FAIRY GROUP
How do the children envision and develop characters?
How do the children envision and develop characters?
The idea of the fairy group came from a small group of children who were drawing fairies and creating songs in “fairy language,” which they would practice singing at recess.
We decided to explore the idea of fairies through dress-up and discovered that through this medium, children were able to freely try-on new ideas and create connections and complexities through their play and dialogue.
Themes began to develop among the fairies: treasure fairies, flower fairies, princess fairies, and rainbow fairies. Others decided to become animals who were friends with the fairies. Sydney bridged the two groups by becoming a fairy who took care of the animals. Their descriptions were initially brief:
Lilly: “I am the queen fairy.”
Thea: “I’m a tiger.”
Sadie: “I’m a treasure fairy.”
Thea: “I’m a tiger.”
Sadie: “I’m a treasure fairy.”
As the children became more decided about their costumes, they sat down to draw their plans. They began to include plot elements as they talked more about their characters.
Nalani: “I’m a fairy that controls the water. Without me, no water would be there for the pirates.”
Sadie: “Treasure fairies know where all the treasures are, but they are guards because treasures can kill people.”
Thea: “I’m friends with the fairies. I’m going to fight the pirates.”
We came together as a group to share our character ideas. As we look carefully at everyone's ideas, the plot begins to unfold.... While each child is able to develop his/her own character, the story line is something we will create as a group.
How will the story line be influenced by the characters we have begun to know?
How will the children revise their characters as the scenes come to life?
How will the children revise their characters as the scenes come to life?
