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Materials for designing puppets and props, puppet theater set-up for the performance. Students will be able to retain the puppets after the program, for use in the classroom or to take home as souvenirs, whatever the classroom teacher prefers.

The students should have access to pencils and lined paper. All materials for creating the puppets and puppet theater backdrop will be supplied but additional classroom materials such as construction paper, markers, newsprint sheets and glue sticks may provide useful.

The puppet theater is approximately 5 x 5 feet wide and seven feet tall. It breaks down for moving but if the classroom is not tall enough to fit the puppet theater a modified setup will be arranged.

I can create create an original puppet that reveals character traits.
I can collaborate with classmates to create and perform an original puppet play based on a scene of a text I have read.

The class will select 3 or 4 scenes from a text to re-create in small groups of 3-5 students. The teaching artist will organize students in each small group in improvising, writing and performing a short puppet play a based on a selected scene from a text they have all read. They will each take on individual responsibilities as they create a puppet to embody one or more characters, and work cooperatively create costumes or props as needed. Puppetry is a collaborative art requiring a number of transferable life skills, including cooperation, self-control and respect. Even very young puppeteers quickly learn the value of self-control in creating a puppet show together. They will learn the basics of puppetry and rehearse and present the show in a traditional puppet theater setting to their classmates and whatever audience is deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher. The presentations may be taped, if desired.

The class will select 3 or 4 scenes from a text to re-create in small groups of 3-5 students. The teaching artist will organize students in each small group in improvising, writing and performing a short puppet play a based on a selected scene from a text they have all read. They will each take on individual responsibilities as they create a puppet to embody one or more characters, and work cooperatively create costumes or props as needed. Puppetry is a collaborative art requiring a number of transferable life skills, including cooperation, self-control and respect. Even very young puppeteers quickly learn the value of self-control in creating a puppet show together. They will learn the basics of puppetry and rehearse and present the show in a traditional puppet theater setting to their classmates and whatever audience is deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher. The presentations may be taped, if desired.

Caregivers can assist the students in conceptualizing and drafting their scenes and in creating props. One caregiver per small group would be helpful but not necessary. The teaching artist will finalize the scripts for shows for each group.