"If you believe," he shouted to them, "clap your hands; don't let Tink die."

....and if you don't want to save Tink (then don't read this site EVER of course ;-)!!!) or if you don't think you can see how to pursue fairy creature making in your classroom via that brilliant set of books 'The Spiderwick Chronicles'  think again. You could discuss this  photograph of the Cottingley Fairies taken by cousins Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths around 1917. Elsie was 16 and Frances was 9 at the time. I've always found the photos fascinating. When the girls grew up I think they both said the first few were fake but that the last two were real. This would be a really interesting discussion for even the most cynical anti Tink folk because you could explore HOW they made the pictures. Do you think they're real/fake...where's the evidence?  It's a really interesting way into photography-how did we used to make prints BEFORE the world of digital photography.


Making creatures inspired by the wonderful Spiderwick field guide is a really good way in to creating field guides of your own, thinking about habitats, thinking about adaptations for survival straight into the science curriculum too. Children from Castle Hill Juniors did just that with the help of their creative teacher Jo Dedicoat last term. Indeed their whole project has formed around the Spiderwick books and they have really been flying with the idea. Fuel YOUR imagination by reading them and see where they can take you and your class. 

P.S if you'd like to know more both from Crystelle re her Ancient theme or from Jo and her Spiderwick theme contact me here and I'll pass it on. It's ALWAYS good to share and that's the whole idea of both sites too.