Summer Camp 2009

The  Funky Fairy Tales camp was run by Chitra Sharma and former Washington International School colleague, Amy Stempel.

In the first week of the camp 4th-7th graders learned about the origins of fairy tales, story structure, the elements of design, and illustration, this culminated in them writing and illustrating their own fairy tale books.

The second week was devoted to writing a script, and designing the visuals for a play.  The students then performed their production for an audience of parents and friends. The debut of Godiva & the Monster Bunny (a retelling of Rapunzel, believe it or not!) was a huge hit. We look forward to similar camps during upcoming student holidays and next summer.

Click  here for pictures from the camp

Excerpt from script for 'Godiva and the Monster Bunny'  (written and produced by students at the Funky Fairy Tales camp 2009)

Scene 1

(Mom lying on couch surrounded by used chocolate wrappers. Dad returns from the grocery store.)

Dad:        (walks in, is surprised) Wow! What happened here?

Mom:        I was eating.

Dad:        What, exactly?

Mom:        I had a chocolate episode.

Dad:        Are you sure this is good for little junior. (looks at Mom’s belly)

Mom:        He wants it, so I want it. Yeah, it’s good for him.

Dad:       Do you want a kiss?

Mom:       No, I want CHOCOLATE!

Dad:       Yeah, a chocolate kiss.

Mom:       Oh, in that case—Yes! (Dad approaches her warily, she grabs the kiss and gobbles it)

Dad:        Honey, you have to—

(Knock on the door.)

Both:       Come in! Oh, hello Officer Hansel.

Officer Hansel: Yes, it is I, Officer Hansel. (Looks down at his foot) What have I stepped in?

Mom: Chocolate fudge.

OH:       I have come to spy, er, inspect you silly people. To inspect your “wrapples.”

Dad:       Apples? They are in the kitchen.

Mom:       Why do you care about our apples?

OH:       Not apples—“wrapples”. These! (He picks up a chocolate and sniffs it.) Ah, not chocolate from my garden. They are worthless. My garden is pure chocolate. Divine coco. It is the best—grown with the best coco, the best milk. Yumm. (Mom’s eyes are bulging)

Dad:       (nervous) We didn’t take your chocolate, Officer Hansel. It’s my wife, she is craving chocolate, but we bought it from the store!

OH:       OK, then. But I am watching you. (he leaves)

Dad:        I never liked that Officer Hansel…

OH:       I heard that!

Scene 2

Mom:       (looking a bit crazy) The best chocolate in the word…. My goodness. (looks at Dad) Will you sneak into Officer Hansel’s garden and get me some. Please, pretty please….

Dad:       No, no. I couldn’t. First, it’s stealing. Second, there is the monster bunny. I couldn’t….

Mom:       I must have it! If you don’t get me some of the world’s finest chocolate, you’ll be sleeping in the yard!

Dad:       Yikes! OK—I’ll try.

Mom:       Thank you, dear!

(Dad tiptoes to Officer Hansel’s garden and, looking around, picks some chocolate, and tiptoes away. On his way out of the garden the Monster Bunny taps him on the shoulder and growls.)

Dad:       Okay, Chocolate’s going back…. (Goes back and tries to “replant” the chocolate).

(Officer Hansel comes up behind Dad)

OH:       You are a thief! I knew you were looking at my chocolate! And you about to become parents! I curse you and your child. On her 13^th birthday she will wander into my garden and be trapped FOREVER! Now—get out!

(Dad runs away—fast)