Tell a story without words

What can we use if we don't have a 'clear flat surface' or fancy art supplies?

Use a clean tabletop, a large piece of cardboard or posterboard as your clear flat surface, and swap markers or paint for crayons, magazine cutouts, stickers or small toy figures when you gather materials.

My panels look confusing or the photos don't match — how can I fix that?

Secure props with tape or Blu-Tack, keep the camera or phone at the same height and distance for each panel, and check your thumbnail plans to align poses, expressions and colours with the start, middle and end.

How can this activity be adapted for different ages?

For younger children simplify the task to two or three large panels using arranged objects and a single clear goal, while older kids can create detailed thumbnail plans, more panels, and experiment with camera angles and framing when they photograph each panel.

How can we extend or personalise the silent story project?

Turn it into stop-motion by taking more incremental photos per movement, craft and decorate custom props and colour schemes when you adjust poses and colours, and print or bind the finished panels into a mini-book before sharing on DIY.org.