Fairytale Character Creation: A Storytelling Project
Created bySusan Mooney
1 views0 downloads

Fairytale Character Creation: A Storytelling Project

Grade 1English1 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
This project engages first-grade students in creating their own fairytale characters and integrating them into original story outlines. Students begin by exploring the key elements of fairytales through existing stories. They then design unique characters with detailed profiles and develop story outlines showcasing how their characters solve a central problem, fostering creativity and storytelling skills. The project culminates in a presentation of their character and story outline.
Fairytale ElementsCharacter CreationStorytellingCreative WritingCharacter DesignPlot Development
Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.
📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we create a memorable fairytale character that helps us tell an engaging story with all the key fairytale elements?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What makes a character memorable?
  • How do characters help tell a story?
  • What are the key parts of a fairytale?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to identify and describe the key elements of a fairytale.
  • Students will be able to create a unique and memorable fairytale character.
  • Students will be able to explain how their character contributes to the plot of a fairytale story.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Fractured Fairytale Rescue

The teacher dramatically reads a fractured fairytale where the main character is missing key traits, leaving the story unresolved. Students are invited to 'repair' the story by inventing a character to complete it.

Mystery Character Kit

A mysterious package arrives containing random objects (e.g., a toy sword, a sparkly fabric scrap, a rubber chicken). Students brainstorm what kind of fairytale character would possess these items, fostering curiosity and imaginative thinking.

Fairytale Convention

The class participates in a 'Fairytale Character Creation Convention' where they explore different character archetypes (hero, villain, sidekick) and traits through interactive games and role-playing, building a foundation for their own creations.

The Lost Ending

Begin reading a popular fairytale but stop at a critical moment, announcing that the original ending is lost. Challenge students to create a new character who can resolve the story's central conflict in a unique and imaginative way.
📚

Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Fairytale Element Expedition

Students will explore existing fairytales to identify common elements such as setting, characters, problem, and solution.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Read aloud three different well-known fairytales.
2. As a class, discuss and identify the setting, main characters, the problem, and the solution in each story.
3. Create a chart with columns for 'Fairytale Title,' 'Setting,' 'Characters,' 'Problem,' and 'Solution.'
4. Individually, students complete the chart for each of the three fairytales.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA fairytale elements chart for three different fairytales.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to identify and describe the key elements of a fairytale.
Activity 2

Character Creation Lab

Students will brainstorm different character traits and develop a profile for their own fairytale character.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Brainstorm a list of adjectives that describe different character traits (e.g., kind, brave, sneaky, silly).
2. Students choose a name for their fairytale character.
3. Students draw a picture of their character, paying attention to details of their appearance.
4. Students write 2-3 sentences describing their character's personality and special abilities.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA character profile including name, appearance, personality, and special abilities.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to create a unique and memorable fairytale character.
Activity 3

Story Spark Blueprint

Students will create a short story outline showing how their character interacts with other fairytale elements to solve a problem.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Review the fairytale elements chart from Activity 1.
2. Students identify a problem that their character will solve in a fairytale.
3. Students write a brief outline including: 1. The Problem, 2. How the Character Helps, and 3. The Solution.
4. Students share their story outline with a partner and receive feedback.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA story outline with a clear problem, a description of how the character intervenes, and the resolution.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to explain how their character contributes to the plot of a fairytale story.
🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Fairytale Character Creation Rubric

Category 1

Fairytale Elements

Assesses students' ability to recognize and describe key components of fairytales.
Criterion 1

Fairytale Element Identification

Demonstrates understanding of key fairytale elements (setting, characters, problem, solution).

Exemplary
4 Points

Identifies and accurately describes all key fairytale elements in multiple fairytales with detailed examples.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies and describes most fairytale elements accurately, with clear examples from the stories.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some fairytale elements but struggles with accurate descriptions or relevant examples.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify fairytale elements or provide accurate descriptions.

Category 2

Character Creation

Evaluates the creativity and thoroughness of the student-created fairytale character.
Criterion 1

Character Originality and Detail

The originality and detail of the created fairytale character.

Exemplary
4 Points

Character is exceptionally unique and imaginative, with rich, descriptive details of appearance, personality, and special abilities that enhance the character's appeal and memorability.

Proficient
3 Points

Character is creative and well-developed, with clear descriptions of appearance, personality, and special abilities.

Developing
2 Points

Character demonstrates some originality but lacks detail in descriptions of appearance, personality, or special abilities.

Beginning
1 Points

Character is generic and lacks detail; descriptions of appearance, personality, and abilities are minimal or unclear.

Category 3

Story Integration

Assesses how well the student integrates their character into a story outline, focusing on problem-solving.
Criterion 1

Story Integration and Problem Solving

The clarity and effectiveness of the story outline and how the character resolves the central conflict.

Exemplary
4 Points

The story outline is exceptionally clear and compelling, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of plot structure; the character's role in resolving the conflict is innovative and highly effective.

Proficient
3 Points

The story outline is clear and logical, with a well-defined problem, a clear role for the character, and a satisfying resolution.

Developing
2 Points

The story outline is somewhat unclear or incomplete; the character's role in resolving the conflict is not fully developed.

Beginning
1 Points

The story outline is confusing or missing key elements; the character's role in the resolution is unclear or absent.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How did creating your own fairytale character change your understanding of fairytales in general?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how proud are you of the fairytale character you created?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which part of the character creation process was the most challenging for you?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Brainstorming character traits
Drawing the character's appearance
Writing the character's description
Developing the story outline
Question 4

If you could give one piece of advice to someone else creating a fairytale character, what would it be?

Text
Required