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Felt Boards are a fun visual manipulative to use with preschool children. They are easy to make and easy to use both by teachers and children. |
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HAND HELD FELT BOARD
I like this type of felt board because it is easy to hold and easy to use. I especially like it because you do not have to turn away from the children to place objects on the board. To make this board, you need a square piece of heavy cardboard, approximately 14” x 14” and something to use as a handle (paint stirrer or small ruler).
- Cut out a piece of green felt slightly larger than the square cardboard.
- Wrap the felt around the cardboard and tape or glue the felt to the board on the back.
- Now tape a large handle in the middle of the back so that the handle will hang down from the square.
- This will enable you to hold the felt board in front of you as you tell a story or teach a lesson.
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TABLE TOP FELT BOARD
To make this felt board you will also need a large rectangular piece of heavy cardboard, approximately, 20” x 24”.
- First, turn the cardboard square over and score the cardboard down the middle. This should enable the board to bend in half.
- Next, cover the top half of the rectangle in light blue felt and cover the bottom half in green felt (to represent the sky and the ground).
- Wrap the felt over the edges of the rectangle and tape or glue the felt to the back of the cardboard.
- Your felt board should now be able to stand alone on a table with the sides slightly bent forward.
Variation: You can also use an old game board and cover it with felt, like above. |
ROOM DIVIDER FELT BOARD
The backs of book cases and other low cabinets also make great felt boards.
- Turn the cabinet so that the back of it faces your circle time area.
- Cover the back of the cabinet with felt.
- Fold the edges under and stable the felt to the back of the cabinet.
- This will make a great manipulative for your children to play with on their own when you are not having circle time.
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BOX FELT BOARD
You will need a nice shallow box with a sturdy lid for this felt board.
- Cut a piece of felt to fit inside the box lid.
- Then, glue the felt onto the inside lid.
- You can use this felt board with a small group of children.
- You can either hold up the lid yourself or you can prop the lid up using the box to steady it.
VARIATION: A smaller version of this makes a great toy for your child to use in a car. Place felt board pieces inside the box and cover with the lid. When your child is bored in the car, pull out the activity and show your child how to place the felt pieces onto the inside of the lid. |
APRON FELT BOARD
- To make this felt board, cut out a simple butcher style apron out of felt.
- Sew a ribbon neck strap at the top and ribbon ties on the sides.
- Sew on some large felt pockets on the front.
- Felt story pieces can be stored in the pockets, ready for you to pull out as you tell a story.
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CARPET SQUARES
- Teachers or children can also use small carpet squares of indoor/outdoor carpet for a felt board.
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FELT CUT OUTS
- Using simple shaped patterns, cut out felt pieces to use on your felt board.
- Decorate cut outs with marking pens or other felt pieces of desired.
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MOUNTED PICTURES (with Backing Options)
- These can come from magazine cut outs, computer picture print outs, or pictures from old books.
- Cut out characters and then glue them onto a piece of light cardboard, then place a backing on the back of each cardboard cut out that will adhere to the felt board.
- Some felt board backing options are:
Velcro Circles, Felt strips or Circles, Sandpaper strips and rolled tape.
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PAPER TOWELS
- Simple shapes can be cut from plain white paper towels and then colored with marking pens.
- The towel should adhere to the felt board.
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