Grand Prairie first graders live happy ever after at fairy tale ball
For one night, first grade students at Grand Prairie Elementary School will dress up like princes and princesses and live out the fairy tales they have been studying in class.
The first grade's "Fairy Tale Ball" will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 16, 2010, at the school, 3300 Caton Farm Road, Joliet.
At the ball, first grade students and their families can dance to music played by a DJ, read fairy tales in the media center, create a crown, enjoy refreshments, and witness a visit from a very special fairy tale teacher.
The evening will celebrate the writing the first graders created and will bring to life a ball where students and families can enjoy an evening together at no expense.
The first grade teachers are hosting the ball to celebrate their students writing their own fairy tales. The ball is possible thanks to a grant from the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence.
The first graders have spent over a month listening and reading fairy tales. After reading several tales, they used what they have learned about the writing process to develop and write their own stories.
The students had to include good and bad characters, magic, story starters and descriptions of the setting.
They also learned how to create the beginning, middle and end of their fairy tales. Once the tales were written, the students went through the entire writing process, including editing and revising their stories.
After the final copies of the fairy tales were written, the students designed castle covers to display with their stories. All of the fairy tales will be on display in the Grand Prairie media center during the ball.
Each student who attends the ball will also receive a free fairy tale book to take home, as a memento of the event, to extend literacy into the home.
"The students are very excited and cannot wait to get dressed up," Grand Prairie first grade teacher Holly Toohey said. "This is their opportunity to live out a fairy tale."