HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 2 cardboard shoeboxes with attached flip top lids
• 4 inches of Velcro cut into four 1-inch pieces
• Craft foam sheets
• Golf tees
• Wooden paint stir sticks about 12-inches long
• Round magnets
• One 2-inch magnet strip
• Miscellaneous items to embellish characters
• Scissors
• Glue
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Poster paint, paintbrushes

LET'S GET STARTED:

Paint both Shoeboxes and let dry

Box 1: Base Box

1. Close the lid on one of the shoeboxes. Tape shut.
2. Cut out a large rectangle from the lid leaving a 1-inch framed edge all the way around.
3. Place Velcro pieces at each corner of the 1-inch frame.   Glue in place.
4. Cut out both small side ends of the shoebox.
5. You now have a box with openings on the top and 2 sides.

Box 2: Stage Box

1. Cut out the bottom of second shoebox leaving a 1/2-inch edge all the way around.
2. Flip the Stage Box lid open. Set the Stage Box and its attached open lid on top of the Base Box so that the open lid juts outward beyond the Base Box.
3. Notice where the Base Box Velcro pieces hit onto the Stage Box and attach the matching piece of Velcro at those points on the Stage Box.
   
   The Velcro pieces now join the two boxes together.

Characters

1. Cut out two identical character shapes from foam sheets. You may use cookie cutters or coloring books for patterns. The simpler the better.
2. Sandwiching a golf tee in between the two shapes, glue them together leaving the wide end of the golf tee sticking out the bottom of your character. The pointed end of the golf tee will be hidden in between the two craft foam pieces.
3. Glue a round magnet onto the wide end of the golf tee.
4. Make as many characters as you need for your story.
5. Decorate your characters any way you want. For fun, add real photos for faces.
6. Glue the opposing round magnets near the end of the paint stir sticks. To perform: Hold a stick in each hand and bring through the openings on the sides of the Base Box.   Move the characters around by matching up the magnets.
7. Extra idea: Make furniture using any fun items from your craft supplies. You could also use dollhouse furniture and small toys, too.

Backdrops/Scenery

1. Secure magnet strip just above the opening on the top back edge of the Stage Box.
2. Place kids artwork or a page from magazines over back stage opening. Hold in place with opposing magnet.    Make several and change scenes while you perform the play.

Let the story begin!

OTHER ACTIVITIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Family Message Centers
Web Message Center with Spider Writer
Cardboard Fence Message Center
Homemade Gelatins
Homemade Gelatins
Gelatin Citrus Slices
Cool Kid's Cookbook
Kids Become Writers/Publishers
Masked Word Poetry
Night Night Book