Stories that Pop!

Have you ever loved a story so much that you wish it could pop straight out of the page? Now it can! Work with your students to design their own pop-up books. For a visual example, check out this Bringing a Pop-Up Book to Life  video on YouTube!

First, have all of your students choose their favorite fairy tale or story, or choose one you’ve read aloud during storytime.

Next, provide empty notebooks for each student or staple blank pages together to form booklets. On each page, invite students to write down a line or section from the story at the bottom of the page, making sure that their story has a beginning, middle and end.

Next, draw scenes, characters and places to go along with this text on a separate piece of heavy construction paper. Feel free to utilize markers, stickers or printed-out photographs.

Then, cut out these drawings carefully and fold them in half. Tape or glue the bottom half directly into their booklets, so the top half stands upright when the page is open. Carefully close the booklet, allowing the 3D illustrations to fold neatly in between the pages. Voilá! Each student now has their very own pop-up book!

Take turns having each student read aloud from their pop-up book or facilitate a pop-up book swap, so everyone can see each others’ art and learn some new stories!

To support this unit, use the My Magical Mythical Map Creativity Page.