Project:

Crankie
Sketchbook Light source Crankie
Scotch Tape Dowels
Art Supplies: paints, markers, colored pencils, etc. Storytelling
Scissors

Vocabulary
Myths
Elmer’s Glue
Materials

Legends
Xacto Knife Panorama
Xacto Cutting Board Aesthetic
Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun Line
2 Wooden Dowels Form
Scroll Paper Unity
Crankie Box (select from a cereal box or show box)
Construction paper or black Bristol Board (optional)

Overview Helpful Information and Links

- You will have the option of the following to draw Famous Storytellers:
scenes to tell a story from ONE of the following: Shakespeare Of Monsters And Men
* A song (your favorite or a newly discovered) Joan Shelley Walt Disney
* A short story, myth, or legend that you have Dr. Seuss Homer
learned about from your family.
* A short story, myth, or legend that you have Helpful Links to Explore:
discovered from doing research on folk story tellers History of the Crankie:
from around the world. https://happyfeettravels.org/creations/a-his-
tory-of-the-crankie/
- You also have the option to include moving devic-
es made from a dark construction paper or black All About Crankies This source is your best
Bristol Board. friend (also watch videos on YouTube):
http://www.thecrankiefactory.com/
- Will you have music playing in the background?

What is a Crankie?
Crankies are a form of visual storytelling with a rich and wonderful history. A crankie theatre
is a box built with two spools inside. The spools have handles that can be ‘cranked’ to bring
movement to an illustrated scroll that is wound onto the spools. Long story short - it’s a
moving panorama.

In the 19th Century, these devices had many names but were often referred to as moving pan-
oramas. The term ‘crankie’ was coined later by Peter Schuman of the Bread and Puppet The-
atre, USA.

The Crankie is a wonderful device for storytelling. It offers a stream of moving images to
delight and engage audiences young and old, whilst still allowing plenty of room for the imag-
ination to play its vital part in co-creating the story. Crankies can be combined with shadow
puppetry to help tell a story and create magical visual effects.
 Process
- Review PowerPoint from lecture as needed!

1.) Is there a story you want to tell? Is there a song you would like to create your own story-line to?
AFTER you have gotten permission of your story, you may begin by creating scenes in your
Sketchbook. Each scene should be at minimum 5” x 6”. You will need at least 12 thumbnails of your
scenes. Also keep in mind if you plan to use silhouettes or other additions to help tell your story. This
may change how you will draw your background!

2.) Decide if you want to use a cereal box shape or a shoe box shape as your crankie. Once you de-
scribe pick up your box from the supply room.

3.) Take measurement of your box. Replicate this box in your sketchbook and pre-plan the opening of
your box to view the panorama. Also consider the placement of the dowels.

4.) Once you have all measurements completed, begin my cutting up to four feet of paper. Roll the
paper out and being by sketching IN PENCIL your story! Make changes as you need to.

5.) Once you have completed the final sketch, start by using a black Sharpie marker to outline your
story. Add color if you wish.

6.) After your story is completed, roll the story up back ways on a dial. This way, when you start to
play your crankie, the story will appear in front.

7.) Insert your dowels into your crankie box. Make any last minute adjustments if needed.

8.) Practice “playing” your panorama if you have music or sounds. Get ready for your big presentation!

Planning a crankie scroll! http://www.thecrankiefactory.com/348971249

 Things to Keep in Mind
• If you want to use mixed media such as clippings of works from the scrap magazines and books,
please do!
• Use lots of color or keep it black and gray with only a hint of color. It’s your story. How will you tell
it?
• Use shapes and designs!
• DRAW your interests as well!
• Keep your hands and work area clean
• Your classmates are there for help! Ask me for help as well!
• You don’t need to retrace any lines onto your paper - you want your writing to create the
“illusion” of lines on your drawing. Don’t worry about following every line exactly - this won’t be used
to identify you! Just try to capture the general pattern of your thumbprint.
• Also, try to maintain an overall oval shape, as much as you can.
• Vary the size and weight of your text. When something is important, make it larger, bolder, or both!
Writing some words in outline letters works well, too.
• If you feel more comfortable writing in pencil first, just keep in mind that you’ll need to trace over
your pencil lines with a black (UF) Sharpie and then (carefully!!!) erase over the whole thing to make
sure there are no pencil lines showing when you’re done.

http://www.thecrankiefactory.com/348971243