Xmas Activity: Coding the Folk-Tales with Propp’s fairytale morphology- Gamification Learning
In this activity, partners work together on traditional fairy tales related to Xmas by using Propp's approach. It is widely known that the enchanting nature of fairy tales can foster collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity in young learners.
Storytelling is well-known for its role in education: Not only does it inspire imagination, but also it’s highly engaging. Fun aside, it’s an incredible language booster: It exposes students to new vocabulary and sentence structures, supports students to follow the sequence of events and make predictions, and strengthens students’ memory skills as they try to recall characters and the dramatic parts in the story.
The theory, the instructions, and the material for the activity follow:
I.C.Vivaldi CZ, Murano Preeschool, 5 year old class.
Decoding Christmas folk tales with Propp Cards:
A story about Panettone.
Its origin goes back to 1495. During the luxurious Christmas banquet given by the Duke of Milan, the desert got burnt. A young cook, called Toni, came up with a rich brioche bread, filled with raisins and candied fruit. The Duke loved it, and so the tradition of 'Pane di Toni' was born.
We worked on an Italian Christmas legend: the legend of “panettone” about the creation of this typical Italian Christmas dessert.
The hero who helps the chef
is Toni, a simple kitchen boy. “Pan del Toni” (Toni’s bread) is the original name of the dessert which later is converted in “Panettone”.
Propp Cards functions:
Difficult task : a problem to solve. the chef burns the cake for the Duke’s Christmas lunch.
Solution: the hero (Toni) cooks his “panettone”
Recognition: the hero is recognized as the “panettone” , the delicious cake, creator
Before doing the work, we played a game which is called “Shape your Story” to introduce our kids to Propp’s cards activity.
https://youtube.com/shorts/t9WwAE-CWas?si=PSopB0_IFghsmzH5
Creative writing on Greek and Italian Folktales:
Working on traditional Greek folktales to make a new animated story by using Scratch.
“The Adventure of a lyre player”
I.C. Vivaldi CZ, Plessi Casciolino e Murano, 4/5 year old classes.
I.C.Vivaldi, Murano Preschool, 4 year old class.
Teachers: Maria Grazia Casalinuovo, Graziella Napoli, Assunta Procopio.
Decoding Christmas folk tales with Propp Cards: Saint Lucy's gifts.
A long time ago chidren in the Italian city of Verona got sick.
Their parents managed a Christian pilgrimage to Saint Lucy's Church. But kids didn't want to go outside because it was really dark and cold. So, a father found the solution to the problem by coming up with a little trick. He told kids that Saint Lucy would take them some gifts if they followed their parents to the church. While children were in the church, the father make her daughter dress up as Saint Lucy. After the church celebration, the girl give each child a little present. The day after all the kids got well.
Propp Cards functions:
Difficult task: Children in the city of Verona got very sick.
The hero's reaction: the father convinces kids to go to Saint Lucy's Church so that they can get well.
Liquidation: Saint Lucy cures the kids. They get well and each one receives a little present.
IC Vivaldi Preschool Plesso Murano 4 year old class
Teachers: Maria Grazia Casalinuovo, Graziella Napoli, Assunta Procopio.
The Legend of Saint Lucia's Gifts
Activity: Coding the Christmas Folk-Tales with Propp's fairytale cards.
Propp Cards functions:
Difficult task: Children in the city of Verona got very sick.
The hero's reaction: the father convinces kids to go to Saint Lucy's Church so that they can get well.
Liquidation: Saint Lucy cures the kids. They get well and each one receives a little present.
IC Vivaldi CZ, Murano Preschool
3 year old class
https://youtube.com/shorts/bQry5Noqc8o?si=m8-qf7MW3OlOsCu5
I.C.Vivaldi, Murano Preschool, 4 year old class.
Making Propp Cards
I.C.Vivaldi, Murano Preschool, 4 year old class.
Making Propp Cards
IC Vivaldi Murano preschool 5 year old class
The Legend of Saint Lucia's Gifts
Activity: Coding the Christmas Folk-Tales with Propp's fairytale cards.
Propp Cards functions:
Difficult task: Children in the city of Verona got very sick.
The hero's reaction: the father convinces kids to go to Saint Lucy's Church so that they can get well.
Liquidation: Saint Lucy cures the kids. They get well and each one receives a little present.
I.C. Vivaldi Murano Preeschool 5 years old class
I.C. Vivaldi Murano Preeschool 4 years old class
Coding with folk tales:
Animating characters by using Scratch
IC Vivaldi CZ Murano Preschool 3 year old class
An animation Scratch Activity on folk tales characters
Ic Vivaldi Murano Preeschool 3 year old class.
An animation Scratch activity on folk tales characters.
I.C.Vivaldi, Murano Preschool, 4 year old class.
Creating an interactive story using Scratch with folk tale characters.
IC Vivaldi Murano Preschool 4 year old class
Creating an interactive story using Scratch with folk tale characters.
IC Vivaldi Casciolino preschool 5 year old class
The Legend of the Fir Tree
Activity: Coding the Christmas Folk-Tales with Propp's fairytale cards.
Propp Cards functions:
o: Initial Situation: the boy (the Hero) and his family are introduced
II: Departute: the Hero leaves home to go into the forest in search of some firewood for his family
22: Rescue: the Hero is rescued by the pinewood (the helper)
https://youtube.com/shorts/0EQUGI1BC8g
IC Vivaldi Casciolino preschool 5 year old class
The Legend of the Fir Tree
Activity: Coding the Christmas Folk-Tales with Propp's fairytale cards.
Propp Cards functions:
o: Initial Situation: the boy (the Hero) and his family are introduced
II: Departute: the Hero leaves home to go into the forest in search of some firewood for his family
22: Rescue: the Hero is rescued by the pinewood (the helper)
IC Vivaldi Casciolino preschool 5 year old class
Activity: Coding the Christmas Folk-Tales with Propp's fairytale cards.
Propp Cards functions:
o: Initial Situation: the boy (the Hero) and his family are introduced
II: Departute: the Hero leaves home to go into the forest in search of some firewood for his family
22: Rescue: the Hero is rescued by the pinewood (the helper)
This is a fictitious story based on Italian characters and functions of Italian Folktales (with tools: Canva & Google.drive presentation). The story is written both in Greek and Italian language and it was created collaboratively by Greek and Italia schools:
Audiobook format with Italian students' voices (with tools: FlexClip & Youtube):