Puppet Crafts and Activities
Remember the fun of playing with puppets? Remember how much fun it was to make your own puppets? Here are some creative ideas for introducing puppets to your young children. Get ready to act out your favorite stories using your own puppet pals!
My Puppet Mirror
Puppets are not only fun to make but can teach dexterity and creativity, as well as being a tool to use in future learning experiences. Not only can puppets teach children they also can give you, as the teacher, insight into any issues or difficulties a student may be experiencing.
You will need enough paper plates for each student to have two. Staple or glue the two paper plate’s together, eating side in, to create a pouch. Do not connect the plates together completely. Leave 1/3 of the plates open as to allow the students to insert their hand inside the pouch. Provide students with scraps of colored paper, strips of cloth, crayons, glue sticks and any other items that can be used to decorate their puppets.
Have the students close their eyes for about 30 seconds. Ask them to think about what they look like. Have them open their eyes and instruct them to decorate the plates as they see themselves.
Once the puppets are complete, have the student print their name on a small rectangular piece of paper. The paper with their name will be used as a name plate. Use a hole punch to place two holes at the bottom of the front plate where the student’s hand will be inserted inside the plate. Then place two holes in the name plate. Use two strands of yarn to connect the name plate to the puppets head. Everyone will know just who each puppet represents.
Use the puppets to decorate the room. Be sure to have them handy to use in future learning activities.
Rubber Glove Puppet
Wash and dry an old rubber glove. Draw facial features on each finger with a Sharpie marker. Use the Rubber Glove Puppet while telling a multi-character story such as ‘The Three Little Pigs’ or ‘This Little Piggie’
Bottle Puppet
Rinse and dry an empty liquid dishwashing detergent bottle and discard the cap. Hold the bottle upside down. Glue a piece of fabric around the bottom 2/3 of the bottle, leaving the top 1/3 uncovered for a face. Draw eyes, nose and a mouth on the face part of the bottle. Glue pieces of yarn to the top of the bottle for hair.
Wooden Spoon Puppets
Use markers to draw faces on wooden ice cream spoons. Glue on felt or paper clothing. Add yarn for hair. Use with the Puppet Stage below.
Fruit and Veggie Puppets
Fresh fruits and veggies make great spur of the moment puppets. Hold the fruit or veggie by the bottom and use straight pins to attach a scrap of cloth around it so your hand is hidden. Pin on facial features cut from construction paper. Almost any kind of firm fruit or veggie will work great. Discuss good eating habits with your children.
Puppet Stage
Collect a rectangle pop-up tissue box. Cut out one of the long sides of the box. Hold the box so that the cutout opening is at the bottom and the oval opening is toward the audience. Insert any small puppets, such as the Wooden Spoon Puppets above, through the bottom of the box so they show through the oval opening. Act out your favorite nursery rhyme or fairy tale!
Christmas Puppets
