21 Comments
Hands down, Usborne Stencil Cards rule the stencil universe. I use them in writing classes and my kids use them weekly for their creative stories. Why? They’re indestructible! And, frankly, if you can write and easily illustrate a story, it makes the writing process much easier.
Use the animal stencils to make a sequential story. Sequence is huge for kids to understand – beginning, middle and end.
Read The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle together and talk about the days of the week.
Then, write your own story.
First pick out an animal stencil for your main character. Then, plan an adventure for that character to have throughout the week.
Give your kids the following writing prompt to get started:
On Sunday . . .
On Monday . . .
On Tuesday . . .
On Wednesday . . .
On Thursday . . .
On Friday . . .
Then, on Saturday . . .
My seven year old planned a story in one day not one week with a Seal (named Sealy) who would make pancakes and then play with her friends. At 1:00 . . . , at 2:00 . . . and ending the day playing soccer with giraffe in the park.
What do you think? Isn’t this a fun story?
Want a stencil set of your own? I bet you do!
Usborne makes Animal Stencil Cards, Christmas Stencil Cards, Easter Stencil Cards and Spooky Stencil Cards. Click on each to see what you’d like. Subscribe to Imagination Soup if you’re not already. Comment below and tell me which cards you’d like to win. You’ll be entered in a random drawing for the winner. Contest ends January 30, 2010. U.S. and Canada only. UPDATE: Congratulations to Jennifer! Random.org selected you as the winner of this contest!
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Melissa Taylor is a mom and educator from Denver who is passionate about playful learning. Thanks for visiting the site!
21 Comments
Never thought about using stencils in this way, and I totally love the idea! Helps students worry less about the “rightness” of the pictures and focus more on the storytelling. Thanks for the post, and I dig the site as well.
I love this idea! It would be hard for me to choose between the animal stencils and the spooky stencils.
Ooh! I want the animal stencil cards! Love this idea!
We LOVE animals! It would be great to have the animal stencils…thanks!
Halloween is big at my house so we’d choose the spooky stencils! Thanks for sharing this idea!
Just found your wonderful blog! Thank you for the giveaway! I would be especially delighted with the animal stencils. Thanks!
This is a really great idea! I just found you through twitter. Those animal stencils are my favorite!
I subscribe
What a fantastic idea! My son loves to come up with stories. He’d really like the animal stencils.
I like the Christmas stencil cards–neat idea! My cards would love them.
would love to win the animal cards
shopannies@Yahoo.com
Shared this idea with the teachers at school. What a great center idea to encourage writing!
Tough choice between animal stencils and Easter stencils! Love your blog!
Would love the Animal Stencil Cards – my 4 year old is always ‘making’ books
My girls and I would love the Spooky Stencils (though it is a hard choice between those and the Christmas stencils which would probably be great for decorating gifts).
Thanks for the chance to win!
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