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Author
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Comment
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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/6/02 7:50:12 am)
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Kids' Day 2002- Fairy Tales, Folklore, Myths, etc!
Hello all! Yes, It's that time of year again where I pick your brains for ideas for Take Your Children to Work Day. This year, my company has the following books which seemed appropraite:
Books
Give-aways: The Brothers Grimm: Two Lives, One Legacy
The Three Pigs (Caldecott)
Activity: The Gingerbread Man
The Matzah Man
Here are some of my questions:
1) Activity suggestions for children in Grades 1-6 (1-3, 4-6) as related to fairy tales, folklore, mythology.
2) Age appropriate film recommendations.
3) Snack/no-cook recipe suggestions.
4) Favorite gender-neutral/gender biased activities.
5) Scavenger hunt/quest ideas.
6) Fairy tale/folklore/mythology related music.
7) Variants related to Gingerbread Man in other cultures?
If anyone wants me to, I can post my ideas so far. Can't wait to hear your ideas!
Soft whispers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
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isthmus
nekoi
Registered User
(5/7/02 1:53:44 pm)
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film recommendations
Hope this isn't too late:
The Last Unicorn is a wonderful animated film, although it might be difficult to get your hands on it... Miyazaki films like Kiki's Delivery Service, Totoro My Neighbour are also great, and you can probably find these dubbed.
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Laura
McCaffrey
Registered User
(5/7/02 4:38:15 pm)
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Gingerbread scavenger hunt
Hey Kerrie,
When my daughter entered kindergarten, they did a gingerbread man scavenger hunt through the school. The Gingerbread Man left clues as to where to look for him. The kids followed the clues and got to eat him at the end. She loved it. I think kids in grades 1-3 would be into that kind of game.
Laura Mc
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Marsha
Sisolak
Registered User
(5/8/02 4:38:56 pm)
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Re: Gingerbread scavenger hunt
I've done a similar thing in my kindergarten classroom, Kerri. Each child makes a gingerbread man, decorating their own with whatever things I bring in, and while they're baking, I promise to put the cookies in a safe place. We brainstorm what might be the safest. (So far, the freezer seems to be best, because after all, they would be afraid of jumping and breaking an arm or a leg.) The next day, we discover they're missing, hunt them down (they usually hide in a crowd under the principal's desk), and bring them back to the classroom. Then we graph what part they will eat first. By that point, legs are usually the top choice, although I've had kids say heads because then the gingerbread men wouldn't see where they were going, and they'd be easier to catch.
In other years, we've filed a missing gingerbread men report with the police on our trip there. (It's a small town, so the police play along.) Our large cardboard cutout ran away, and the police brought him back to school because he knew his address.
We also act out this story with simple props. Headbands out of construction paper suffice for the animals. The gingerbread man wears a vest made out of a paperbag and painted with white rickrack.
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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/9/02 7:37:14 am)
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Ideas and permission request...
Thanks for the ideas so far! The event is on June 21, so keep them coming!
Terri and Heidi- May I use samplers of your sites (Forum page for Endicott and front page for SurLaLune) for a general Fairy Tale reference document? I'd like to show all of the topics available to us. If you like, I can forward you the document I created for your approval. Let me know.
Soft whispers and calley blossoms,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 5/9/02 8:50:53 am
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Heidi
Anne Heiner
ezOP
(5/9/02 10:58:04 am)
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Re: Ideas and permission request...
Yes, Kerrie, you have permission to use my site. I don't have many ideas for the day. Are you focusing solely on fairy tales during the day or on other children's literature, too?
I did use a great Princess and the Pea craft with my preschool group a few months ago. It has been one of the more popular crafts--and inspired a few parents to have split pea soup for dinner for some reason. I would be happy to scan the materials and send them to you.
Heidi
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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/17/02 9:16:40 am)
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Frames and pots...
Thanks Heidi!
The day's theme is going to be Publishing: Then and Now, and I'm trying to keep the afternoon activities relating to fairy tales, folklore, myth, etc. It seems that the activities will be decorating a picture frame and/or flower pot. I can think of lots relating to stories re: the pots:
Seed potting activity (as mentioned on the BB)
* Sunflowers (East of the Sun, West of the Moon)
* Moonflowers (same)
* Beans (Jack and the Beanstalk)
* Sweet Peas (Princess and the Pea)
* Rampion (a kind of lettuce- Rapunzel)
* Apple seeds (Snow White, Atalanta and the Golden Apples)
* Pumpkin seeds (Cinderella)
The frame idea has me baffled though. So far, M. Pepper and I have come up with the role of mirrors (reflecting one's image, as a photo can do) and superstitions that some people believe you should never have your image captured by photo or portrait (did I get that right?). Any other thoughts?
More to come! Life has me swamped!
Soft whispers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
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Jess
Unregistered User
(5/17/02 5:13:07 pm)
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Frames
Kerrie,
Perhaps Greg can help, but I have some recollection of the horror (ghost story) folklore having quite a few stories involving portraits or pictures.
Then there is always the reflection, but not necessarily mirror concept as in Andersons the Seven Swans where she looks in the water (also the Goose girl) and sees an altered reflection. Frames could also be representative of windows as in Hansel and Gretel or the Three Bears or Rapunzel's window in the tower.
Then there is folklore, as in Dracula, where certain creatures did not have a reflection or could not be photographed.
Some thoughts.
Jess
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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/21/02 3:02:49 pm)
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Re: Frames
Thanks Jess! Those are really great ideas!
Another idea I came up with was to have the option of gluing beans on the frames (Jack and the Beanstalk). Other options include mirrors (Snow White), charms like shoes (Cinderella), apples (Snow White again), roses (Beauty and the Beast), etc. More to think about.
Soft whispers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
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Jess
Unregistered User
(5/21/02 8:58:03 pm)
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some more glue ons and decorating ideas
Braid - for Rupenzel
flies - the brave little tailor
fake bricks - the three little pigs
candy stripes - Hansel and Gretel
feathers and nettle flowers - the seven (six) swans
shells - the little mermaid
spray on snow and "broken" mirrors (mirror tiles?) - the Snow Queen
You get the idea.
Then there is always glass paint which you can buy in craft stores. You could have them paint on the glass pictures of their favorite character - i.e. the gingerbread man, puss in boots, the white cat - would be easy.
This sounds like fun!
Jess
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Jess
Unregistered User
(5/21/02 9:18:40 pm)
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Snacks
Did someone already suggest prebaked "gingerbread men" (they can just be dark cookies if you want) which the kids then decorate and eat? Another idea is mini bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter. Decorated to look like a face. Be careful with peanuts though. Some people are allergic. You can make peanut butter "sunflowers" - i.e. East of the Sun - with English muffins, peanut butter, pineapple pieces, raisins and sunflower seeds. Then there are sausages for the "Three Wishes" or goldfish for the story of the fisherman and the three wishes.
Before you eat you could tell the Grimms tale about the three brothers, the one got the stick, the one got the ass and the other got the table (I don't remember it's name) - and then you could set up the feast. Or you could just explain what folklore is and tell them the story of the pretzel (followed by tasty pretzels of course).
Another frame idea - mice for the Pied Piper
Jess
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Kerrie
Registered User
(6/17/02 5:48:29 am)
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Thanks! And countdown...
Thanks for all of the great ideas!
We've decided to do a pot decorating craft, and filling each with spanish moss and a magic bean, then the kids will decorate their pictures and decide what they want to grow up to be- dancer, writer, astronaut, happy, etc.
As for my presentation, please tell me I'm not crazy:
The theme is Publishing: Then and Now, and I'm going to talk about how before there were books, there were storytellers, bards, minstrels, dancers, etc. Then Since we have several variant fairy tale books out, including the new Three Pigs, I'm going to do 2 improv games. 1) Wolf on trial, with re-enactments from 3 Pigs and Little Red, then let the kids decide if the wolf is innocent or guilty. 2) Stone Soup- have a few kids be the pot, one be the stone, then ask the rest what else we should throw into the pot. Whatever they name, they have to pretend to be. After I get s few kids jumbled into the pot, I'll stir them then ""offer some soup" to a few.
Another idea I had, maybe as a getting to know you or ice breaker before I go into that, is from an exercise I did in high school called "The Rock Experiment" where you get to know a rock- touch, smell, feel, see, listen, and yes, taste. Then they would put them into a pot and try to figure out which was theirs. This could be both Stone Soup and Hansel and Gretel, as the stones I have are all white (they threw white stones down before the breadcrubmbs, correct?).
Any and all forms of encouragement most appreciated.
Four more days- aiyeiaiaie!!!!!!!
Soft whispers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 6/17/02 9:02:35 am
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Kerrie
Registered User
(6/18/02 10:50:39 am)
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Changed already...
Since the kids I'm working with are 7-9, the trial of the wolf might be too much for them as well as take a long time (I only have 1/2 hour before craft time). M. Pepper and I talked at lunch time and thought maybe having some of them pretend to be different fairy tale characters meeting for the first time and how would they react. Here's my noted so far:
Nice to meet you! What if the Gingerbread Man stumbled upon the old woman’s gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel as he ran away? What if the wolf tried came upon the Old Woman in the Shoe, the gingerbread house, and Rapunzel’s tower? What if Jack climbed Rapunzel’s hair instead of the beanstalk? How would they react to each other?
Can anyone thing of other interesting characters to interact? Other thoughts? Time is ticking and I'm sure I'll change my mind with so many ideas floating!
Soft whispers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
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Jess
Unregistered User
(6/18/02 2:50:09 pm)
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A variation on your theme
Put cards on the back of each child with a fairy tale character.
Do not tell the child who he/she is. Then the other kids have to
give them clues as they meet. At the end of the half hour, they
each remove the card and see if they guessed correctly.
Jess
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ZMethos
Registered User
(6/18/02 4:35:03 pm)
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Re: A variation on your theme
Ah, I remember this game! (Used to use it when teaching foreign students English; have also seen it done at parties.)
Kerrie, what do you think?
~M. Pepper
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Kerrie
Registered User
(6/19/02 6:18:39 am)
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Re: A variation on your theme
Sounds like a great idea! Hmmmm, any favorites? It will be 30 children. Double-up, use only a few kids, find 30 different characters? Thoughts?
2 more days!
Soft whipers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
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Jess
Unregistered User
(6/19/02 7:08:20 am)
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Do them all
Kerrie,
This is much more fun if they do them all. Have each person limited to one hint. That way they have to move around and meet everyone - 30 is a great number! The characters must be fairly well known with the younger kids having the easier characters. Use folktale characters as well - kids are more familiar with these than many adults are (they seem to forget them)
Some characters:
Little red riding hood, snow white, cinderella, sleeping beauty, snow white and rose red (distinguished?), the little matchgirl, the ballerina from the tin soldier, the little mermaid, the snow queen, the goose girl, goldilocks, the ugly duckling, billy goat gruff, rumplestiltskin, rapunzel, ali baba, alladin, the troll under the bridge, paul bunyun, anatsi (sp?), john henry, the tin soldier, the nutcracker, Puss n boots, Hansel, Gretel, Tom Thumb, Thumbelina, the brave tailor, the frog (the frog prince), Faithful John. If you run out of "people" you could do "things" like the wishing pot. Remember the characters must be familiar enough that the other children can give them hints, but not so familiar that it is a dead give away (which may mean Cinderella is out).
Have a few names as back ups in case no one has any hints to give (the character is too difficult). My two older kids (7 and 9) thought this was a great idea.
Jess
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Kerrie
Registered User
(6/19/02 7:19:53 am)
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Character list...
Here are the characters I've come up with so far for interaction games. Let me know if there are any I've missed (that kids would find easy).
Character list (include brief description?):
3 Pigs
Gingerbread Man
Hansel and Gretel
Cinderella
Snow White
7 Dwarves
Evil Queen
Wicked Stepmother
Ugly Stepsisters
Jack
Giant
Huntsman
Prince Charming
Handsome Prince
Fairy Godmother
Pinocchio
Little Red Riding Hood
Wolf
Grandmother
Frog Prince
Princess
Princess and the Pea
Beauty
Beast
Puss in Boots
Rumpelstiltzkin
Sleeping Beauty
12 Dancing Princesses
Goldilocks
3 Bears
Rapunzel
Soft whispers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
(Jess- I guess we were posting around the same time! Great ideas! I'll add them to the list!)
Edited by: Kerrie at: 6/19/02 7:22:26 am
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Jess
Unregistered User
(6/19/02 8:47:42 am)
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Fairy tale characters
Kerrie,
My kids suggested most of the characters listed above, plus the following (to let you know how well known the characters are):
Scott (9) suggested "the golden bird", the golden goose, the goldedn horse, princess on the glass hill, bluebeard, donkeyskin, and the king's donkey, ogre, ogress (jack in the beanstalk, tom thumb, or sleeping beauty), the fox (many fairy tales), the 40 thieves, genie in the lamp, Scheherazade, Sinbad (okay, he is now listing from the top of his head all of the Arabian Night characters he knows, including Prince Ahmad, the fairy, the fisherman (and the 4 fish), the genie, etc.), the Nightingale, the elves and the shoemaker.
Max (7) suggested characters from the Ass, the stick and the table, and the swineherd.
Thor (4) suggested the babe -the blue ox, thor - god of thunder.
Hope this helps. Remember part of the idea of this is to get kids to read the tales they don't know.
Jess
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Jess
Unregistered User
(6/20/02 7:01:54 am)
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kid's day
Kerrie,
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Jess
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Kerrie
Registered User
(6/24/02 5:40:47 pm)
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Over already?! :(
I wish it hadn't been for just one day! Thanks to everyone who gave advice!
The activities I ended up doing were:
1) Hansel and Gretel and "The Rock Experiment"- I think they had a fun time telling me what their rocks looked, smelled, sounded, felt, and tasted like (yes, some were brave enough to taste, luckily with no rock biters).
2) Stone Soup- I had 4 kids for the pot, one for a stone, one carrot, one peas, one apple, one grapes, and then mixed them all up and asked the other kids what it tasted like.
3) Who Am I?- I created labels with character names on them and we stuck them on their backs. Some kids wanted more names to guess. It was fun watching their faces light up as they figured out who they were!
I had such a blast that day, especially with M. Pepper's presentation in the AM on LOTR, taking us from novel to film, and learned a few things myself! (Now I know what a Best Boy is!)
I wish I could do it everyday!
Dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
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