Day 23

Making a paper storytelling theatre might inspire a new way to think about storytelling. Once you build the theatre, you create your story or scene by designing elements to slip into each track of the theatre.

The challenge is to design the various elements of your story or scene so that you can see through the foreground to the background as pictured here. Or perhaps you might decide to design each element so when you pull one up, out its track it can reveal what is behind as part of your storytelling technique using the paper theatre!

Create as many layers as you need to visually represent your story or scene. Slide each layer into the track where it belongs in your story.

Follow along to learn how! And have fun making a Paper Storytelling Theatre!

• Card stock (I used black card stock, but any color is fine)

• Paper (cut into 4.5x4.5 inch squares)

• Paper Clips

• Scissors

• Markers, Crayons, Colored Pencils (any)

• Pencil

• Ruler (optional)

1. Fold the cardstock in half, lengthwise and crease. Fold back the and crease again to make it easier to tear apart. Tear or cut the piece of cardstock into two equal pieces, lengthwise.

2. Stack the two pieces of paper. At one end, fold in about 2.5 inches and crease. Unstack the two pieces of paper and ensure each fold has a crease and is folded in approxitaly 2.5 inches from the end.

3. With one piece of paper at a time, begin at the opposite end of the previous fold in step 2. Fold that end in about .5 inches and continue to fold the paper back and forth to make an accordion fold for the remainging paper (minus the 2.5 inches). Try to fold neatly as you create the accordion fold. When you get to the flap remaining, leave it unfolded (see photo).

1. Illustrate your story on paper squares 4.5x4.5in. Make as many elements as you'd like for your story or based on how many tracks your theatre has.

2. CONSIDER starting with the background, a 4.5x4.5 square piece of paper. In the example shown, my background is red vertical and horizontal lines.

3. Next, think about the foreground and how you might design it so you can see through to the background. In the example shown, the avatar is taped onto the 4.5x4.5 square designed with a hole cut through the center.

4. Continue to think about how to design the remaining layers to maximize the slots in the theatre. Imagine you are looking through a tunnel... How might you see what is happening inside?

5. Do you want to use a speech bubble? Draw a speech bubble in the shape and size you want on a piece of paper, cut it out, and write in it! You can attach it using a paper clip!

1. Assemble the theatre using a paper clip.

2. Make a fold about 2.5 inches wide from ONE end of each piece of paper.

3. At the opposite end of the fold, begin to make an accordion fold for the remainging paper (minus the 2.5 inches). The first fold should be about .5 inches and try to fold neatly the rest of the way folding back and forth until getting to the flap remaining and leave that unfolded.