Have students select and read fairy tales from around the world. Pass out a world map for students to record the titles of fairy tales read and color in the corresponding country. For example, if students read "The Egyptian Cinderella" by Shirley Climo and "Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China" by Ed Young, students would color in the counties of Egypt and China on their world maps.
Discuss common elements of fairy tales such as historical settings, good and evil characters, magical or make believe aspects, or things presented in groups of three. Have students write a fairy tale in which they are a lead character in the story. Encourage students to take an event from their lives, such as a problem they had to solve or a vacation that went wrong, and add a twist to that story so that the fairy tale make believe elements jump to life.
Invite fourth-graders to pick three favorite fairy tales and turn the stories into short plays. Have students pick roles, write scripts, create costumes and make sets for their plays. Encourage groups to keep plays to 10 minutes or less in order for three plays to fit within a half-hour session. Invite younger classes to attend their own private showing of "The Fourth-Graders' Fairy Tale Theater."
Fairy tales are often set in times long ago and in places far away. Have your fourth-graders work in small groups to build their ideal version of a fairy tale castle. Have students bring in recycled shoeboxes, paper towel rolls, cereal boxes, cans, round containers and other small boxes from home. Provide glue, yarn, paints and scrap fabric pieces for students to construct their castles complete with drawbridges, moats, towers, flags or other features they envision.