Jingling Jester
In Medieval times, a jester’s job was to make people laugh. Create your own jovial jester. Your friends and family are sure to smile at its antics, especially on April Fool’s Day!
1. Read The Jester Has Lost His Jingle or a similar story. How did a jester’s humor enrich people’s lives? Why does laughing keep people healthy?
2. On a large piece of paper, use Crayola® Colored Pencils to draw the head of a jester wearing his three-point hat. Color him using Crayola Multicultural and Regular Markers. Cut out the head with Crayola Scissors. Trace it to make the back of your puppet. Color and cut out the back.
3. Cover your art area with recycled newspaper. Place the head pieces back to back. Seal the edges of the head (not the neck) with Crayola School Glue. Air-dry the head flat.
4. Stuff your puppet with crumpled newspaper.
5. Paint a section of cardboard gift-wrap roll with Crayola Washable Tempera Paint and Paint Brushes. (You would use the whole long roll and make an almost life-size puppet.) Air dry.
6. Glue the top of the tube into the jester’s neck. Air-dry.
7. On a large piece of construction paper, draw a pointed collar. Color it with markers. Use your imagination to decorate the collar. Add small craft bells if possible. Cut out the collar and glue it to the jester’s neck. If you used a long gift-wrap roll, dress the rest of your puppet.
8. Retell the story you read. Make up your own jester tales and tell jokes with your Jingling Jester.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.
Recycled Cardboard Tubes—Use paper towel tubes, gift-wrap tubes, or long cardboard tubes that can be cut to any length. Health professionals caution against using recycled toilet paper tubes for arts & crafts projects because of the potential fecal contamination.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
- Collect jokes for your jesters to tell. Print them in a book. Tell the jokes before an audience with your jester puppets.
- Read a story such as The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo F. Buscaglia. Create leaf puppets for role playing situations such as change and loss.
- Write a story or paragraph about an emotional time (happy or sad) that you experienced. Read your story to others and discuss how you handled the situation.
Rising With the Weather
Remember the Best
The Leaf Café
