Story time felt boards provides hours of hands on experience. Children simply move a piece or add a piece to add detail to any story. Felt boards are visual aids to retell a classic story or to create a new story. As well, it can be used to finish a story or to add to an old story.
Making a Felt Board
Felt can be purchased as square sheets from art supply stores or local department stores. The felt can be bought as individual pieces or in packages. As well, felt comes in an assortment of colours. For the board the background colour can be all uniform or the top of the board blue to represent the sky and the bottom half green to represent the grass.
Felt can also be cut to any size desired at the fabric store. Fabric stores have a wide assortment of colours and this can be the less expensive option.
Felt will be secured to a sturdy back such as plywood, foam board, or thick cardboard. Secure the piece with fabric glue and let dry. If using the felt squares line it across the board and cut the felt squares to fit at the outside edges. If using one long piece simply glue or staple to the back of the board.
Felt boards can be of any size or shape. For first attempts, a rectangular shape is best as it is easy to cut, cover, and there is ample room for felt shapes.
Felt Board Printables
Images for the felt board can be downloaded from the computer, hand drawn, or taken from family photographs. The first step is to choose the image and alter to the desired size and shape. Once the shape is complete it is time to adhere to a backing.
Images may be adhered to sandpaper or felt. For felt, roughly cut out the picture from the paper; once cut out, glue with fabric glue to the felt. Let dry and then cut the picture accurately with fabric scissors. Another option is to secure the picture to the back of sandpaper with paper glue. Let dry and then cut out the image. Both backings work well with the felt.
Another option is to laminate the paper pieces before gluing to a backing. Laminating will withstand the wear and tear of time. Small laminating machines can be purchased at office supply stores for a reasonable price.
Felt Cut Outs
Pictures of different shapes can be cut out from the felt pieces. Draw an image with fabric chalk or marker to the felt and then cut out. Another choice, is to pin an image to the felt and cut around the image. Felt cut outs should have minimum detail. A cat face can be cut with an emphasis on pointy ears while a dog face highlighting the long rounded ears. Eyes and mouth can be glued to the face to add more detail.
Stencils are a good option for felt cut outs as the stencil is placed on the fabric and traced with a fabric pen or chalk. Next, the stencil is removed and the picture can be cut out. The images that can be cut out for the felt board are limitless.
Creating stories from felt cut outs is a wonderful activity for children of all ages. It allows them the freedom to design a multitude of story ideas with felt. Bible stories, Christmas stories, classic tales, and home stories are just a few story starters for the felt boards.
Debbie DeSpirt - Debbie DeSpirt is an Elementary Teacher for the York Catholic District School Board in Ontario, Canada. Her post secondary education ...
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