Fairy Tales and Fables Printables

Fairy Tale Printables — Imgorthand / Getty Images

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Updated on January 15, 2019

A fairy tale is a story written for children (although most original versions are darker than modern tales and were originally written for adults) and characterized by magical creatures such as talking animals, witches, princesses, and giants.

A fable is a story written for children and adults with many of the same features of a fairy tale, but fables also teach a lesson or moral.

Fairy tales may also teach a lesson, but they often leave the message implied whereas a fable clearly states the moral. Fairy tales always contain a good versus evil component, where fables do not.

The most famous fables are Aesop's fables, which include familiar stories such as The Tortoise and the Hare, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Crow and the Pitcher, and The Fox and the Grapes.

Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm authored many of the most familiar fairy tales. Grimm's Fairy Tales include Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Rapunzel.

Fairy tales were often passed down orally for many generations before they were written down. Many cultures have similar tales. For example, several cultures have a Cinderella story including Egypt, France, Korea, Iceland, and China.

Fairy tales and fables can help children:

Develop critical thinking skills
Understand empathy
Realize the importance of persistence and resilience
Understand the importance of being kind and displaying integrity
Realize the importance of not trusting strangers
Boost imagination
Build vocabulary
Become familiar with story structure
Deal with scary situations in a safe environment

Use the following free printables to explore fairy tales and fables with your students.

01

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Fairy Tales Vocabulary

Print the pdf: Fairy Tales Vocabulary Sheet

You and your children are likely already familiar with many fairy tales and fables. Use this vocabulary sheet as a "pre-test" to see how many stories you already know. Use the Internet, books from the library, or an anthology of fairy tales to learn about the ones with which you're unfamiliar.

02

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Fairy Tales Wordsearch

Print the pdf: Fairy Tales Word Search

Continue your study of fairy tales and fables using this word search. Students can find all of the word bank terms associated with these fanciful stories hidden in the puzzle.

03

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Fairy Tales Crossword Puzzle

Print the pdf: Fairy Tales Crossword Puzzle

Now that your students have read the stories with which they were unfamiliar test their fable and fairy tale knowledge with a fun crossword puzzle. Each of the clues describes a term associated with the stories.

04

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Fairy Tales Challenge

Print the pdf: Fairy Tales Challenge

Invite your students to take this fairy tale challenge. Four multiple choice options follow each description.

05

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Fairy Tales Alphabet Activity

Print the pdf: Fairy Tales Alphabet Activity

Your students can continue the fairy tale and fable theme while also practicing their alphabetizing skills. Students should write each fairy tale themed word in correct alphabetical order on the blank lines provided.

06

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Fairy Tales Draw and Write

Print the pdf: Fairy Tales Draw and Write page

Let your students get creative by drawing a picture related to a fairy tale or fable. Once they complete their drawing, they can use the blank lines to write about it.

07

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Fairy Tales Theme Paper

Print the pdf: Fairy Tale Theme Paper

Students can use this fairy tale theme paper to write a poem or essay about fairy tales and fables, or they can make up their own whimsical story.

08

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Goldilocks and the Three Bears Coloring Page

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Coloring Page. Beverly Hernandez

Print the pdf: Goldilocks and the Three Bears Coloring Page

Read Goldilocks and the Three Bears together and let your children complete the coloring page. If you've read the story many times, you may be interested in investigating to see if you can find a contemporary retelling or a similar story from a different culture.

09

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The Tortoise and the Hare Coloring Page

The Tortoise and the Hare Coloring Page. Beverly Hernandez

Print the pdf: The Tortoise and the Hare Coloring Page

The Tortoise and the Hare is one of Aesop's most famous fables. You've probably heard the moral many times: slow and steady wins the race.

10

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The Ugly Duckling Coloring Page

The Ugly Duckling Coloring Page. Beverly Hernandez

Print the pdf: The Ugly Duckling Coloring Page

Read the story of The Ugly Duckling with your children and let them complete the coloring page. Again, if you're very familiar with the story, you may enjoy seeking out other versions or retellings.

Updated by Kris Bales

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Your Citation

Hernandez, Beverly. "Fairy Tales and Fables Printables." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/fairy-tales-printables-1832389. Hernandez, Beverly. (2020, August 27). Fairy Tales and Fables Printables. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fairy-tales-printables-1832389 Hernandez, Beverly. "Fairy Tales and Fables Printables." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/fairy-tales-printables-1832389 (accessed March 22, 2023).