If you don’t have a copy of our Hansel & Gretel Cone Doll Play Set you can download it here. Simply print the PDF file and follow the instructions on the second page to create this adorable cone doll play set.
The story of Hansel & Gretel below is used in our classes to teach ballet dance steps, good manners and culture. Contact us if you’d like to bring ballet & etiquette to your pre-school. email: sara@academyofballetandetiquette.com
The Story
700 years ago it rained and snowed for two years and the food could not grow. Hansel and Gretel are lucky. Their mother showed them how to forage. That’s when you look for food that grows on accident. Gretel is good at finding and Hansel is good at collecting. They are a good team. Today, they did not find much to eat.
At home, mom says, “We eat together.” And the children take a nap. When they wake up, they are terribly hungry! They forget everything mom said, and eat everything they can find. Dad comes home and finds them. He says, “Hansel. Gretel. Go to bed.”
They go to bed, but don’t sleep. Instead, Hansel and Gretel listen. Mom says, “They’d eat more if they foraged alone.” Dad said, “They’re too little to leave us!” In the morning, mom makes bread and says “Hansel. Gretel. We’re going to the woods.”
The children had a plan. Gretel watched mom so they didn’t get lost. Hansel tore their bread into crumbs he dropped behind each step to make a trail they could follow home.
But the birds were hungry and Hansel said, “shoo!” Gretel said “shhhhhh.” Hansel said, “Where’s mom?!” Gretel said, “Where is your trail?” They ran about looking for mom. “Mom! Mom!” but couldn’t find her.
That’s when they got stuck. They tried to move but their feet were glued to the ground. That’s when the snakes came. The snakes slithered around their feet and ankles. Their legs and tummies. Their chests and necks! “I’m scared!” said Gretel. “I”m warm!” said Hansel. That’s when they saw it. A glittering little cottage in the woods. Hansel asked, “Do you see that?” and Gretel asked “Can you smell that?!”
The little house was made of gingerbread! Coated in frosting, candies and nuts. The children were usually polite but when they saw the house they didn’t ask permission, they just started to eat. That’s when a beautiful lady appeared. “Children? I dropped a bon bon and if you find it, you can have it. COME HERE.”
The children ran into the house and under the table and CRACK. They were in a cage! The witch laughed and said, “I’ll eat you for supper in three days time!” Hansel said, “How could she eat us?!” Gretel said, “She’ll have to cook us.” Hansel answered, “she’ll open the cage and we’ll run!”
The next day, the witch said. “Show me your finger, I’ll see if you’re fat!” Hansel stuck a twig out the front of the cage. The witch yelled, “Don’t fool me!” She carried the cage to the kitchen, opened the oven door and the children RAN! But the house was enchanted! They ran and ran and ran, so much longer than they should have in a tiny house made of candy.
When they finally passed the front door they got stuck in a puddle! They ran and ran but stayed in one place. That’s when a tiny duck passed them by. “Ride my back,” he said. And the children stood on their tiniest feet to cross the water.
Out of the puddle they heard their father calling “Hansel! Gretel” and when he hugged them he said, “I’ll never let you out of my sight again!”
