Sometimes when we think of preschool Bible lessons, we often think of a flannel board (some call it felt board) and the flannel board stories that go along with them. They've always been a popular way to teach Bible stories at home and as a Sunday School lesson for kids. Flannel Board and flannel board stories are what I consider the best Bible study activities for teaching preschool Bible stories.

Here's a Few Ways How to Use Flannel Board Bible Study Activities

Flannel stories help keep kids attention, better yet it encourages them to use their imagination. Bible felt stories are also very easy to use effectively.

When you buy a flannel board kit to use with your family or Sunday School class, it often includes the stories that go along with the flannel board figures, and instructions for how to position them for each story.

If you're teaching a children's class, prop up your board on a chair or tape a piece of flannel to the wall. For teaching your own children, you can put the board on the floor so the children can all reach it easily.

You can begin using a flannel board and Bible felts by reading the Bible story to your child, and using the flannel pictures to illustrate it while keeping your child's attention. When you're done with the story, have the children retell the Bible story on their own using the flannel board patterns. This will reinforce the story and your lesson.

Using flannel board activities is an effective teaching method which helps develop a child's speech skills. Even as young as 4 yrs old, children can retell a biblical account using felt board patterns.

In addition to this, flannel boards can help develop reading comprehension as well. By sequencing the story – putting the events in order with the pictures – your child can internalize the story and understand how the different parts of the story work together.

A good way to check a child's understanding is to have them teach a concept to someone else. Flannel boards are a fun way for a child to share his learnings with someone else.

For older children 8-12 years old, encourage them to read the Bible story while manipulating the flannel board figures. It will act as a help aid for developing their speech, reading, and teaching skills too. You may let them be creative by choosing their own pieces from a small assortment, rather then making them use the ones decided by the instructions. Their audience could be family members ~ grandmom and granddad, aunts and uncles, or for you teachers... your Sunday School class. Children of this age would enjoy being creative. To put some excitement in the lesson, have the "teaching child" dress up in a biblical costume that relates to their Bible story.

More Ways to Use Flannel Board and Flannel Stories...

Telling stories with flannel board can also help you teach your children moral lessons, identify character qualities, and help them discern good over evil. You can purchase Bible flannel felts that help you teach these lessons instead of tell Bible stories only.

To teach your children character lessons, you can stop during a story, and ask your audience what would be a good decision for a key character to make. Because you can make Bible flannel felts fit the story you want to tell, instead of a video where the story only happens one way you can experiment with having the characters try different courses of action.

For example, show a story of someone who made a bad decision, then ask the children to retell the story using the flannel, with the character having learned his lesson, about lying, stealing, or disobeying.

You could also show a story about a character who has positive character qualities. Can your child show how the story would be different if the character had different qualities? For example, tell a flannel board story of someone who is a good friend. Have your child retell you the story with the character not being a good friend. This will help them identify and recognize what makes a true friend.

When the lesson is over, leave the flannel out for your children to play with on their own. Encourage them to experiment and tell their own stories, based on the lessons you've discussed. You may even want to have two sets of flannel figures – one that you use for instruction, and another less expensive or older set, that your children can play with on their own.

May God bless you as you diligently teach His Word,

Author of "Plant the Word"
Co-Owner TrainUpChildren.com

If you like to share your favorite teaching method with others, be sure to let us know and we'll add it to our list. We'd enjoy hearing from you and I'm sure others will too ~ just send us an email, contact us.