Flannel Board Games

Weather

• Cut out a boy and girl shape from felt. Cut out yellow slickers and rain hats, black boots, hooded parkas, mittens, hats, gloves, scarves, sunglasses, flip-flops and sun hats from various colors of felt. Each day, play the weather game by deciding what outfit the boy and girl should wear to be prepared for the weather. Read the forecast to preschoolers or have older children read it themselves, and then place the appropriate clothing and accessories on the flannel board.

  Cut out a yellow sun, white clouds, gray raindrops, white snowflakes and blue swirls for wind. Play the weather game as above, except place the appropriate weather shapes on the flannel board according to the day's forecast.

Calendar

• Cut felt shapes corresponding to each month. For example, use hats and noisemakers, snowflakes and the letters "MLK" for Martin Luther King for January; hearts, cupids, George Washington's cherry tree and Lincoln's stovepipe hat for February; and the like. Cut out simple shapes to represent a birthday cake, piano, ballet shoes, soccer ball or any activity in which your children participate. Play the calendar game by letting children choose a month and place the appropriate shapes on the flannel board. Vary the game by choosing just holidays or activities, rather than a month.

Story

• Cut out an assortment of people shapes from felt, adults as well as children. Add some dogs, cats and birds. Cut out clothing representing various occupations, such as a white apron and tall hat for a chef or baker; a yellow slicker, red hat and black boots for a fireman; and a stethoscope and black bag for a doctor. Place the felt shapes in a container and shake them up. Have the children draw one shape at a time from the container and place it on the flannel board, making up a story to explain the shape. For example, if a girl shape is drawn, the child might give it a name. If a boot is then drawn, the child might decide that the girl is looking for her boots because it's snowing. The children are free to change the story as they draw more shapes and place them in different positions.