by Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - 2013
Years
ago when our children were small, flannelgraph boards were very
popular in teaching especially Bible stories. Child Evangelism
Fellowship capitalized on getting the gospel message across to children
through exciting and colorful stories shown on a large flannelgraph
board, a very effective method. We used a flannelgraph for our family
devotions as well. The Christian book store had about twenty stories on
character in a kit made for the flannel graph, entitled "Winky and His
Friends," which we used. When our oldest child was able to tell the
stories herself, she would have fun playing with it (and practicing) and
then be in charge of the Winky story during our devotional time.
It's
super easy to make a flannelgraph board if you want to give it a try.
Use a foam board from a craft store for the stiff backing. Cover the
board with either flannel or felt, folding the edges tightly to the back
and taping neatly with duct tape for a strong hold. Miter the corners
to cut down on bulk. You can either cut shapes directly out of felt or
draw pictures on paper and glue felt or flannel to the back so the
object will stick to the board. Store each "set" of felt figures in a
separate Ziplock bag to keep everything in order and prevent them from getting ruined. You don't even need
an easel. Simply prop up the board against the back of a sofa or
chair or even a fireplace. You'll find this activity will keep your child's attention with a variety
of "kits" that you can prepare.
The flannel graph can be used to
teach young children so many things. Here is a list of fifteen "kits"
and this is just the beginning. I'm certain that you and your children
will come up with lots of other great ideas. I'd love if you'd share your ideas with me!
1. Teach colors by cutting out circles or squares in
various colors of felt. If two shapes are available of each, it can be
a matching game.
2. Teach shapes by cutting out a circle, square, oval, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, and trapezoid.
3. Teach numbers by cutting out numbers 1 to 10 and so on.
4. Teach Bible verses with pictures and symbols. Example: GOD (written out) so loved (picture of heart) the world (globe) ...
5. "Paper" dolls can be cut out of felt and dressed with a felt wardrobe.
6. A felt truck could haul all kinds of felt objects - whatever you and your child decide to cut out.
7. Cut out a light colored fish bowl and make colorful fish to swim around inside.
8. Make a pond or lake, and cut out frogs, turtles, fish, and bull rushes to place around the water.
9.
Cut out parts of a house: square or rectangle for the body of the
house, a roof, a door, windows, a wreath to put on the door, a chimney,
smoke for the chimney, window boxes, flowers, cat and dog. Then have
your young child assemble everything on the board.
10.
Using Bible stories about David, Daniel, Jonah, cut out the people and
various objects that help to tell the stories. In some cases, papers
that your children bring home from Sunday school could be cut out and
glued onto felt
11. Cut 4-inch squares of different fabric prints,
stripes, checks, etc. (two of each fabric). For a toddler, line up one
of each fabric on the board, and have your little one match the
remaining swatches. Using pinking shears to cut them out will prevent
unraveling.
12: Cut out X's and O's along with four strips of felt
(about 1" x 12"), and you've got a game! Or you could cut out a dog and
cat in place of X's and O's.
13. Cut out a large butterfly as well as lots of little dots and swirly pieces for decorating the butterfly.
14.
Cut out a large flower pot and lots of different colored flowers and
some stems and greenery for with flower arranging fun. Add a butterfly,
dragonfly, ladybug or two, a worm and a caterpillar, since those
creatures do show up on outdoor arrangements.
15. Make a pizza! Cut
out a large beige circle (or several smaller circles for individual pan
pizzas). Cut out red blobs of tomato sauce, pepperoni, pepper strips
(red, green and yellow), onion slices, and cheese. Have fun assembling
the pizzas!
Smaller boards would provide hours of fun while on
trips, and is perfect for a quiet time in place of a nap.. And,
Grandmas, this would make a wonderful gift for your grandchildren!
"Kits" could be given at different times throughout the year, and could
also be mailed quite easily.
You can also purchase Bible stories to use on your flannelgraph:
I suggest you call your local Child Evangelism Fellowship office to see if you can purchase materials from there.
