DIY Gruffalo story sack

Story sacks (or story bags) are a great way to bring stories to life and hold a child's concentration as they listen to a story. They are basically a collection of props to help you tell your story. They have the added bonus that the child can play with the items afterwards and retell the story. This story sack is based on the Gruffalo, a firm favourite in many houses and preschools! As well as having visual element we really wanted this story sack be extra sensory and to be tactile.

The Fairy helped make the parts of the story bag. Purple prickles were made by painting this pine cone purple. Orange eyes from bottle tops and 'googley eyes'. The tongue is piece of black felt.

Terrible tusks, teeth and claws were all pieces of stone chosen for their appropriate size and shape.

Knobbly knees and turned out toes were pieces of brown craft foam. The knees had 'added knobble' by mixing porridge and silver paint.

Once you've made a story sack the best thing to do it to take it to a deep dark wood and tell a story.

If you like this story sack you might also like our Owl babies story sack and our Nativity story sack.

This post is part of #loveliteracy  A group of bloggers who are passionate about developing children reading, writing and talking skills.~The Fairy and The Frog ~Here Come the Girls~Sun Hats and Wellie Boots~Actually Mummy~My Little 3 and Me~Rainy Day Mum~Damson Lane ~Thinly Spread ~

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~ If you blog and have a relevant post focusing on literacy please link up below

How to make an Owl babies story sack

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Using objects as you tell a story can help a child to focus and pay attention. Having the same objects available for the child to play with can act as a prompt to help them retell the story and develop imaginative play scenarios. All great ways to develop language skills and have fun at the same time.

Here's how we made some pom pom owls to use a 'story sack' for one of our favourite autumn books : Owl babies                                                        

I made some pom poms out of wool (my top tip if you are going to 'try this at home' would be to use smaller pom poms - I was a bit enthusiastic and they take ages to make!). I made 3 'owl babies' and one wool mother. If you have an older child you might like to make the pom pom with them. I modified them to look like owls by sticking on some felt eyes and a beak (made from folding a square in half).

I then told The Fairy the story (borrowing Grandma's apple trees for a nest). Moving the props as appropriate during the story.

Afterwards we used a fallen branch and The Fairy retold the story. Later I over heard her playing 'Owl schools' - The eldest Owl had just started school like her! 

NB as these are pom poms not toys it is important not leave your child alone with them.

We talked about our pom pom Owl's over at Red Ted Art's Autumn craft hang out. There are lots of other lovely autumn ideas to check out. 

Here are some other ideas for 'story sacks': Nativity Story Box

Child led books

I'm really keen to encourage a love of literature and telling stories with our children. Fortunately the kids are keen on this too!

When the lovely Cathy over at Nurturestore shared how she organises her play room, I knew The Fairy would be keen to adopt the idea of 'little books'. You provide your child with some blank books - ready to be filled with illustrations and stories. These make a great addition to a writing or creation station.

The set up is simple - some blank paper folded to make a book and pens/crayons.

Let the authors narrate.

One of my favourite things about this activity is how child led it is. I left a blank book next to where she keeps her paper, she found it and started creating (she did check with me first that it was OK to draw on it!) The when she was finished she came and told The Frog and I her story; then promptly asked for me to make her up a other blank book.

How do you encourage your child to tell and write stories?

How to make Fimo Nativity figures

Its really important for us as a family that our kids know that Christmas isn't just about Father Christmas (Santa) and presents.

Like story boxes, using small world people to tell a story helps children to engage, interact and remember it. As well as using figures as story props you can let your child play with the figures and re-intact the story (great for developing communication skills). As out main nativity set is very breakable I thought I'd make some chunky nativity figures out of Fimo (polymer clay).

Here's how I made them...

The figures are based on a really simple ball for the head, with additions.

Mary, Joseph and the shepherd have head dresses.

The Kings have crowns and a little present.

The angel, wings and a halo.

Baby Jesus is wrapped in cloth and in a manger.

I wanted to keep the figures as simple as possible, partly to be practical (i.e. less bits means less bits to break off) but also to encourage imagination.

This post is part of a blog hop. Do you have a blog and a nativity themed post? If so link up below. Why don't you check out some of the other hosts on the hop.

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