It’s time for kids to begin their summer reading! If your kids don’t like to sit down and read, introduce hands-on experiential learning through Summer Reading and Crafting from AllFreeKidsCrafts.com. The kids crafts and art projects below will help children understand important themes in the story.
See last week’s post about The Giving Tree here.
The Stories:
Book images courtesy of Amazon.com
Hans Christian Andersen was an author and poet who remains famous today for writing children’s stories like “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “Thumbelina.” These tales, written in the 1830s and 1840s, tell stories about fantasy, courtly life, animals and morality. Since their publication, Andersen’s stories have become cultural icons, inspiring countless books, films, and television shows. Most of Andersen’s stories are simple enough for young children to enjoy, while older kids can learn about the customs of the time and study the message behind each tale.
Important Concepts:
Andersen was criticized because some of his stories lacked a specific moral, but the stories often feature familiar situations that children face in their daily lives. Reading a number of them will provide children with a series of messages, advice and lessons for growing up.
“The Ugly Duckling” deals with bullying and can help children cope when they are being teased at school. It also indicates that good things may come of a little patience.
“The Emperor’s New Clothes” teaches children to think for themselves and to resist peer pressure.
“Thumbelina” is an excellent story for children because it features a strong, adventurous little girl in a big world who faces the elements and decides her own fate. The story can teach children how to make their own decisions as they mature and become more independent.
Crafting with the Stories of Hans Christian Andersen:
Kids can use walnuts to create some adorable ducklings and swanlings (also known as cygnets) just like the Ugly Duckling. Remind the kids that they are beautiful no matter what the bullies might say and make these Walnut Shell Ducklings.
Teach kids about the customs of real princes and princesses by making and playing with Red Ted Art’s Medieval Castle and Court from recycled materials. Even young kids will enjoy playing with these recycled crafts and re-enacting the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
When reading “Thumbelina,” kids can get outside and find the magic in nature by making Twig and Toadstool’s Woodland Fairy Folk between tales. Kids can even make a little Thumbelina out of a pine cone.
What are your favorite fairy tales? I like the ones by the Grimm brothers as well!
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