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The Elves and the Shoemaker Fairy Tale Lesson Plan Printable Activities

Materials:

printer
paper
coloring and writing tools
scissors
glue stick
Additional supplies may be required for the crafts

Fairy Tale Background

"The Elves and the Shoemaker" is a classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm about a poor but honest shoemaker who, with his wife, receives magical help from two elves who secretly finish his shoes overnight, leading to his prosperity and their eventual reward of clothing for the elves. The tale was collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and published in their Children's and Household Tales in 1812.

Story Summary

A poor shoemaker has just enough leather for one last pair of shoes.
He cuts the leather and goes to bed, and in the morning, finds the shoes perfectly made.
A customer buys the shoes for a high price, allowing the shoemaker to buy more leather.
The same thing happens again, and the shoemaker and his wife decide to stay up and watch.
They discover two (in retellings three) tiny, elves making the shoes.
To repay the elves, the shoemaker's wife makes them tiny clothes and shoes.
The elves, delighted with their new outfits, stop coming, and the shoemaker and his wife, now prosperous, live happily.

Themes and Morals

Gratitude and Kindness: The central theme is that kindness and thankfulness are rewarded, as the couple's gratitude for the elves' help leads to their good fortune.
Hard Work: The story suggests that honest work, even in poverty, invites good fortune.
Generosity: Both the elves (who work for free) and the couple (who give gifts freely) demonstrate generosity.

Preparation & Activities

Review all lesson plans, alphabet and printable materials for a colorful presentation and display.

Listen, read-along video > The Elves and the Shoemaker
Coloring or painting > The Elves and Shoemaker coloring pages
Three sets of coloring pages for beginners, experienced with coloring and with text for early readers.
Elf · Elves Theme > Lesson Plan and Crafts
This lesson plan incorporates materials available for an elf theme and printable crafts.
Alphabet Printable Lesson Plan Activities
- Alphabet Letter E Elf lesson plan printable activities
- Consonant Digraph Sh is Shoes and incorporate the shoes theme activities in the nursery rhyme lesson plan listed below.
Related > Nursery Rhyme > There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
This nursery rhyme and shoes theme activities tie in really well with this fairy tale.