There's Magic In Fairy Tales!

Undine in the Wind by Arthur Rackham, 1909

The birthday of Harry Houdini, the famous magician, is March 24 and so of course that led me to think about the magic in fairy tales. Before jumping into the land of “Happily ever after…” I did a bit of research on this famous man.

Did you know that for many years he was the highest paid entertainer in American Vaudeville? It is also said that he was one of the first to use mass tie-in marketing by prearranging his stunts with local merchants. A man ahead of his time!

Magic has always been part of fairy tales and the name "fairy tale" was first ascribed to them by Madame d'Aulnoy in the late 17th century.

• In French the phrase is conte de fée
• In Spanish cuento de hadas
• In Portuguese conto de fadas
• In German Märchen
• In Greek παραμύθι (paramithi)
• In Italian fiaba
• In Polish baśń
• In Swedish saga http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_tale

It is said that the oldest known written fairy tales stem from ancient Egypt, c. 1300 BC; The Two Brothers. You can read the the Brothers Grimm version of this tale at http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/grimm-brothers/558/  

The story the Undine, published in 1909 was said to be “the most beautiful of all” fairy stories by George Macdonald, Scottish author and poet. No matter how old or new, fairy tales always contain a touch of magic!

To celebrate the birthday of Houdini I offer you these magical tales.

The Gifts of the Magician – Finnish

http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/246.htm
The Magician’s Horse – Culture Unknown
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/211.htm
The Magic Bear – Native American/Inuit
http://learningtogive.org/resources/folktales/MagicBear.asp

The Magic Book - Danish 

http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/121.htm
The Magic Brocade - China
http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/056.html

The Magic Kettle – Japan

http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/222.htm
The Magic Mirror - Spain
http://www.storiestogrowby.com/stories/magic_mirror_frame.html

The Magic Mirror - Africa

http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/152.htm
The Magic Moneybag - Korea
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/china.html#moneybag
The Magic Orange Tree - Haiti
http://www.spiritoftrees.org/folktales/wolkstein/magic_orange_tree.html
The Magic Rocks and the Beggar – Brittany/France
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ftb/ftb14.htm

Magic Ring – Russia 

http://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/magic-ring-rusian-tale.html  
The Magic Swan - European
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/370.htm
The Magic White Swan - Laos
http://hubpages.com/hub/Lao-Folktales--The-Magic-White-Swan
The Magic Wild Geese – Russian
http://russian-crafts.com/tales/geese.html
Mohamed and the Magic Finger - Africa
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/205.htm

  

CURRICULUM

Brothers Grimm - Magic figures predominately in their fairy tales. Here is a lesson plan to complement a story from their work. http://tinyurl.com/64a6wqw
Reading Rainbow – Classroom extensions for Liang and the Magic Paintbrush http://www.shopgpn.com/guides/rr/7.pdf

A Magic Seed - English Language Arts Grade 2.
http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/act/grade2/act2.asp?ID=554
Teacher Resource for The Magic Paintbrush – From Australia, a very useful resource with classroom extension to complement the tale. http://www.cambridge.edu.au/education/resource/sample_2_728317.pdf

Multicultural Fairy Tales –The Stuff of Magic – Curriculum Unit http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2004/2/04.02.01.x.html

Fairy Tale Printables - http://abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/literature/fairy_tales/

CRAFTS

Magic Wand
http://www.justmommies.com/articles/magic-wand.shtml  

Sorcerers Glitter Globe
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/sorcerers-glitter-globe-665514/
Wizard Toilet Paper Roll Craft
http://www.dltk-kids.com/fantasy/mwizard.htm

Wizard Hat Craft
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/costumeacces/a/wizardhat.htm
Paper Bag Princess
http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/princessandfrog/mprincessbag.htm

Castle Coloring Page
http://tinyurl.com/47oybpc


BOOKS

  

Leading Kids to Books through MAGIC by Caroline Feller Bauer

http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=207

Strega Nona by Tommie De Paola (A version of the The Magic Pot)

http://tinyurl.com/4h2o64r
Anno’s Magic Seeds by M. Anno
http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/unified.cfm?bookid=1580  

The Magic Fan by Keith Baker
http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/bookdetails.cfm?TopicID=413  

The Magic Hat by Mem Fox
http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/unified.cfm?bookid=1539

FINGERPLAYS/STORY STRETCH

  

Magic Fairytale Stew – Story Stretch

© Karen Chace 2011

(I based this on the song Witches Brew by Hap Palmer)

Dragons, giant, billy goats, too. (clap hands)

Stir them in my magic fairytale stew. (stirring motion)

I’ve got magic (point to self)

Alakazoo! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread)
Mmmm mmm my fairytale stew. (rub stomach)

Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty too. (clap hands)

Stir them in my magic fairytale stew. (stirring motion)

I've got magic (point to self)

Alakazoo! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread) 

Mmmm mmm my fairytale stew. (rub stomach)

Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, too. (clap hands)

Stir them in my fairytale brew. (stirring motion)

I’ve got magic (point to self)

Alakazoo! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread)

Mmmm mmm my fairytale stew. (rub stomach)

 

Charming Princes, Three Bears, Goldilocks too! (clap hands)

Stir them in my fairytale stew.

I’ve got magic (point to self)

Alakazoo!!!!! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread)

Here Is The Prince

Here is the prince with his feathered cap,

(take off hat, bow)

Here are his boots which go tap, tap, tap.

(tap toes)

Here is the princess with her golden crown,

(put four fingers up over head)

Here is her lovely beaded gown.(curtsy)

Here is their castle tall and wide,

(stretch arms up to the sky)

Where the prince and princess play safely inside.

(jump up and down)