Once upon a time, the phrase "once upon a time" became synonymous with fairy tales. The very first version of this popular introduction stems back to 1380 with Sir Ferumbras, a collection of poems from France.
Today, well-known stories like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood are just a few fairy tales that begin with "once upon a time."
Here are five more fun fairy tale things to teach your kids this week:
1. A silly joke.
Ra-PUN-zel might have the best jokes, but here's one you can add to your collection to get some laughs from friends and family.
What did Cinderella say when her photos didn't arrive? One day my prints will come!
2. A new vocabulary word.
In the movie Cinderella, what exactly is the fairy godmother singing in the scene where she's transforming a pumpkin into a magical carriage? It turns out the lyrics don't have any real meaning at all. Today, most people associate "bibbidi-bobbidi-boo" with any act of magic.
"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" was written in 1948 by Al Hoffman, Mack David, and Jerry Livingston. Learn all the lyrics and watch the famous movie clip here.
3. A word puzzle.
To solve a rebus, consider not just the words but the placement, size, color, and quantity of everything within the box (and sometimes just outside the box!) when trying to decipher the puzzle.
4. A fun fact.
Fairy tales go beyond reading — there are references to them in space exploration!
What is the Goldilocks Zone? As scientists learn more about our solar system, they have identified a region known as the "Goldilocks Zone" that has planets with temperatures that aren't too hot and aren't too cold to sustain life. Like the famed fairy tale, Goldilocks is known for finding things that are "just right."
You can learn more about the Goldilocks Zone from NASA and see a photo representation of discoveries from National Geographic that are too hot, too cold, and just right.
5. Teach a personal discovery.
Thumbelina. Rumplestiltskin. Goldilocks. Rapunzel. Did you recognize these famous fairy tale names? Sure you did! What about if you were in a fairy tale? Does your name make an impression? Use this fun Fairy Tale Name Generator to discover your new mythical identity.
“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” –Brian Herbert
Did you learn something new? Now's the time to pass that knowledge on! Be sure to come back next week for another five FUN things to teach your kids.
