Woodshop- Moving Stories! Make Your Own Crankie Theater: Gr. 6-12

Storytelling in Motion: The Magic of Crankie Theater

Step back in time and into your imagination with Crankie Theater, a folk-art storytelling tradition that’s making a massive comeback! A "Crankie" is a moving panorama—a long, illustrated scroll that is wound onto spools and cranked through a wooden viewing box, creating a "movie" powered by hand.

In this hands-on creative workshop, students will become directors, artists, and performers. Over the course of the session, participants will:

• Script & Storyboard: Draft an original short story, poem, or song to bring to life.
• Illustrate the Scroll: Use markers, paper-cuts, and mixed media to create a continuous, rolling landscape of art.
• Build & Perform: Learn the mechanics of the "crank" and practice timing their narration or music to the moving images.
• The Grand Finale: Host a "Mini-Fringe" performance for family and friends on the final day!

Whether your child is a budding artist, a mechanical tinkerer, or a natural-born storyteller, they’ll love the tactile magic of making their art move. No previous experience is required—just a spark of creativity and a love for "old-school" tech.

Check out this website to learn a little more about the storied history and versatility of crankies: broniaevers.com/what-is-a-crankie-theatre

Registration Deadline

Registration closes at 11:55 PM the Thursday before the start date.

Email: communityed@edinaschools.org

Phone: (952) 848-3952