Two Preschool Fairy Tale Art Projects for Your Classroom

Fairy Tales

These two preschool fairy tale art projects are the perfect complement to a fairy tale unit. They can also be used on their own after reading a fairy tale. You can also use these projects to teach setting.

Creative Collage

Materials

• Manila paper
• Old magazines—preferably kid’s magazines
• Scissors
• Glue or glue sticks
• Crayons/markers
• Various art materials (optional)

Procedure

Before you do this project, collect old magazines. Kid’s magazines will work particularly well for this. Explain to students that they will be creating their favorite scene from the fairy tale that you have read. If you have read more than one, allow students to choose which fairy tale to use, or you can give them two choices.

Pass out the old magazines and scissors to your students. Be sure to review the proper way to handle scissors with your students, and review scissor safety rules. Have students look through them and cut out pictures that will help them recreate their favorite scene. Next, pass out the Manila paper. Have students arrange and glue the pictures onto the Manila paper.

Then, allow students to add details to their pictures to recreate their scenes. Students can use crayons and markers to draw in details. They can also use various art materials to enhance their collages. Some great choices would include pom poms, fun foam shapes, or pipe cleaners.

When students are finished, allow them to show their scenes to the class. Have the student tell what fairy tale it is if you read more than one. See if the class can guess what scene was recreated. Then, place the collages on a bulletin board or in the hallway. A great bulletin board title would be, “Once Upon a Time.”

Home Sweet Home

Materials

• Shoe boxes (one per student)
• Paper towel or toilet paper tubes (optional)
• Craft sticks
• Glue
• Crayons/markers
• Paint and paintbrushes (optional)

Procedure

Before you do this, collect shoe boxes. You will need one per student. This project will need to be completed over more than one day. Explain that students will be recreating the cottage or castle from the fairy tale that you read. Again, if you are doing a fairy tale unit, pick a fairy tale for your students to use. You can also let them choose their favorite fairy tale from the ones you have read.

It is a good idea to have an extra shoe box to use as an example. Give each student a shoe box, craft sticks, and glue. Have students cover their shoe boxes in glue a small portion at a time. Use your shoe box to show students how to do it. Once students have covered a small portion in glue then have them place the craft sticks over the glue. Continue to have students cover their boxes with glue in small portions and then cover the glue with craft sticks until it is completely covered. This can be done over two days if needed.

If the fairy tale that you are using includes a castle, then you will need the empty paper towel or toilet paper tubes. Each student will need two paper towel or toilet paper tubes to create turrets. Pass out the tubes, glue, and craft sticks. Have students cover part of the toilet paper tubes with glue. Then, have them place the craft sticks over the glue. After the tubes are covered with craft sticks, glue the “turrets” to the shoe box.

Next, allow students to decorate their houses. You can allow them to do this using crayons or markers, or you can let them use paint.

Your students will love creating these preschool fairy tale art projects and learning more about fairy tales. Read more about having a fairy tale theme in your classroom.