Imagine a classroom where children watch in excitement as felt characters move across a board, telling a story in real time. The three little pigs build their houses, a hungry caterpillar eats fruit, and a gingerbread man runs away. Each piece on the felt board brings the story to life, letting children feel part of the action. Felt boards make storytelling fun, helping kids learn the language, use their imagination, and stay engaged. Let’s look at some great stories you can tell using this simple but powerful tool.
1. “The Three Little Pigs”
- Why it works: It has clear characters (the pigs and the wolf) and simple props (houses made of straw, sticks, and bricks). The repetitive dialogue (“I’ll huff, and I’ll puff…”) is engaging for young children and allows them to anticipate and participate. Storytelling with felt boards makes it even more interactive.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Use different textures (e.g., felt for the houses) and have the wolf dramatically blow them down, encouraging audience interaction.
2. “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”
- Why it works: This classic story has strong character roles (Goldilocks and the Bears) and easy-to-follow actions (sitting in chairs, eating porridge, sleeping in beds). The repetition of “too hot, too cold, just right” invites audience participation. Integrating felt boards enhances the engagement.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Use different-sized puppets or felt pieces for the bears and have children help arrange them according to size during the story.
3. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
- Why it works: The caterpillar’s journey from egg to butterfly provides a visual and engaging narrative with lots of props (fruit, leaves, etc.), making it perfect for felt board retellings. Storytelling enhances understanding of the lifecycle.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Create felt pieces for each food the caterpillar eats, encouraging children to count along as the caterpillar “eats” each item.
4. “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
- Why it works: Simple repetition and colourful animal characters make this story ideal for puppetry and felt boards. Children love anticipating the next animal, which is enhanced when using felt boards for storytelling.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Use felt animals in a variety of colours. Ask children to guess what comes next, reinforcing colour recognition.
5. “The Gingerbread Man”
- Why it works: The repetitive nature of the Gingerbread Man’s chant (“Run, run, as fast as you can!”) makes it interactive and fun. The different characters chasing the Gingerbread Man offer variety. Using felt boards for this tale boosts the interactive nature of storytelling.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Make felt or puppet versions of each character, with the Gingerbread Man escaping each one until he reaches the fox.
6. “The Little Red Hen”
- Why it works: A simple story about cooperation and effort, with distinct characters (hen, pig, cat, etc.). The repeated phrase “Who will help me…?” allows for audience participation. Using felt boards for storytelling can make the lesson more memorable.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Let children take turns being different characters, and use felt pieces for each part of the hen’s work (planting, harvesting, baking).
7. “Five Little Monkeys” (Jumping on the Bed)
- Why it works: A simple, repetitive counting rhyme that works beautifully with puppets or felt pieces. The actions (jumping, falling) are fun for children to watch and participate in, especially when storytelling includes felt boards.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Create monkey puppets or felt monkeys and let children act out the countdown as each monkey falls off the bed.
8. “The Enormous Turnip”
- Why it works: This story of teamwork and cooperation features a fun and repetitive build-up as each character joins in to help pull the giant turnip from the ground. With storytelling using felt boards, this narrative becomes even more exciting.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Use puppets or felt characters to show each new helper joining in, encouraging children to anticipate and join in the chant.
9. “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen
- Why it works: The repetition, rhythm, and actions (“swishy swashy,” “squelch squelch”) in this story engage children and invite them to join in. When using felt boards for storytelling, these actions can be more vividly represented.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Create a felt scene or puppet set with different environments (grass, river, mud) and have the children help the characters navigate through each.
10. “Caps for Sale” by Esphyr Slobodkina
- Why it works: This story has simple, repetitive text and visual humour with the monkeys copying the peddler’s movements, making it perfect for puppet interaction. Integrate felt boards for storytelling to keep the engagement high.
- Puppet/Felt Board Tip: Use felt caps of different colours and felt monkeys to act out the story. Children can take turns playing the peddler or the mischievous monkeys.
Want to use more stories – watch my recorded felt stories here
