Sample Activities / Learning Standards

Downloadable Production Guide & Activity Sheet (.pdf)

In Brief

This is the story of a Fisherman and his wife, Isabel who live in a small hut by the sea. Every morning, the Fisherman heads out to the sea to fish while Isabel tends the garden. One day, the Fisherman catches a magic Flounder in his net. The Flounder explains that she used to be a princess, but an evil spell turned her into a fish. The kind Fisherman decides to let the Flounder go.

When the Fisherman’s wife hears the tale of the talking fish, she thinks that the fish must be able to grant wishes! Isabel insists that the Fisherman go back out to sea and ask the Flounder to give them a nicer cottage. The wish is granted, but soon Isabel begins to complain. She complains that the house is still too small, and the chickens and ducks are too loud. All the vegetables in the garden are lovely, but there are too many weeds. She wants the Fisherman to return to the Flounder and wish for a stone castle. But the castle is not enough; Isabel wishes to be Queen, then Empress, then Ruler of the Universe! The Fisherman asks the Flounder for the first two wishes, but for the final wish, the Fisherman changes his mind and wishes that Isabel were happy, no matter what the cost.

When Isabel finds herself back in her little hut, she realizes how foolish she was to think that a bigger house and more influence would make her happy. She realizes that with a roof over her head, meals of fish and cabbage, and a loving husband, she may not have everything she wants, but she does have all that she needs to be happy.

Teacher Comments

“Best play we've seen yet!! Great job! It tied in perfectly with our character trait of the month (generosity) and with a former social studies unit on needs and wants.”
- K. Lumb, Florentine Hendrick Elementary, North Rose-Wolcott CSD

“ I always look forward to your visits! My first graders totally love your performances and educationally your performance makes concepts we are working on concrete for them. Thanks.”
- Mrs. Southfield, North Broad Street Elementary, Oneida CSD

“ This was a great production. The kids were able to participate a lot and quickly understood the moral of the lesson.”
- C. Tiede, York Central School