Here’s how you can create the world of a book in a story box in your setting or classroom.
You will need:
- Shoe boxes or small boxes recycled after deliveries!
- Decorative and collage accessories, junk/recycled materials
- Drawing materials and paints
- Small figures, animals or characters and small world accessories (can be found or made)
- Favourite picture books
Method:
- Gather and organise the materials with the children.
- Read a book which has a least one strong setting for the children to imagine and visualise.
- Encourage the children to agree on the setting from the book that they will create inside the box.
- Ask pairs to make a plan and gather the resources they need.
- Giving question prompts may help the children to visualise their end product. How will the box look on the outside? Will it provide a clue to the scene inside?
- Ask pairs or groups of children to collaborate to create their story box world.
- Give time for children to play with their story box world, re-enacting events from the book or creating new scenes or stories.
Top Tip: Why not use your small world in a shoe box for creative story writing? These little creations are great for igniting imagination and story telling.
Why not create ‘themed’ small worlds in a shoe box too, or events such as The Great Fire of London to help with learning and discussions in class:
Book recommendations that we know story boxes work well with:
EYFS
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Biscuit Bear by Mini Grey
Year 1/2
- Man on the moon (a day in the life of Bob) by Simon Bartram
- The Great Explorer by Chris Judge
Year 3/4
- Leon and the Place Between by Angela McAllister
- Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell
Year 5/6
- The Borrowers by Mary Norton
- Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
For more inspiration on books for story boxes please take a look at our book packs here.
With thanks to CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) for writing this blog and to Oliver Parry, age 6 for the wonderful photos of his shoe box creations.
CLPE support teachers to introduce great children’s literature in inspiring and creative ways.