Daring princesses! Handsome knights! Fearsome (or just really misunderstood) dragons! Fodder for the imagination for sure. Who could resist mysterious animals, glamorous and fanciful outfits like armor, weaponry, feats of cunning and dazzling displays of smarts?
Well, probably someone, but not any kid I ever met. There are so many tales filled with dragons that you could easily integrate these activities into half a dozen other themes. They are also a great opportunity to shift the emphasis of fairy tale play away from “looking decorative.” There is an emphasis on prettiness that is gaining momentum in popular interpretations of fairy tales. Effective play encourages engagement and problem solving- and what could be more engaging than a quest?
Music
- Puff the Magic Dragon (youtube. You can also download via iTunes, or print lyrics here.)
- Clapping in the Castle (lyrics and audio. This is a movement game.)
Books
Apparently, we love this subject around here because I’ve reviewed some of the books on this list already! (Click the links to read them.)
Printables
- Dragon coloring pages
- Crowns for your princes, princesses, kings, and queens
- a simple castle coloring page for little ones
- A slightly more complex castle coloring image for older kids or to print as a poster for collaborative artwork.
Hands on Activities
- Paper Bag Masks (good for activity stations and adaptable to any character.)
- Play castle (From cardboard!)
- Make a cardboard shield
- Paper towel roll craft (super cute!)
Around the Web
- Castles and Dragons activities
- An index of stories with Dragons in them
- Pin-worthy party ideas with knights and dragons
- A compilation of castle lesson ideas and resources. (Not QUITE on theme, but there’s no denying they are related!)
How about you? Do you have some ideas and resources to share? Put them down there in the comment box! We love hearing from you. If you’ve tried any of the ideas on this list, we’d love to hear how it went!
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