One of the things that I love about working with children in libraries is having the ability to do programming. I love coming up with ideas of activities that I can do with the children, and I love having the opportunity to flex my creativity muscles. So sometimes I find myself daydreaming about the different kinds of programs that I would like to implement in my library when I become a children’s librarian or a media specialist.
Recently, I was daydreaming of the kinds of programming that I would want to do in a media center and I began thinking about fairtyales. As I thought about programming and I thought about fairytales, I remembered how one media specialist I shadowed had combined the two. The programs were engaging, and everyone was having fun. Thinking back, I realized taht programming and fairytales are a programmer’s dream match. There is so much that you can do with fairytales in children’s programming!
While I was thinking about programming and fairytales, I also began thinking about passports. I thought perfect! Programming, fairytales, and passports is the start to a great programming series! Wondering how these will all tie together? Well…Fairytales are common in all cultures. And interestingly enough, there are common fairytales to all cultures. Fairytales, like Cinderella, can be found in cultures around the world with slight variations to a common plot.
So what does this have to do with passports? Well, take a hand full of fairytales that have a couple of cultural variations and introduce them to the children. Take the children around the world with fairytales! For 3 to 4 weeks focus on one fairytale. During that 3 to 4 week time period, each class/session should focus on 1 cultural version of the fairytale. Read the story with children and then talk about it with the children. You can also plan little activities that are related to that culture. At the end of the class, the children can have their passport stamped. (I would recommend getting different stamps that represents an element of the story. For instance, for Cinderella I would get a shoe stamp.) By the end of the program series, the children should have visited a number of different cultures! Its traveling around the world using fairtytales!
Oh Kayce, I love LOVE love this idea. I think it introduces culture, relevant themes, and teaches about the world. I cannot imagine a great starter program series intended for children that is more practical than ambitious in teaching culture. Love it, very well done!!!