Free Printable Flannel Board Stories Templates – Flannel board stories (also called felt board stories) remain a favorite tool for preschool teachers, librarians, homeschool parents, and caregivers across the United States. These simple, hands-on visuals help young children follow plots, practice sequencing, build vocabulary, and retell stories themselves. Free printable flannel board stories templates make it easy and affordable to create durable sets at home or in the classroom.
What Are Flannel Board Stories Templates?
Templates are printable outlines or full-color images of characters, animals, objects, and settings from classic tales, nursery rhymes, or counting songs. You print them, cut them out, laminate for durability if desired, and attach a small piece of felt, Velcro (hook side), or coarse sandpaper to the back. The pieces then stick to a flannel- or felt-covered board and can be moved as the story unfolds.
This approach supports early literacy skills recommended by many U.S. early childhood programs. Children see the story, hear the words, and often manipulate the pieces, which strengthens comprehension and oral language.
Benefits for Kids and Educators
- Encourages interactive storytelling and retelling.
- Supports counting, color recognition, sequencing, and rhyming.
- Works well for mixed-age groups and special needs settings.
- Low-cost alternative to commercial felt sets.
- Easy to store and transport (file-folder boards or pizza-box versions are popular classroom hacks).
How to Make and Use Free Printable Templates?
- Print the pages on cardstock or regular paper.
- Color black-and-white versions if needed (or use the color versions).
- Laminate or cover with clear contact paper for longer life.
- Cut out the pieces carefully.
- Glue or tape a small square of felt, Velcro, or sandpaper on the back of each piece.
- Tell the story while placing and moving pieces on the board. Invite children to help or retell independently afterward.
You can also use the same printables as coloring pages, stick puppets, or magnet-board pieces (add magnets instead of felt).
Trusted Places for Free Printable Flannel Board Stories Templates
Start with these well-established free resources. All offer legitimate downloadable printables suitable for personal or classroom use.
DLTK’s Crafts for Kids provides a large collection of free printable felt board templates for fairy tales, nursery rhymes, holiday stories, and popular picture books such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, The Three Little Pigs, Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks, and many more. Instructions for turning the printouts into board pieces are included on the site.
Download free felt board templates from DLTK
Kizclub offers free storybook activities and printable cutouts for dozens of classic and contemporary children’s books and rhymes (Five Little Monkeys, The Three Little Pigs, Gingerbread Man, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and many others). Color and black-and-white options are available.
Browse free story activities and printables on Kizclub
Dr. Jean & Friends shares practical flannel-board ideas along with a free downloadable story example (The Kittens’ Mittens) that works well for colors, rhyming, and sequencing. The blog also includes simple DIY board suggestions.
View Dr. Jean’s flannel board stories and free download
Teachers Pay Teachers hosts several completely free printable flannel/felt board sets created by educators. One popular free option is a full Gingerbread Man story set with characters and a written script. Search the free filter for additional titles such as counting songs or nursery rhymes.
Download the free Gingerbread Man flannel board printable
These four sources give you a solid starting library of free printable flannel board stories templates without requiring payment or membership for the basic files.
Free Printable Flannel Board Stories Templates
Tips for Longer-Lasting Sets
- Use cardstock and laminate whenever possible.
- Store pieces in labeled envelopes or small bags inside a file folder or box.
- Make multiple copies of high-use items (extra animals for counting songs).
- Involve older children in coloring and cutting to build ownership.
Brief FAQ
Are these templates really free?
Yes. The linked pages and products listed above offer free downloads for personal or classroom use. Always check the individual terms on each site.
Do I need a special flannel board?
No. A piece of flannel or felt glued to cardboard, a pizza box lid, or a file folder works well. Many libraries and classrooms already have boards.
Can I use the printables for magnet boards?
Absolutely. Attach small magnets or magnetic tape instead of felt or Velcro.
What age group works best?
Primarily ages 2–6, but older children enjoy creating their own stories or helping younger siblings.
Free printable flannel board stories templates keep storytelling interactive, low-cost, and developmentally rich. Start with the trusted sources above, print a favorite classic, and watch children light up as the characters come to life on the board.