Fairytales in K–2: Cross-Curricular Ideas that Work

Fairytales are timeless stories that have been loved by children for many years – and for good reason!

They spark imagination, help children make sense of the world around them and create plenty of “what if?” moments which fuel their creativity and critical thinking. Fairytales also provide a memorable and exciting way to connect learning across different subjects, while allowing all children to learn in different ways; through words, movement, art or play.

Drama:

Drama is an effective way to help students step directly into the world of fairytales. Through using interactive storytelling, dressing up as characters and using their imagination, children can step inside a story and learn in a more immersive way. They won’t just be listening to a story – they will live it!  The Drama Toolbox’s Fairytale Fiasco! incursion allows  the children to step directly into an exciting new fairytale where witches, wolves, dragons, mice and more are all muddled up in a fractured story, and the children must put things back to normal!

They get the opportunity to:

• Become part of the story through role-play and improvisation.
• Build confidence by performing as different characters.
• Work together to problem-solve and create a “happily ever after”.

English:

Fairytales are a perfect starting point for children’s creative writing journey. They will need to expand their imagination, play with language and build empathy to write these twists into classic fairytale stories.

Students can:

• Rewrite stories with a twist… (what if Grandma scared off the wolf?)
• Insert characters into different stories (what if Goldilocks wandered into the story of Hansel and Gretel?)
• Tell stories from a different perspective (how would the story of Jack and the Beanstalk be different from the Giant’s perspective?)

Visual Arts:

Art is a fun and interactive way to bring the magic of fairytales to life! Some creative art project ideas could include:

• Making puppets and using them to retell a story.
• Designing fairytale settings like castles and cottages.
• Crafting magic wands or crowns.

History:

Fairytales are often rooted in the past which makes them an exciting and creative way to explore history. Some ideas for using fairytales in a history lesson could include:

• Comparing castles and cottages with modern homes.
• Comparing horse drawn carriages with today’s cars.
• Exploring different fairytales from around the world to see how different countries and cultures tell stories.

Science and Maths:

Science and maths classes can also join in the fun of fairytales with experiments and activities such as:

• Building the three pigs’ houses and testing them against the huff and puff of the wolf (a fan).
• Go on a treasure hunt using maps and directional clues.
• Make predictions and track results in fun, story-based experiments.

By weaving fairytales across different KLAs, students are given rich entry points to explore, connect, and deepen their learning. Experiences like our Fairytale Fiasco! incursion transform these timeless stories into dynamic opportunities for imagination, creativity, and growth making even the oldest tales feel fresh and exciting for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 learners.

Eliza Pascoe, Drama Teacher