beneficial to introduce place values and to recognize that ten ones equals one bundle that represents the tens place. This is a very difficult concept for kids to understand because it is difficult to explain. This activity can help.

 

Literacy

1. Defining the Fairytale 

https://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorner123/2012/11/fairy-tale-unit/

The kindergarteners will probably have heard of the word fairytale before from their parents or anyone who likes to read to them. However, do they really know why it is considered a fairytale? As a class, make a list with all the elements of a fairytale.

2. Magic Wand Reading Pointers

https://creativefamilyfun.net/magic-wand-reading-pointers/

This tool can make for a good art project too. As the kids work alone they can use these to guide their reading, or if they are struggling in small group, you can suggest they get their reading pointer to help them stay on track.

3. Fairy Dust Sensory Writing Tray 

https://theimaginationtree.com/sensory-writing-in-fairy-dust-literacy-activity/

This activity can help the class practice writing their letters in a hands on fashion.

4. Little Red Riding Hood Sequencing 

https://tickledpinkinprimary.com/2018/03/fairytalesactivities.html

Pictures are a great way for kids to recall what has been read to them. This activity will help with comprehension along with sequencing

5. Story puzzle

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fairy-Tale-and-Nursery-Rhyme-Puzzles-2561000

This story puzzle will allow the kindergarteners to practice their reading and check their work on sequencing by fitting the pieces together.

 

 

In this section I tried to find books that related to projects I had done for other activities or poems mentioned on this blog. Almost every fairytale goes with a book, so hopefully literature can fit into any activities you do in relation to fairytales.

1.Cinderella by Ruth Sanderson 

Cinderella is a classic story of how hard work and kindness can pay off. This book follows the story that we all know that is appropriate for children. I would introduce this book while introducing the fairytale unit because it has many qualities that make a fairytale unique.

2. Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinky 

Little Red Riding Hood teaches lessons about talking to strangers and justice. I would introduce this story while we were talking about other life lessons that are important for the kindergarteners to know.

3. Rapunzel by John O. Zelinsky 

Rapunzel is another class princess fairytale. This would be a good book to introduce to the students during an art project. That could imagine what they would want in their “tallest” tower.

4. Jack and the Beanstalk by E. Nesbit

In this book Jack outsmarts a giant, and allows for a good conversation about the difference between being clever and being naughty. This could be introduced during a science unit about plants or to enhance the art project featured on this blog.

5. The Gingerbread Man by Eric A. Kimmel 

This book matches the math center I chose to feature. The gingerbread man runs from his home and eventually meets his demise to a fox. The moral of the story is to not trust strangers and to follow the rules. I would introduce it when the kindergarteners need a reminder on when to follow the rules.

6. Humpty Dumpty and other nursery rhymes by Lucy Cousins

Humpty Dumpty is a nursery rhyme that is easy for kids to memorize and understand. It provides a basic message of personal safety. I would introduce this book during the letter recognition activity or if there was a unit on safety.

7. Marguerite de Angeli’s book of nursery and Mother Goose rhymes by Marguerite de Angeli

This book gives a wide variety of nursery rhymes that are easy for kids to understand. I would read these short stories periodically throughout the unit and sometimes let the special helper for the day choose which story they would like to read. It is a good way to use up extra time.

8. Goldilocks and the Three Bears by  Jim Aylesworth

Goldilocks provides example of what is appropriate when visiting other people’s homes. I would introduce this book while talking about family and friendship because it could lead to a discussion about kindness and fairness.

9. Snow White by Josephine Poole 

Snow White is another example of a classic princess story. There are many lessons that are valuable for kids and Snow White teaches about chores, friendship, and love. I would introduce this book at the beginning of the unit since many kids will be familiar with the story.

10. Hanzel and Gretel by Robert Koehler

This book teaches lessons about what it means to be greedy. It would also require a follow up discussion of what to actually do in a scary situation. I would introduce this book with the involvement of a writing activity or an art activity.

1. If I could be a Fairy now by unknown by Unknown 

http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/betty_bobby_and_bubbles/pages/betty_bobby_bubbles09.htm

This poem is great because you can ask the Kindergarteners what they would do if they were a fairy. It talks about how they would learn about flowers and bees and other parts of nature. I would introduce this poem with a discussion about either nature or the seasons.

2. Gingerbread by Unknown 

https://www.mrsrichardsonsclass.com/gingerbread-classroom-ideas-and-a-freebie/

This poem is all about how to make gingerbread men! This would be great to share around the holiday time or with a cooking unit. I would introduce the poem after reading the gingerbread men book to the class and ask them about their holiday traditions.

3. A Cinderella Song by Liz’s Early Learning Spot to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

http://www.lizs-early-learning-spot.com/make-awesomely-effective-literacy-bags/

This song is a basic summary of the tale of Cinderella. When introducing the fairytale unit, kids often think of princesses such as Cinderella and snow white. This would be a good song to teach them to get into the spirit of the unit. I would start by asking them what some of their favorite fairytales are.

4. Fairy tale song by Unknown 

http://firstgradewow.blogspot.com/2013/10/cinderella.html

This song is featured on my chart project. For that, I presented it as a poem, but it could also by a song sung to the tune of jingle bells. Of course, it would be most appropriate to sing this around the holiday season, it is still a fun song that includes many fairytales. I would introduce this song at either the beginning or the end of the unit.

5. Egg by Unknown 

Although this is not directly a fairytale poem, it relates to humpty dumpty. The egg wonders what he will be when he will hatch, just as the kids wonder what they will be when they grow up. This opens up the door to a conversation about who they think humpty dumpty was before he sat on the wall and fell. Then, you could talk about life span and what the kids want to do in their life times.

6. In a Little Princess

This poem can introduce the theme of bravery and it also allows for a potential princess/prince dress up party. This would be a good poem to introduce when you are talking about themes from another fairy tale. I would introduce this by talking about the qualities and traits of a princess or prince.

7. The Three Bears 

This song gives an overview of The Three Little Bears. This can bring up a conversation about morals. I would introduce the song by talking about what is appropriate when you are visiting someone else’s house.

8. Jack and the Beanstalk

This is a good introduction song to Jack and the Beanstalk that would be a good transition into the art project prepared on this blog. It is also good for basic sequencing. I would introduce this song in the terms of plants and the structure of plants.

9. The Frog Prince

This introduces the concept of unlikely friends. It also opens up many doors to various art projects for the class. I would introduce this poem by talking about friendships and what makes a good or a bad friend.

10. Do Not Talk to Strangers

As the title implies, this take on Little Red Riding Hood focuses on how she should not talk to the wolf in the woods and how Granny looked suspicious in bed. Not talking to strangers is a good lesson for kids to learn, and I would introduce this poem by talking about what situations it is okay to talk to strangers if any.

 

Rationale

This gingerbread man activity, like all others in the fairytale unit, goes with a book, but it will also get the kids in the Holiday spirit. The kindergarteners can either start by cutting and coloring their own gingerbread man, or you can make and laminate one for the whole class to use at the center. It is a good activity for practicing quantity and counting.

Materials

• paper gingerbread man
• pebbles/markers
• one or two dice (depending on the skill level)

Motivation

Hello Kindergarteners! Has anyone ever made gingerbread man cookies at home before? We are adding a new math center today that revolves around a gingerbread man today! We are going to play a game either alone or with a partner, and we are going to make sure the gingerbread man has the right amount of buttons on his outfit.

Steps

1. Cut and laminate a paper gingerbread man (or the kids can make their own at a different center)
2. Roll the dice and identify what number was rolled
3. Count the same amount of pebbles/markers and put them on the gingerbread man as buttons
4. Check your work by counting the number of dots on the dice and the number of buttons on the gingerbread man. They should be the same.

Bibliography

Edwards, Emma. “Gingerbread Man Addition Game.” Adventures and Play, 5 Mar. 2017, adventuresandplay.com/gingerbread-man-addition-game/.

 

Letter Wands!

Rational

This project is not only great for letter recognition, but it also helps with letter sounds and word recognition. The kindergarteners get the chance to explore the classroom and practice various activities with letters in the form of a game or individual practice. These “letter wands” or “sticks” can be used for a variety of activities.

Materials

• popsicle sticks
• letters
• jar

Motivation

Hello Kindergarteners! We have been working really hard on learning our letter sounds, and we are going to continue to practice with our new center. Either by yourself or with a partner, you will draw a wand from the jar and complete the activities listed on the side.

Steps

1. Draw a “wand” from the jar
2. identify the letter
3. identify the sound
4. (optional) think of a word that starts with this letter
5. (optional) find an object in the room that starts with this letter, and walk around the class if needed.

Bibliography

“Reading and Writing Around the Room.” BALANCEDLITERACYDIET :: Index :: Balanced Literacy Diet, University of Toronto, http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/balancedliteracydiet/Recipe/50327/.

Rational: 

This project can easily go along with a literature lesson with Jack and the Bean Stock. The kids will make their own bean stock and castle out of various household materials. Additionally, this project could also go with a science lesson and have the kids grow a real plant for a while instead of using a paper towel roll. Have the kids write about what their castle would look like if they were a giant who lived in the sky. Have them use their imagination and talk about their projects with the other students

Materials: 

• Paper towel roll or pre grown plant
• Light and dark green construction paper
• Small paper plate
• Cotton Balls
• Pre cut paper castle to color

Motivation:

Hello Kindergarteners, today we are going to read about Jack and the Bean stock and learn about what it means to be greedy. Has anyone read this book before? What do you think will happen to the boy and the bean stock? Jack meets a giant who lives in the sky in this book which teaches him a valuable lesson. Today we are going to make our own bean stock and castle. Think about how you would design your castle and what color you would paint it as we read. 

Steps:

1. Cover paper towel roll with various shades of green construction paper
2. Attach (pre cut by the teacher) leaves using green paper
3. Color in your castle and glue it onto the bottom for the paper plate
4. attach cotton balls all around the castle to look like a cloud
5. Attach the paper plate to the bean stock
   1. This might require hot glue, if this is the case have this step be done by the teacher

Alternatively the kids could have done a science lesson on plants several weeks earlier if their plants are tall enough, they could attach their plate to a small wooden dowel and place it in the pot with the plant to look like a bean stock.

Bibliography:

Kelly. “Jack & the Bean Stalk – Gardening with Kids.” Be A Fun Mum, http://www.beafunmum.com/2015/07/jack-the-bean-stalk-gardening-with-kids/.

Rational: 

This is a Take Home Wand and Binder with activities the kids need to complete. Every week the magic wand will “choose” a student to take the binder home for the weekend. The students will choose a fairytale from a given list to read with their parents. Next, they will have two literacy worksheets to complete and then one project of their choice to explain the book to the class.

Materials: 

• Binder
• Sequencing worksheet
• “What I Learned/My Favorites” worksheet
• Wand

Motivation

“Happy Friday Kindergarteners! Today the wand will choose another student to take home the fairytale binder. Remember we have been studying fairytales and how they teach us all kinds of valuable lessons! Try not to choose a book that someone else has already done and ask your parents for help. This project is super fun and you get to read a great book! Do we have any volunteer? Bippity Boppity Boo, The wand chooses you!”

Description 

In a binder, you will assemble a description of the project and a long list of potential fairytales that the students can easily have access to. Put this sheet in a cover slip so it stays nice and only one copy is necessary. Behind this sheet, have multiple sections (one for each student) each with the following pages in it: one sequencing sheet that describes the setting and series of events, a “what I learned/my favorites” sheet that describes the lessons the students learned and their favorite character and part of the book (allow the students to either write or draw their responses), and a final sheet that has a list of projects they could do to describe the story to the class. In my example, I gave the ideas of a puppet show, bringing five items that relate to the book, a parent could come read the book to the class, etc.

Bibliography

This was a self created project.

Book Title:

The Three Little Pigs by Barry Moser

This book takes the classic story of the three little pigs and makes it interesting for kids. He adds his own personal touches and develops a relationship with the mother pig as well.

Rational: 

Fairytales lend themselves to rhyme, and this is a very difficult concept for kindergarteners to learn. As the teacher, you will read the book to the students and talk about themes and lessons. Then, go over the vocabulary listed below. Next, use the rhyme cards to start teaching the children this element of literature. For this project, I used rhymes such as pig with dig and straw with draw.

Materials:

•  The Three Little Pigs story
• Rhyme cards
• Vocabulary Cards
• Clothes pins

Vocabulary

• Beware: to be cautious of danger
• Gobbled: to eat noisily
• Scampered: to run with light steps
• Orchard: land with fruit trees
• Chimney: allows smoke to leave a fire place

One way to teach these vocabulary words in by making cards. One side will have the vocabulary word on it and the other side will have the definition. It would also be helpful to highlight these words in the book and have a picture on the front side of the card.

A second way of teaching these vocabulary words is to stop on the pages where these words are located and ask them questions while you are reading.

Steps: 

1. Read the children the Story
2. Go over themes and lessons
3. Go over Vocabulary
4. Have the kids Clothes pin the correct rhyming word on each rhyme card

Bibliography: 

This was a self created project.

   

Rational: 

In kindergarten, the kids focus on letter recognition and formation. It is impossible to continue learning without a background in recognizing the letters. This game helps students match Upper Case and Lower Case Letters. The kids can also practice how it feels to write the letters by tracing them with their fingers.

Description:

Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, all the kings horses and men could not put Humpty together again. However, what was inside Mr. Dumpty? In our Case it was letters. The kids will crack open plastic eggs to reveal an upper or lower case letter. As the game progresses the students will need to match the two letters together and also put the letters in order.

Motivation

Let the kids know that they have been doing a great job learning their letters and now they are going to be challenged to a new activity based off of Humpty Dumpty. Make sure the kids know the story by taking some time to read it to them!

Materials

• 52 Plastic Eggs
• Upper and Lower case letters

Steps

1. Find a way to print out upper and lower case letters on paper, wood, or anything solid
2. Cut out the letters as necessary
3. Put one letter in a plastic egg
4. Mix up the eggs and put them in a basket
5. Let the kids take turns drawing the eggs
6. As the draw the eggs they need to trace the letter with their finger and put them in alphabetical order.
   1. The kids can also say the sound of the letter too if they are ready for that challenge
   2. For variation you can have the kids build a wall from blocks and stack the eggs until they fall and crack
7. There is no winner to this game, but achievement when they complete the game

Bibliography

Editor. “Humpty Dumpty Letter Crack.” Pre-K Pages, 20 Feb. 2018, https://www.pre-kpages.com/humpty-dumpty-letter-crack/.