Tell a Story Using a Collage
Create a picture collage that tells a short story using magazine images, paper, and glue; arrange scenes, add captions, and share your tale.
Step-by-step guide to tell a story using a collage
Step 1
Clear a table or desk so you have a clean flat workspace.
Step 2
Lay out your magazines scissors glue paper and colouring materials where you can reach them.
Step 3
Flip through the magazines to find pictures that could be characters places or objects for your story.
Step 4
Cut out the pictures you like with scissors and set them on your workspace.
Step 5
Choose which pictures will be your beginning middle and end scenes.
Step 6
Arrange the cut-out pictures on the paper in the order you decided without gluing them yet.
Step 7
Glue the background pieces down first so your scenes have a place to start.
Step 8
Glue characters and smaller objects on top of the backgrounds to build each scene.
Step 9
Use your colouring materials to add drawn details like skies trees roads or magic sparkles.
Step 10
Write a short caption or speech bubble for each scene to tell what is happening.
Step 11
Add a title at the top and sign your name at the bottom of your collage.
Step 12
Share a photo of your finished collage and your story on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have magazines, scissors, or glue?
If you don't have magazines, print pictures from the internet or cut images from old cereal boxes, use safety or child-friendly scissors or ask an adult to pre-cut images, and replace liquid glue with a glue stick or clear tape when you glue the background pieces down first and add characters on top.
What should we do if pictures keep slipping or ripping when we try to glue them down?
If cut-outs lift or tear while gluing, arrange scenes without glue first, then press glued background pieces and characters firmly with a ruler or the back of a spoon and let them dry before adding colouring details or captions.
How can we change the activity for different ages?
For preschoolers, pre-cut pictures and have them choose and stick backgrounds and characters, while older kids can plan clear beginning-middle-end scenes, add detailed drawn elements and longer captions or speech bubbles.
How can we make the collage more special or extend the story afterward?
To enhance your collage, add 3D materials like fabric or foam on top of glued characters, write extra panels or a booklet version of the beginning-middle-end scenes, photograph each scene, and create a slideshow to share on DIY.org.
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Facts about collage art and visual storytelling
✂️ The word 'collage' comes from the French 'coller', which means 'to glue'.
🎭 Arrange images in three panels to show a beginning, middle, and end — a simple way to turn pictures into a story.
🖼️ Artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque introduced collage into modern art in the early 1900s by cutting paper into paintings.
📰 Magazines are treasure chests for collages — a single issue can contain dozens of bright pictures, patterns, and letters to cut out.
🧩 Romare Bearden used collage to create powerful, story-like scenes about everyday life and history.
How do I tell a story using a collage?
What materials do I need to make a picture collage story?
What ages is this collage storytelling activity suitable for?
What are the benefits of making collage stories (and fun variations)?
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