Learning About Shapes with This Monster Flipbook
There are so many fun activities out there for learning about shapes and colors. But this one includes MONSTERS! Well, sweet friendly monsters who you can change up and make your own. I have found that the best way to teach these preschool skills is not through worksheets or sitting and telling but through play and exploration. This monster flipbook turns learning into play and makes learning shapes fun.
If you are making this craft with a toddler or preschooler, you will want to precut all of the pieces and let them help with the gluing and drawing on of faces and other details. Maybe there is an older sibling that would like to spend some time with their little brother or sister crafting together. (Norman Rockwell, here we come). But do not do it all for them. They can and should be all hands-on in the learning process from the creating to the playing.
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Check out these other crafts for learning about shapes too:
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SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG
- 8 Paper plates (9 inch coated)
- 2 Pipe cleaners
- Markers
- Assorted scraps of construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Hole punch
- Optional: Googly eyes, Elmer’s glue
**Check out the “fill your bag” page to learn how to build your crafting kit so that you can create EVERY…SINGLE…CRAFT on this blog! Never be without an “ingredient” when you are in the middle of a fun project. It is my mission to make creating with your family doable…and something that will fit into the nooks of time that you have in between your real life, because it is SOOO important! And, I solemnly swear, NO glitter will be involved!
Step 1: Make the Pages
- To make the pages of your flipbook, trim about 1 inch off each side a paper plate. We are using the paper plates because they are the sturdiest thing in our craft bag and will be more durable than construction paper.
- Now cut off 1-2 inch section from the bottom
- Use this as the template for trimming the remaining 7 plates
Step 2: Prepare the Binding of Your Flip Book
- Use the hole punch to make 4 holes on the “spine” of the flipbook. Be sure to leave a gap in the center so that the pages can be cut in half.
- Make the holes on the first page and then use it as a template for the others.
Step 3: Turn It Into a Flipbook
- Cut across the middle of one of the pages. Now we will actually be able to flip the pages and mix and match the shape monster parts.
- Use this as the template to cut across the other 5 inside pages.
- **Do not cut the cover and the back page
Step 4: Cut Out the Shapes
- Cut shapes out of the scraps of construction paper. Now we will be ready to learn about shapes and colors.
- Shapes should be small enough to fit on a half page (approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches in size)
- Vary the colors and shapes
- *For little ones who have not yet mastered using scissors, precut the shapes. Allow them to snip in hair and “fur” with supervision. They will also be able to participate in the next steps as we glue and add details to the shape monsters.
Step 5: Start Learning About Shapes
- Glue the shapes onto the pages to form “monsters”, placing one shape on the top and another on the bottom
- Embellish the monsters using the markers (and googly eyes if desired)
Step 6: Put the Flipbook Together
- Decorate the cover as desired
- Cut each pipe cleaner into thirds
- Lace a pipe cleaner piece through a set of holes and twist together to secure into a circle
- Repeat this step for each hole
The educational benefits of this craft are obvious…learning colors and shapes using the finished product! And what a fun way to do it! They will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize learning is happening 🙂 But their are other benefits to this craft too. As your child puts together the shape monsters, they will have to make decisions and process steps to get to where they want to be. These are great ways to work on executive functioning.
And then, of course, there are the benefits that are gained when making the craft…such as working on scissor skills, motor planning, following directions, improving attention span and so much more. This is why, as a pediatric occupational therapist, I love crafting so much. There are few activities that offer so many benefits while also maintaining the element of play. Children really do learn best through play.
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Happy Crafting!
