The Children's Garden
  • Home
  • Philosophy
  • Early Childhood Programs
  • Homeschool
  • Summer Camps
  • Enrollment
  • About Us
    • Contact & Location
    • Open House
    • In The Press
  • Blog
  • Weekend Classes
  • Parent Portal

Fairies, Folklore, and Fables... Oh My!

10/14/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere." – Carl Sagan

Recently, we've observed the kids have an overwhelming interest in fairies. And we can understand why! Fairies are fascinating -- they are magical, mischievous, and full of enchantment!  

We especially love fairies for their strong ties with nature. Connecting with fairies helps us form a deeper connection with the garden and Mother Earth. At Austin Children's Garden, we love to use the Herb Fairies stories to learn all about the magical world of medicinal herbs. To learn more about Herb Fairies check out their website: https://learningherbs.com/herb-fairies/

Fairy play can inspire creativity, imagination, and storytelling! When playing make-believe, kids get a chance to explore an entire new world where real life constraints don't apply. (They can fly! Govern a kingdom! Cast spells!) This enhances children's capacity for cognitive flexibility and, ultimately, problem solving and inventive thinking. Make-believe with friends also allows kids to experiment with social and emotional roles by provoking empathy and cooperation. Furthermore, playing pretend allows children to learn about themselves and work out their inner narratives while developing language skills. 

Fairies also connect us to the past and give us insight into another time. Recorded folktales of fairies (though then they were often referred to as Hidden People or Little People) date back to as early as the 13th century. During that time, stories were a bit darker; particularly the stories of fairies. Some fairies were kind and helpful, but most were feared as they could appear at any time to cast an evil spell or curse on the helpless mortals!
​
As we observed the kids' natural interest in fairies, a folklore theme blossomed! This is an example of emergent curriculum where we take a topic that the children are naturally intrigued by and encourage this interest to expand so that they learn organically and holistically; children's interest in fairies opens up an organic opportunity to explore folktales.

A folktale tells a story based on oral traditions that have been passed down for many generations. Learning about folklore has many benefits for children. It improves communication and memory, encourages creativity and imagination, and provides a foundation for literacy development by introducing basic elements of stories. Fables teach social skills and can be a great starting point for many conversations about core values and ethics. Folklore, by nature, also celebrates diversity! By exploring various folktales from around the world, children are able to appreciate different cultures' values, beliefs, history, practices, and customs.

Check out below how we learned all about fairies, folklore, and fables... Oh my!
​

Into the World of Fairies

Making magic fairy wands!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Exploring symmetry with fairy wings!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Making magic fairy potions!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
We asked the kids how their potion helps the fairies:

"My potion helps the fairies fly!"
"The fairies eat my potion!"
"The magic potion gives them their magic!"
Picture
Picture
Exploring our regal side with nature crowns!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Making fairy houses out of rocks!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Constructing a fairy village!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Fairy Yoga!
We start with dancer's pose dancing at the fairy ball! On to locust when we swim through the beautiful waterfalls. Next is butterfly pose while we flutter around the garden. We then do warrior pose as we fly high in the sky. We end with child pose, resting peacefully at the fairy palace.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Folklore Galore

We gathered different folktales and fairy tales from all over the world!!
Picture
Coyote and the Sky: How the Sun, Moon, and Stars Began
After reading Coyote and the Sky, we compared and contrasted day and night through art!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Cuckoo (Cucú)
We were inspired by the vibrant colors and abstract shapes featured in Cuckoo! 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Stone Soup
Motivated by the power of sharing and working together, the kids made a collective soup from individual (and imaginary) vegetables!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Anansi the Spider
This folktale features small, mischievous, and heroic spiders. Getting into the spooky spirit, we made some spiders of our own!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After spending time to explore folktales and the elements of a story, the kids collaborated with each other to create a story of their own! These Story Stones serve as great prompts for collaborative storytelling. 

The story began with the usual introduction of "once upon a time..." with a boy named John, but then took many twists and turns with a trip to the lake during a terrible storm and ending with a rainbow-eating worm!!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Folklore also involves expressive culture such as music and dance!! This month, we did lots of dance parties and drum circles with music from all around the world. Once the fall pumpkins started coming in, we used them as drums too!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Día de los Muertos and Halloween Celebrations!

Sugar skulls and marigolds
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Painting pumpkins!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Halloween yoga! Featured below is Flying Bat, Roaring Monster, Mummy Moves, Pumpkin Pose, Full Moon and :)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Garden Time!

Lady bug release edition!! Lady bugs (beetles) eat up aphids and other garden pests allowing us to never use non organic chemicals in our gardens. They are GARDEN WARRIORS!!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Pumpkin Scones

Cooking is still on hold here at ACG :) Here's an older recipe we made, using our fall pumpkins. These scones are festive and delicious!

Ingredients:
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 4 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup soaked flax seeds
  • 2 1/2 cups almond flour
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 325.
  2. Grease a muffin pan with coconut oil.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients EXCEPT almond flour, cranberries, and raisins.
  4. Stir in almond flour until well combined.
  5. Stir in cranberries and raisins.
  6. Spoon batter into muffin cups, using wet fingers to press down any bumps on the tops before baking (makes 24 mini muffins).
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
See you next time (if we survive the zombies) !!
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

    How we learn...

    The intention of this blog is to include the community in our learning process and to inspire families to engage in fun and healthy activities together!

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Subscribe To Our Newsletter!

* indicates required