Need help with home made flannel board

[lacey]

Hi I am brand new here. I am a mature college student and have to make a flannel board (home made) for my lab class--pre-school
I think I should start simple and I need a story too. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks for your kindness and ideas. lacey:*

[Diane]

To make the flannel board:

Take enough solid flannel or felt (the color of your choice - light blue, light gray, beige or any other color that does not pick up dirt as much as white does) and place it on thick cardboard or masonite (1/4 inch thickness or less if you like). If you use masonite, you can find it in a home center like Home Depot (in the United States) or lumber yard. Place some batting in between the board and the flannel (if you want it thicker). Fold over the edges tightly and hot glue them onto the back of the cardboard. You might want to place another layer on the opposite side and glue it on if you are using cardboard. If you are using masonite or any other type of wood, you can use flat push pins or staple the flannel or felt on and remember to fold the edges over tightly. This will last forever and will not bend like cardboard does.

Good luck with your project. :)

Diane P.

[vea29]

I agree with Diane....I made mine out of cardboard when I was in school and although I still have it more then 10 years later...it has gotten bent over the years.

I would also try to pick a simple story...maybe a classic fairy tale. If you try to do something with to many details you may make yourself nervous and you and the kids will not enjoy it as much. I'm drawing a blank right now but as soon as I can think of one I'll let ya know.

Good luck!

[KarlaB]

Both of my dks have enjoyed "Brown Bear Brown Bear" at pre-school...all of the kids get an animal that they have to bring up and stick on the board when it's their turn. Or, "The Hungry Caterpillar" ~ they all get one of the foods from the book to put on the board. :)

Good luck! :)

[Lynda-WA]

Once upon a time I was technically a StoryTeller sales person. Story Teller is a company that sells quality felt products for educational use. I say technically because I bought the sales person package with the intention of never selling to anyone but me!

Anyways, one really cute thing they had was using the felt cutouts on a glove instead of on a felt board. For example, the song/book *5 Little Monkeys* could be easily done on the hand. The cloth glove (mine looks like a bath scrubber) had a piece of velcro on each finger tip. Then each felt cutout had the other piece of velcro on the back. You could easily make the characters move or hold up your hand for everyone to see.

They also had velcro to help hold up the felt pieces on the felt board. One thing with velcro is that you need to use a good quality felt, otherwise it started balling up and little pieces pull off. For my calender, the velcro is permanently on each day so there isn't any pulling on and off all the time.

But if you do use velcro, you could easily use any kind of picture, laminate it, and put a piece of velcro on it's back. Maybe even cut up a second book (if you can bear to do that!). Use a second book that is in beat up shape. Laminate the characters or entire scenes.

I agree with Diane. Mine are on cardboard and are already getting beat up. And I don't teach, do daycare or homeschool!

[Diane]

I bought a "few" felt stories but usually made up my own by making color copies of the important things in the story... laminated them and glued felt on the back of them. They worked wonderfully and so far have lasted for quite a few years. Good luck... I hope everything turns out real good!

Diane P.

[lacey]

Thank you all for all the great advice and ideas. I am very excitied to start my project. Thank you so very much again and I will let you know how I am doing as I go along.
Sincerely, Lacey

[Diane]

Originally posted by lacey
Thank you all for all the great advice and ideas. I am very excitied to start my project. Thank you so very much again and I will let you know how I am doing as I go along.
Sincerely, Lacey

You're very welcome!!! :) Good luck on your project, and please do let us know how it goes. :)

Diane P.

[vea29]

Originally posted by KarlaB
Both of my dks have enjoyed "Brown Bear Brown Bear" at pre-school...all of the kids get an animal that they have to bring up and stick on the board when it's their turn. Or, "The Hungry Caterpillar" ~ they all get one of the foods from the book to put on the board. :)

Good luck! :)
Those are both great book...you could probably use most of Eric Carle's book. I also like the story if you gice a mouse a cookie...there are other versions too..like If you give a Pig a Pancake...They're all good.

Good luck!