Welcome to Fairy Tale Land

The storytellers have arrived!

     Once upon a time there were two storytellers named Mrs. Kneeland and Mrs. Paulson who visited Oaklawn Elementary School. They came from a land far, far away to introduce the story elements of a fairy tale to the 3rd grade students. They captured the attention of the third graders by mixing a potion using their magical cauldron. As the colorful scarves went into the cauldron, out came a matching poster that highlighted the characters, setting, problem, solution, and other features that would eventually help students create a fairy tale. This magical moment was continued as students listened to the storytellers read the following two stories; Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. After reading the stories by the campfire, students had an opportunity to review the story elements of a fairy tale. With their newly learned knowledge, they worked tirelessly to retell one of the two stories in their own words. Student writers were everywhere! It was a magical moment!
    

   
                                     

     The storytellers weren't done yet! They came back the next week, disguised as Jack's mom, you know her from Jack and the Beanstalk. They set the stage for another magical fairy tale journey by bringing along a huge beanstalk. There were also many other clues; a golden harp poster, large footprints, and a giant note that read "fee fi fo fum" to help guide students to figure out which fairy tale they were about to listen to. The storytellers gathered the students around the campfire once again, as they read Jack and the Beanstalk. After the story was done, the students focused on one element of the story. The element they were changing was the setting. The students had to figure out a new way for Jack to get to the giant's castle in the sky. The students went forth and created dioramas that showed one scene using the new mode of getting to the giant's castle. They eagerly filled in and shared a cloze story about their new scene. The students were very creative!

Jack's mother is concerned about her son!

   
     The third appearance occurred when the storytellers returned as reporters. They were trying to get the "real" story about the Three Little Pigs. They did just that when they were interviewing students, as they were trying to figure out what happened in the story. After reading The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, the students discussed what a fractured fairy tale is and how it is a little different from the original fairy tale. Students were then directed to use a graphic organizer to map out a new story that they were creating. There were three small cauldrons; one filled with character choices, one filled with story problem choices, and one filled with other magic choices. They had to choose two characters, one problem, and one magical item to create a new fairy tale. The students wrote their story in their writer's notebook. These stories turned out amazing!

The reporters are getting the "real" story!

Setting the stage for a fractured fairy tale!