Fairy tale magic

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By Robert Watts Curriculum Coordinator for Art and Design Education at Roehampton University, London.

Fairy tales can provide the inspiration to explore a whole range of materials through practical and creative activities

Objectives

QCA Links

Art Unit 1B: Investigating materials.

Science Unit 1C: Sorting and using materials; Unit 2D:

Grouping and changing materials.

Design and technology Unit 1A: Moving pictures.

Once upon a time, a creative project inspired by fairy tales might have meant colouring in pictures of Prince Charming planting a smacker on Sleeping Beauty’s lips. But with a little planning, fairy tales can inspire a wide range of creative activities, ensuring that from now on, your lessons are sure to have happy endings…

The following project aims to bring fairy tales to life by making scenery, props and figures relating to the characters, plots and themes of the stories. The children will enjoy developing their understanding of the properties of materials when creating magic carpets, masks, forests and towers.

Begin each activity by sharing a range of illustrations from the tales, both traditional and contemporary. The children can point out the similarities and differences between different versions, and the det ails of the pictures should provide them with useful information for their practical work.