Chapin Pre-K students are entering the land of make believe to explore a treasure trove of time-honored traditional fairy tales for the very young. While listening and acting out these charming adventures, students are involved in many character-building lessons along the way. For example, after reading Little Red Riding Hood they had the opportunity to engage in a non-threatening discussion of why it is so important to heed parents' warnings and stay clear of strangers.
Sometimes the most delightfully unexpected things arise out of our discussions. The teachers were quite surprised that one of the lessons the children took from the story,
Goldilocks and the Three Bears was that the bears should have protected their own property by locking their door when they left the house!
This creative unit helps children develop their story-telling skills and increase their oral vocabulary, while learning the components of this genre. While retelling the tales, the little ones work together in small groups, build confidence as they learn to perform in front of others, and learn to be respectful members of an audience. Most importantly, though, they are encouraged to use their unique imaginations and share their talents with their classmates.
To culminate the unit, students create a story box creating a scene from the book that acts as a visual aid when they dress up as a character and present their fairy tale to their parents at the Fairy Tale Friday Celebration.