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When I started looking into using flannelgraph, I emailed my aunts and Mom for suggestions as they have used this form of Bible teaching for years. Thank you, Aunt Karla, for these suggestions!
Purchasing flannelgraph sets can be very expensive. But there are ways to create your own!
– Backgrounds are cool but they are extra. Cover a large piece of very heavy cardboard with light colored, solid piece of flannel. You have created a flannelgraph board.
– Characters and objects can be made by using pictures from coloring sheets. When I created the Bible Worksheet book I had flannelgraph in mind. Color (or have your child color) the character. Cut it out. Put felt or sandpaper on the back of the figure and stick to a flannelgraph board. And you have a homemade flannel graph set.
– Kids love to make their own flannelgraph set. Instruct the child to draw characters to cut out. Back with felt or sandpaper. Create small boards by covering some cardboard squares with flannel or felt.
– Flannelgraph is not limited to Bible stories. Use it to teach colors, numbers, letters, or anything else in the curriculum.
Lisa says
I made several child sized flannel boards for my kids a while back, by glueing felt to a small corkboard from the Dollar Tree. They work great.
Anonymous says
I am planning on making my own flannel graph for the curriculum. How do I know how to incorporate my board into the curriculum instead of the Betty Luekens board?
Momma C says
That is a good question. I haven't used other flannelgraph so I am unsure of how to answer your question. I would suggest that you go to the ABC Jesus Loves Me Group on Facebook and see what other moms and teachers have done.
sheila coito says
I too, am making my own! I bought the betty lukins guide for like 5 dollars on amazon which tells me what pieces i need:)
sheila trigg coito on facebook
Renae says
Can you make felt boards the same way??
ABCJLM says
Cover a piece of thick cardboard with felt. You can buy the thick pieces at hobby shops. Make the board size in relationship to your pictures.
Anonymous says
I see this board is old but wanted to add two other ideas for a sturdy felt board. 1) I used a poster frame when teaching and covered the included cardboard with flannel. It was lightweight and nice to have the frame as a border. 2) I've seen photos of a flannel covered artist's canvas online and like that idea too.
ABCJLM says
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
The Ambassador says
Hello! Dear Blog Author, do you like a felt board or a flannel board better and why? I've been searching for a number of days trying to gain knowledge about this. I have tried everything except sprays (paint, hairspray, etc) on the back of pieces and they still do not stay on, even with the board slightly tilted. My next attempt is some type of paint/spray idea… something that will "grab" without pulling like velcro does. At the fabric store I took in my finished board and noticed that fake gauze stuck fairly well, but was not lasting. Corduroy, not so bad either, but material that had some type of grabby glitter worked awesome. My next trial will be to try and create something similiar without spreading glitter everywhere. Whatever solution I find I plan to generously share it with others. Thanks fellow felt ladies!
ABCJLM says
I am sorry that you are having so much trouble. I just did some research myself and found that there is a difference between felt and flannelgraph but the words are often used interchangeably in this type of teaching. The Betty Lukens website uses the word "felt" and from what I read, it seems that would be better. I have there deluxe set and don't have problems with the pieces falling off. Sorry that I can't help more.