An annual tradition at The Cottage (5-7 years old) is to perform several fairy tale plays. The performances come after months of reading, comparing, and discussing different versions of each fairy tale.
The plays that are performed are:
- The Little Red Hen
- The Gingerbread Man
- Billy Goats Gruff
- Three Little Pigs
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The children pick the play that they’d like to be a part of and the character that they want to be. They make their costumes at home.
During the process they are experiencing the different story elements; characters, setting, problem and solution.
Each cast of characters work together to design their scenery on a piece of paper. Then, it is blown up using a projector. Finally, they paint it onto a canvas back drop.
The children practice the plays over many days. Many of the children end up having their lines memorized.
We talk about how important it is to project their voice and how to move on the stage without turning their back to the audience. It’s a great time to talk about what it feels like to be nervous and how to overcome that.
Real learning takes place when the children are emotionally invested in the experience. The pride on their faces after each performance says it all.