Story Sacks
An Article written by Ruth
(reprinted with permission from A Child's Place)

A great way to get children hooked on literature is to create a story sack. Story sacks are kits that you put together around a book. You add puppets, games, activities, etc that relate to the story. These also make great gifts.

Last summer I did a "A Story to Remember" theme and used a different story sack each week. Story sacks bring the characters to life and allow the children to interact with the book on a different level. They create a whole new literary experience.

Here are some examples of the story sacks that I created.

The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman
Story Sack Included:
The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs Storybook
Information on pigs
Pig colouring page
Activities for the letters J (for Jillian Jiggs) and the P (for pigs)
Rhyming words activity sheets
Materials to make pigs - pink leotards, buttons, childsafe needles, thread, embroidery floss, lace, scrap material, felt, and stuffing.

Extended Activites:
I set up a toy store with a cash register and money where the children could sell their pigs and other stuffed animals just as Jillian was going to in the story.

Frank and Zelda by Maryann Kovalski
Story Sack Included:
Frank and Zelda Storybook
Velcro pizza and toppings activity
Pizza fractions game
Wish list activity sheet
Pizza colouring page

Extended Activities:
We had a fun with food day and made our own homemade pizza's including the dough.

I Don't Want To Go To Bed by Julie Sykes
Story Sack Included:
I Don't Want To Go To Bed Story and Cassette Tape
Jungle Animal Puppets
Materials to Sew Own Pillows - material and stuffing (we used a sewing machine)
Pillowcases, fabric paint and stampers for decorating
Lullaby Tape
Plastic Jungle Animals
Paper bags, scissors, construction paper, glue, wool, googly eyes, and pompoms to create paper bag jungle puppets

Extended Activities:
We had a pyjama party.

You can learn more about Story Sacks and see more examples of them at these great sites...

Let's Create A Story Sack

Story Sacks


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