Friend "Kangaroo" has been begging all summer to make a new "magic wand" because her old one broke. During the last week of school... we did it! First we painted bubble wrap, stamped our papers on it, and added glitter. When we came back to the project later in the day, the school friends decided what shape they wanted their wands to be. We taped a dowel rod inside and wallah, a new magically fantastical wand!
Next we used these in Circle Time where we read one version of the Cinderella story. The fairy godmother is depicted as having a wand with a star. When we got to the point in the story where the fairy godmother uses her wand to transform pumpkins into coaches, mice into horses, a toad into a driver, etc. the children helped too by completing the rhyme!
For example, Ms. Harmony would say: "Bippidy boppidy boach, I turn this pumpkin into a ...." and the children would respond "Coach!" We all waved our wands while working our magic. ;) Soon we helped Cinderella get to the ball, return home safely, try on shoes, and marry a prince.
This art/literacy combo activity was definitely a "happily-ever-after" choice for this group!
