Start with a clear theme so the page feels connected
The story of The Frog in the Well is an excellent topic for a handwritten newspaper because it is short, visual, and easy to understand. A strong theme line is “horizons and growth,” which helps the page go beyond retelling the story and show understanding.
The title can be “The Frog in the Well,” “Don’t Be a Frog in the Well,” or “Looking at the World Beyond the Well.” Put the main title at the top and add simple drawings such as a well, a frog, clouds, and birds.
Text sections students can write directly
Story summary
A frog lives at the bottom of a well and thinks the patch of sky above is the whole world. One day, a sea turtle tells the frog about the vast ocean. Only then does the frog realize how limited its view has been. The story teaches us not to stay trapped in a small world.
Meaning of the idiom
The Frog in the Well describes a person with narrow knowledge and limited vision who cannot see the bigger world outside.
Lesson and reflection
- Do not become proud just because you know a little.
- Read more and explore more to widen your horizons.
- Listening to others can help us overcome our limits.
My thought
In study and life, we should not stay only in familiar places. We should learn new things and become open-minded people.
A page layout that is simple but effective
A good design for this topic is a central picture with sections around it. Draw a round well in the middle with a frog looking upward. Above the well, add the sky, clouds, and birds to create a contrast between the inside and the outside world.
- Top: main title and a short slogan.
- Left: story summary.
- Right: idiom meaning and notes.
- Bottom: lesson and personal reflection.
- Corners: small decorations such as lotus leaves, ripples, stones, or stars.
If the page is larger, you can also add a small section for related idioms such as “narrow-minded,” “limited view,” or “broad knowledge.”
Color ideas and drawing tips
Use blue, green, and light gray as the main colors. Blue works well for the sky and water, green for the frog and leaves, and gray for the stones and well wall. This color set looks clean and cheerful.
The drawing does not need to be complicated. Focus on a few key elements: make the well opening large enough to show the small patch of sky, draw the frog with a surprised or thoughtful expression, and add birds or distant scenery outside the well to emphasize the bigger world.
Extra ideas to make the newspaper richer
- Useful words: horizon, knowledge, limit, humility, exploration, growth.
- Theme sentence: The world is much bigger than the small space in front of us.
- Thinking question: In what situations might we act like the frog in the well?
If students want to keep improving the design, try more title styles, or add more text sections, they can continue making their handwritten newspaper in the Zhihui Shouchaobao WeChat mini program.