Movies aren't just for Hollywood! With this activity, your child will draw and write on paper to tell a story about your family — the viewing of this "movie" will occur through a shoebox-based "movie theater" that you'll assemble together in advance of the showing.
What You Need
- Shoebox
- Scissors
- Markers
- Crayons
- Long strips of paper
- Paper-towel rolls
- Tempera paint and paintbrush
What to Do
- Talk about how people capture family fun on film as a way to document and share experiences. Explain that together you will create your own "movie strip" using paper and a shoebox.
- In advance, assemble the movie theater: Cut two slits at each end of the shoebox opening to slide the paper through. Paint two paper-towel rolls with tempera paint, and let dry. Then divide a long strip of paper (cut to the size of a shoe box) into 4 or 5 sections, so that it looks similar to comic book sections.
- Invite your child to draw family members, recent outings, or a family celebration on the paper. She can write a simple sentence or label the people in her work.
- Get ready to display the film. Glue one edge of the paper strip to the paper-towel roll, and slide the other end through the slits in the shoebox. Glue the other edge of paper to the other paper-towel roll, and gently but firmly roll up the film to display.
Learning Benefits
- Builds early literacy skills
- Encourages creativity
- Preserves family memories and stories
