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Collaborative Finger Puppets

Older students will collaborate with younger students to create and present a finger puppet show.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have older students meet with younger students , perhaps two-on-two or three-on-three. Ask the older ones to interview the younger ones about stories or fairy tales they enjoy and would like to bring to life. They might suggest some to the younger students. It could be a classic tale such as "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" or "Jack and the Beanstalk" or less well-known one such as "The Talking Eggs" by Robert D. San Souci and Jerry Pinkney (a Creole folktale) or "Adelita" by Tomie dePaola (a Mexican retelling of Cinderella that features Spanish vocabulary).

  • Step 2

    Once a story has been selected, have each older student help a younger student create finger puppet characters out of Model Magic. They could wrap the Model Magic around a cardboard base layer that fits around their finger, and then embellish each character with features using small pieces of colorful Model Magic.

  • Step 3

    Have the younger students put one or two finger puppets on each hand and practice dramatizing roles for each character. Have older students help them rehearse a retelling of the tale using different voices for each of the puppet characters, following a script or agreed upon storyline. Then have the younger students present their finger puppet shows.

  • Step 5

Standards

ARTS: Combine ideas to generate an innovative idea for artmaking/composing and presentation/performance.

SEL: Relationship Skills: Communicate clearly/effectively, listen actively, cooperate, work collaboratively to problem solve and negotiate conflict constructively.

SEL: Relationship Skills: Provide leadership and seek or offer help when needed.

Adaptations

Suggest that older students investigate the art of shadow puppetry, an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment in which flat figures are held between a source of light and a translucent screen. It is believed that this form of entertainment evolved into cinematography. There are parallels such as their use of music, voice, and introduction of colors. They could present a shadow puppet performance for younger students or their own classmates.

Younger students can form groups and create an original story to act out with puppets. They might create their own new finger puppets or create stick puppets using craft sticks, washable markers, and other craft items.