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(Unit 8) Topic 6: Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tales in the Early Childhood Classroom 

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

What Makes a Fairy Tale?​

​Topic 6 Page 2

Cinderella alone is over a thousand years old and has over 700 versions from countries around the world! Most of us grew up listening to these stories, and they have become deeply embedded into our language and culture. Although not originally intended for children, fairy tales have evolved so much that now the content and themes presented in them can be enjoyed by all ages.    

Common Elements of Fairy Tales: ​

Familiar beginning and ending phrases

• Such as “Once upon a time”, “and they lived happily ever after”, etc.

Good and evil characters

• It is usually quite obvious to the reader or listener who is on what side. 

Royalty

• Princes, princesses, kings and queens are often present.  

​Reoccurring patterns or numbers 

• Things or events tend to happen in 3’s or 7’s (i.e. Goldilocks, Three Little Pigs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). ​ 

​Magic

• Just about every fairy tale includes some sort of magic or supernatural force.   

​Talking animals or objects

• The main character is often able to communicate with these characters.   

​Nature

• Forests or woods are common settings.  

​Moral 

• These tales just about always teach a lesson to the reader. Some scholars argue that this was the reason they were invented in the first place.   

Journey or quest

• The main character goes on an adventure, solves the problem at hand, and ends up coming back changed. 

​While not all of these elements will be present in every fairy tale, they are common motifs that you and your students will see.  ​

• Happily Ever After: 17 Multicultural Fairy Tales to Delight Every Child, by Charnaie Gordon​
  
• ​Choosing Fairy Tales for Different Ages, by Joan Almon, The Online Waldorf Library

(Unit 8) Topic 6: Fairy Tales in the Early Childhood Classroom  * Navigation Menu