Every child has dreamed of going to, or living in a
castle. This place may be real or even make-believe. Yet, it sparks
stories, oh so grand! I had a chance to revisit my childhood dreams, when a
teacher approached me and asked about creating a background for a play, featuring
a compilation of fairytales. First, I thought "another thing to
do". Then I began to fantasize and my imagination ran away with me. WHOOSH! As
a kid, I often wished I could play in a castle. Soon the excitement of
bringing this to life-size seemed quite doable. I wanted it to become a
reality for the students in my school.
I wanted them to experience going from idea, to model, to life-size. I wanted them to experience "DOABLE".
This project supported the mandated literacy
components:
- · Characters
- · Settings
- · Events
- · Problems
- · Conclusion
We needed a background or setting to support
the characters and events.
First, I created a paper model. I used simple shapes like rectangles,
squares, triangles, and circles.
Then, the students and I recreated it on a larger scale. The
students were intrigued about changing the scale and adding texture to make it
look more believable.
The play was a success! Many children wanted to draw and write fairytales of their own. It was amazing to see and hear their creations and stories. I always tell them that they can create their own worlds inside and outside of their imaginations.
Go Literacy!
