How to Make an Accordion Story Strip
An accordion booklet is a playful mini-book that unfolds like an instrument. Instead of turning traditional pages with a stapled binding, you gently pull the ends apart to reveal a long row of connected panels. This zigzag fold makes it easy to show a sequence of events, such as the stages of a seed sprouting into a sunflower or a character going on a short journey. Making one is quick, requires no glue or staples, and needs only a few simple materials.
Materials You Will Need
- One long strip of paper (heavy drawing paper or construction paper works best)
- A pencil and an eraser
- Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
- A flat tool for smoothing folds, such as a wooden craft stick or the back of a plastic ruler (your thumb works well, too)
- accordion:
- A musical instrument with pleated sides that expands and contracts; also used to describe paper folded back and forth in a zigzag.
- sequence:
- The specific order in which events, steps, or changes happen.
- crease:
- A sharp, pressed line made by folding paper or fabric.
- alternate:
- To switch back and forth repeatedly between two different actions or directions.
- panels:
- Individual rectangular or square sections on a page used to hold separate drawings or scenes.
- illustrator:
- An artist who draws or paints pictures to tell a story or explain an idea in a book.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why is an accordion fold especially useful for telling a story or showing a process?
- 2What materials do you need to gather before making the story strip?
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About this how-to / procedural passage for 3rd Grade
“How to Make an Accordion Story Strip” is a how-to / procedural reading passage about paper crafts and sequential art, written for 3rd Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (665 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.