Creating Fantastical Places

 

Objective

Students will build upon their study of spaces and mood by listening to, reading, or watching and discussing fantastical stories, and collaboratively creating a fantastical story where they alter a familiar space.

How does this lesson relate to Kidspace?

Through her use of surveillance cameras, mirrors, and curved lens, Susan Leopold flips, reflects, and bends what might have been a normal scene into something fantastical. By introducing your students to how authors or filmmakers have represented fantasy worlds in their work, your students will learn that there are many different ways to imagine the world we live in. They will also be prepared with the skills to analyze Susan's fantasy worlds when visiting Kidspace.

 

Activity

Part A

Below is a list of books and videos that focus on the idea of fantasy. Choose one or several to read aloud or watch with your students. Discuss the aspects of the story that make it a "fantasy". Similar to Pre-Visit Activity 1, encourage your students to talk about the sensory information and mood found throughout the story. The following questions may be helpful in beginning a discussion:

  • Where did this story take place?
  • How do we know it was in this place?
  • Can you imagine what this place would sound like (if a book)?
  • What are some words you could use to describe this place (if a movie)?
  • How do we know if this place is real or fantasy?
  • What is the mood of this place?

 

Recommended books:

  • The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
  • Jumanji or Nathura by Chris Van Allsburg
  • The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble
  • The Adventures of Tom Thumb
  • The Adventures of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

    • for longer projects:

  • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling

Recommended movies

  • Fantasia
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  • A Bug's Life
  • Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Disney movie version good for this age)
  • The Wizard of Oz
  • Peter Pan

 

Part B

1. Using your classroom and its contents as the basis, ask your students to collaboratively create a fantastical story. Explain that, like fantasy authors, artists, and filmmakers, they can use their imaginations to change the way things, spaces, and people look, feel, and function. Suggest that there are many ways in which they can turn their ordinary classroom into a fantastical place. Below are a few ideas to jumpstart their imaginations.

  • give the objects life-like personalities (an eraser comes to life)
  • rearrange the existing objects (stack the chairs to make a giant plant)
  • change the lighting (close the blinds, shut off the lights, hang a mirrored ball)
  • kids are transformed (students become chickens on a farm)
  • pretend the classroom is a different kind of room (i.e. a birdhouse)

 

2. Ask your students to collaboratively create a story about a day in their new world. Each child can choose one idea or part of the story, and write the text and make an illustration. Follow the link below to view a printable example of a storyboard page.
storyboard template

3. Optional: Allow your students to rearrange the furniture, put on costumes, and perform their story.

 

Reflection

Discuss with your students how Susan Leopold's artwork is similar to the books and movies they have just watched. Suggest that in her work she changes the way spaces look, feel, and function-creating fantastical stories about familiar places.

 

Education home

Leopold home

Kidspace home