There Was A Princess Long Ago is a wonderful storytelling circle game, which combines one or two well known fairy tales with actions and imaginative movement, and is best suited to children of 3 years and over. It’s full of fairytale romance and magic!
There Was A Princess Long Ago
There was a Princess long ago, long ago, long ago,
There was a Princess long ago, long ago! (hold hands in a circle)
*
And she lived in a big high tower, a big high tower, a big high tower,
And she lived in a big high tower, long ago. (arms up high for tower)
*
One day a bad Queen cast a spell, cast a spell, cast a spell,
One day a bad Queen cast a spell, long ago. (cast spell with fingers)
*
The Princess slept for a hundred years, a hundred years, a hundred years,
The Princess slept for a hundred years, long ago. (rest head asleep on hands)
*
A great big forest grew a round, grew around, grew around,
A great big forest grew around, long ago. (mime tall swaying trees)
*
One day a Prince came riding by, riding by, riding by,
One day day a Prince came riding by, long ago. (mime riding a horse)
*
He cut the trees down with his sword, with his sword, with his sword,
He cut the trees down with his sword, long ago. (mime chopping with a sword)
*
And when he kissed her she woke up, she woke up, she woke up,
And when he kissed her she woke up, long ago. (kiss the back of your hand)
*
So everybody’s happy now, happy now, happy now,
So everybody’s happy now, HAPPY NOW! (go round in a circle very fast)
How to Play the storytelling circle game
- First you need to choose your princess, this can cause obvious problems, but you just have to reassure the rest that everyone will have a turn!
- The others hold hands and go round in a circle, with the princess in the middle, singing the first verse.
- Follow the actions as described alongside the words of the song above.
- The children get very involved in acting out the story, and everyone is so delighted with the happy ending!
There Was a Princess Long Ago Craft
After singing the song you could explore the fairy tale theme further by trying the simple craft activity in the picture above.
What you need:
- A rectangular piece of cardboard
- A wooden spoon
- Yellow wool
- Thinner cardboard in a fan shape for the roof
- Sharpie markers for decoration
- Stickers for the princesses features
How to:
1. Using the sharpie marker, draw a brick pattern on your rectangular piece of cardboard
2. Cut a hole into one side of the tower, which will be the princess’s window
3. Roll the cardboard into a tower shape
4. Fold the fan shaped piece of cardboard for the roof into a cone shape and secure with sellotape
5. Use the marker to draw the princess features onto the wooden spoon
6. Plait the yellow wool and secure onto the top of the wooden spoon for the princess’s hair.
This game offers plenty of scope for all sorts of improvisation, depending on the age of the children making it, the materials you have to hand, and the time that is available.
Follow Sara @ Let’s Play Music’s board Circle Games on Pinterest.
The craft is very fun and I love acting and singing
Thanks, I love the songs and crafts that are attached to fairy tales too, they are so good for little imaginations!
This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing at our #PinningforPlay link up.
Thanks for hosting and pinning our pins Lauren! 🙂
Love this! Great posts, as usual- your site is just awesome! Thanks for linking up to Discover & Explore!
Thanks Stephanie! You are very kind 🙂 We love Twodaloo too! So many great ideas!
Telling stories through song is very fun. I know my daughter Elizabeth loves to make art projects and I think that this a great way to include the forgotten art of storytelling too. Thank you for linking up this week to the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop 🙂
Thanks Jill! Yes, Fairy tales are an essential part of every childhood! Thanks for hosting 🙂
Thank you so much for this great post. I came by your blog via Pinterest, and have included this post in my weekly round-up of great pins. If you’d like to have a look, here is the link: http://littlegreenteacher.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/pins-of-week-area-game-animal-movement.html
Thank you for including us in your weekly round up! It is a great song – I love fairy tales 🙂
Oh, my daughter will love this one!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Oh, we love singing in this house. I think my two will really enjoy this song, thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Thanks, I hope you all enjoy the fairy tale!
I just love this. Pinned for my princess-obsessed daughter and friends
Thanks! My little girls loved being princesses too!
This is great! Pinned it! Thanks for sharing at TGIF!