As a storyteller entertaining children of many age groups in classrooms, libraries, and other settings, I can see firsthand the benefits allotted by the flannelboard. The children are attracted to it and it is easy to keep their focus. Most of all, it allows hands-on learning and interaction as the children place or move items on the board. The simple flannelboard is also very versatile. A teacher can be creative with limited artistic ability.
In this "On-line Handbook", I have included directions on creating your own flannelboard, along with tips, and suggestions. Cathy Ivins
Creating your flannelboard
Materials needed:
1. Flannel or fleece material - 1 yard or more depending on the size or quantity you desire. I recommend a light blue color since it seems to be more attractive and versatile. Creating Your Pieces:
Suggested Materials:
1. Construction paper - It's best to use a rough quality rather than smooth since it sticks better to the flannel. You can use construction paper for shapes, writing words, letters or numbers, etc. You can even print them out from your computer onto the construction paper if your printer is compatible. Or, have children cut their own pieces! One downfall to remember is that construction paper won't stick to itself and therefore cannot be covered. Suggested Flannelboard Uses:
1. Shapes/Puzzles - Geometric shapes can be fun if used as a puzzle to create another shape (fire truck, animals, clown, etc.) not to mention educational!
Ready, Set, GO!!
The flannelboard provides a tactile method to strengthen or develop a student's reading, reading comprehension, vocabulary and so much more. You can use your own personality and creativity to enhance the school curriculum. The children won't be bored upon the flannelboard! Have fun! Let me know what you think about my page. Send mail by clicking here.
2. Board - either a hard cardboard, foamboard, or illustration board which can be stapled yet not easily bent. I use a thick cardboard 16 x 20 which is a good size. You can buy a poster frame that size, use the cardboard on the flannel, discard the glass or acrylic, and place the flannelboard back into the frame. It's now both attractive and sturdy!
3. Stapler and tape.
Directions:
1. Wash, tumble dry, and iron the flannel. Cut the piece according to the size of your board, and add a two inch border excess. Cut the corners on a diagonal and fold the excess around the board. Staple across the top first. Then stretch the material neatly and staple across the bottom. Repeat for the sides.
2. Since the material does curl or may fray at the ends, I recommend taping across the back of the board.
2. Felt - You can use felt as in constructions paper. It's great for large areas, like in scenery, as it allows other felt pieces (or pellon below) to be placed on it. I have a large sea-blue piece of felt for water and green for land. Felt's downfall is of course that it is harder to cut, especially for children!
3. Pellon (interfacing) - I love it!!! You can use many mediums of art on it, it is easy to cut, you can trace upon it, it's durable.... I can go on and on. There are many types of pellon and I have experimented with several types. The medium weight works best. Do NOT use fusible web types as it does not cling well and cannot be ironed if a piece becomes wrinkled! Directions are below.
4. Computer Printer-Fabric Sheets - In a hurry, I made a graphic on my computer and printed it out on the neat Barbie Fashion-Designer sheets. It is a sheet of fabric attached to a sheet of paper. Once it goes through the printer, you merely peal off the backing and voile' - - - you have a quick flannelboard piece!
Directions for Pellon Pieces:
1. Draw your own design, or find a picture of one you wish to make a flannelboard piece for. Place the pellon on your design and trace in pencil. (Any mediums goes through this fabric and you may ruin your original design). Remove the design and place the pellon piece on a scrap paper.
2. Trace your pencil lines with a "Sharpie" and allow to dry. You can trace your other pieces while waiting.
3. Color in your design, using any of the following:
b) Felt/washable markers - they are certainly attractive and come in an array of colors and shades. They do however run against each other, so let them dry very well with each new color you use.
c) Crayons/color pencils - if you do not have the right color marker, you can use color pencils or crayons. They are harder to use but are great in a pinch.
d) Paint - for larger pieces of solid color, pain can be a great tool (especially water colors!)
e) Fabric paints - for details or designs these fabric paints can be fun. Glitter paints really enhance.
5. Cut out your piece and the fun begins!
Design Sources:
You don't have to be artistic to make flannelboard pieces - just resourceful! You can find designs in many places. The following are suggested sources:
1. Stencils/die cut machine - These can be used on several materials.
2. Coloring Books - these are fabulous sources for animals, people, and more. I especially like Disney Coloring Books and use their characters when possible. They appeal so much to children (example: Simba for a lion).
3. Children's books - Pellon is transparent enought to trace even pictures from books. You can even take old books cut out the pictures and glue them (using rubber cement) to the pellon. This method is not as durable however as the pieces can be ripped or wrinkled (and they cannot be overlapped).
4. Magazines - As in the children's books, pictures can be cut and mounted to the pellon. For example, cutting pictures of food to be sorted according to food groups, beginning letters, etc.
5. You can even order flannel backgrounds! Check out this webpage: Bratton Specialties
2. Letter/Number Blocks - For association of other flannelboard pieces. A cut-out number could be placed on the board and the student would place that number of flannelboard pieces on it. A cut-out letter could be corresponded to the beginning letter of a flannelboard piece.
3. Daily calendar - Months could be written on separate pieces of construction paper and placed in a shoe box. Numbers 0 - 31 can be placed in another box for the date. Days of the week in one more. Depending on the number of tables or groups of children within the classroom, you can put together a lot of information about a particular day! Each group would work together to decide the correct piece to place on the flannelboard. You can even have a box with weather pictures, or seasonal pictures. Or, make pieces to associated with special daily events such as art class, library, gym, etc. Be as creative as you wish. You can even correspond a book like Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by having pieces of the fruit he ate each day of the week! Get carried away by having five caterpillars graduating from small to big and fat to represent the end of a week!
4. Children's songs - songs can be so much more fun when they are visualized and even "touched" by having pieces placed on the flannelboard to go along with them. Many children's songs contain animals and/or an old lady of man. With a little preplanning you can have the proper variety of animals to go along with a number of songs!
5. Children's stories - AHH my favorite use! The stories come to life on the flannelboard and the children play an important part. There are activity books sometimes available for popular books which you can use to make flannelboard pieces. Even beginning reader books such as "The Farm Concert" which the children can read, is more enhanced by the children placing and moving the pieces on the board. A simple story transforms into a major learning experience. And, teachers, you won't hear that popular complaint, "I can't see the picture", as when you are reading from a book.
©1995 IvinsArt - This hand-book may not be reproduced without the permission of the author. Contact IvinsArt@aol.com. Visitors since 9/99