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Felt Boards - Bringing Excitement to Story Time
Has your preschool storytime been falling flat lately? A felt board is a simple way to turn any preschool book into an interactive experience. Just as it sounds, a felt board can be any type of board, from a bulletin board to a sturdy piece of cardboard, covered in felt. Smaller felt pieces naturally stick to the felt board. The felt pieces can easily be moved around the board, making it a great way to retell a story or make up a new one. Be creative! Your preschooler will think anything you make is a work of art! Better yet, let your preschooler help you with the felt pieces. With a lot of felt and a little imagination, you are on your way to a world of fun and learning!
Materials You Will Need
Bulletin board or piece of sturdy cardboard
Piece of felt in neutral color large enough to cover board
Glue
Scissors
Felt in various colors
How to Make It
Step 1:
If you are using a bulletin board as your background, trim the large piece of felt to size. If you are using a piece of cardboard, trim large piece of felt so it is just slightly larger than the cardboard so it may be wrapped around the edge.
Attach felt to board using glue. If using a bulletin board, you could use staples or push pins to secure the felt. If using a piece of cardboard, center the felt over the cardboard. One side at a time, secure the excess felt to the back side of the cardboard. You may want to cut a slit from the outside corner of the felt to the corner of the cardboard so it's easier to fold over.
Step 3:
Cut out smaller felt shapes from various colors. Start with the characters from a favorite preschool book. They don't have to be perfect! You may also want to cut out background details such as trees, houses, or grass.
Step 4:
Have fun with your new feltboard! Take turns retelling a favorite preschool book using the felt pieces you created. Preschoolers will also enjoy making up their own story using the felt pieces.
Felt Board Variations
Cut out the letters of the alphabet, numbers from 1 to 10, or basic shapes and turn your felt board into a complete learning center. The felt board could be used to teach basic sight words. You an purchase precut felt letters and numbers to make the job easier.
Short on space? Cut out the board for easier storage. The large piece of felt can be used without attaching it to a board. Lay the felt on the floor or table while using it. When you are finished, simply roll it up or fold it for easy storage.
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