How to Write an Enchanting Fairy Tale: A Step-by-Step Guide for Teachers and Students
Fairy tales have been enchanting readers for centuries, transporting them to magical worlds where good triumphs over evil, and the impossible becomes possible. Writing a fairy tale can be an enjoyable and creative process, especially for students exploring the elements of storytelling. This fairy tale writing guide is designed to provide teachers and students with the tools, strategies, and inspiration to craft captivating fairy tales that honor the genre’s traditions while encouraging creativity.
A COMPLETE FAIRY TALE TEACHING UNIT

Teach your students to READ and WRITE Fairy Tales with this comprehensive resource! Packed with 100 pages of digital and print content, it covers the purpose, history, and crafting process of fairy tales. Includes fun lesson plans, graphic organizers, activities, and games to engage students and simplify your planning.
Understanding the Elements of a Fairy Tale
Before diving into the writing process, it’s essential to understand the core elements that define a fairy tale. Familiarize yourself and your students with these key components:
- Setting: Fairy tales often take place in fantastical or distant settings, such as enchanted forests, castles, or magical kingdoms.
- Characters: These include archetypes like heroes, villains, royalty, magical creatures, and ordinary people encountering extraordinary situations.
- Magic: Spells, potions, curses, and magical beings are integral to the narrative.
- Conflict: A struggle between good and evil is a recurring theme.
- Resolution: Fairy tales usually end with justice served and lessons learned.
- Moral: Many fairy tales impart a moral lesson or highlight universal truths.
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Fairy Tale
Here is a structured process to guide students through crafting their own fairy tales. Encourage them to follow these steps while leaving room for individual creativity.
1. Brainstorming Ideas
Begin by helping students generate ideas. Use the following prompts to inspire creativity:
- What type of magical setting would you like to create?
- Who is the hero or heroine, and what makes them special or relatable?
- What challenge or villain will they face?
- What magical elements can be included in the story?
Activity: Provide students with a worksheet featuring columns for setting, characters, magical elements, and conflicts. Encourage them to fill in ideas for each category.
2. Creating a Story Map
Use a graphic organizer to help students structure their fairy tale. A typical fairy tale follows this format:
- Beginning: Introduce the setting, characters, and situation.
- Middle: Present the conflict or challenge.
- Climax: Highlight the pivotal moment when the hero faces their greatest test.
- Ending: Resolve the conflict and conclude with a lesson or happy ending.
Resource: Downloadable story maps or graphic organizers can provide a visual framework for students to organize their ideas.
3. Developing Characters
Characters are the heart of any fairy tale. Help students create rich and dynamic characters:
- Hero/Heroine: What qualities make them admirable or relatable? Do they have a unique skill or trait?
- Villain: What motivates the antagonist? How do they challenge the hero?
- Supporting Characters: Who helps the hero? Think of fairy godmothers, talking animals, or wise mentors.
Activity: Use a character profile worksheet to detail each character’s traits, motivations, and roles in the story.
4. Exploring Themes and Morals
Fairy tales often revolve around universal themes such as kindness, bravery, or perseverance. Encourage students to identify the message they want their story to convey.
Examples of Common Morals:
- Good things come to those who work hard.
- Always be kind and generous.
- Courage can overcome great odds.
5. Drafting the Fairy Tale
Once students have their ideas mapped out, they can begin writing their drafts. Offer guidance on the following:
- Language: Use vivid, descriptive language to bring the magical world to life.
- Dialogue: Create realistic and engaging conversations between characters.
- Pacing: Ensure the story flows smoothly from beginning to end.
Tip: Encourage students to use traditional fairy tale phrases like “Once upon a time” and “Happily ever after.”
6. Revising and Editing
Teach students the importance of revising their work to improve clarity and coherence. Provide a checklist for revision:
- Does the story have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
- Are the characters well-developed?
- Is the conflict compelling and resolved satisfactorily?
- Are there any grammar or spelling errors?
Activity: Pair students for peer reviews to offer constructive feedback.
7. Adding Illustrations
Encourage students to illustrate scenes from their fairy tales. Visuals can enhance the storytelling experience and allow students to showcase their creativity in another medium.
Tools and Resources for Teachers
1. Writing Prompts and Story Starters
Provide a variety of prompts to inspire students. Examples include:
- A young prince discovers a hidden portal in the castle.
- A clever peasant girl outsmarts a greedy dragon.
- An enchanted forest holds the key to breaking a terrible curse.
2. Graphic Organizers and Templates
Equip your classroom with resources that guide students through the planning and writing process. Story maps, character profiles, and plot diagrams are invaluable tools.
3. Mentor Texts
Read classic and modern fairy tales together, analyzing their structure, themes, and characters. Examples include:
- “Cinderella” (classic structure and moral)
- “The Paper Bag Princess” by Robert Munsch (modern twist on traditional themes)
Enhancing Engagement with Multimedia
Incorporate multimedia resources to cater to diverse learning styles:
- Videos: Show animations of classic fairy tales to illustrate storytelling techniques.
- Interactive Storytelling: Use apps or digital tools that allow students to create interactive fairy tales.
- Soundtracks: Play instrumental music to set the mood as students write.
Fairy Tale Language and Style
Teach students about the unique language features of fairy tales:
- Repetition: Phrases like “Mirror, mirror on the wall…” or “Fee-fi-fo-fum…”
- Imagery: Use sensory details to create vivid mental pictures.
- Tone: Maintain a whimsical and magical tone throughout the story.
Assessment and Feedback
Provide students with a clear rubric for assessing their fairy tales. Consider the following criteria:
- Creativity and originality
- Adherence to the fairy tale structure
- Development of characters and plot
- Use of language and style
- Overall coherence and presentation
Encourage self-assessment and reflection as part of the learning process.
Wrapping Up
Writing a fairy tale is a magical journey that combines creativity, structure, and storytelling. By following this guide, teachers can empower students to craft their own enchanting stories, filled with imagination and meaning. Whether it’s through step-by-step instructions, interactive activities, or thoughtful feedback, the process of writing a fairy tale can be both educational and deeply rewarding.
Encourage your students to dream big, think creatively, and bring their fairy tales to life. After all, the best stories are the ones that transport us to magical worlds and leave us with lessons we’ll cherish forever.