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Lesson Plans

Spark creativity with Crayola lesson plans. With hundreds of activities, the learning possibilities are endless. 

Staging Puppets

Puppetry is an ancient art form. Students will explore some examples of this type of theatre art and then write and create a theatre set so they can perform stick puppets plays.

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.

  • Craft Sticks
  • Recycled Cardboard Box

Steps

  • Step 1

    Ask students to think of different ways stories can be presented in art. They might come up with plays, movies, ballet, opera, cartoons, and animation. Did they mention puppet shows? Explain that puppetry is an ancient art form thought to be around 4,000 years old, and it was popular all over the world. Talk about the different types of puppet theatre, such as digital puppetry created by computer images, hand puppets, shadow puppets, etc. Show some images of puppet theatre in action.

  • Step 2

    Have students form small groups to write a short play that will be acted out by puppets. Encourage them to put their imaginations into action and give their characters whimsical attributes and extraordinary adventures.

  • Step 3

    After the story is planned out, have the teams create the puppets and theatre. They can make the set by turning a recycled box on its side and decorating the background. They can cut features such as a stage curtain out of construction paper. Then they can draw and cut out the puppet characters and glue them onto craft sticks. When the puppets are complete, help them cut slits in the "stage," the bottom of the box, so they can insert their stick puppets.

  • Step 4

    Have each group present their puppet theatre and play to the class. Discuss the power of creativity when we put our imaginations into action.

Standards

ARTS: Create roles, imagined worlds, and improvised stories in a drama/theatre work. 

ARTS: With prompting and support, use non-representational materials to create props, puppets, and costume pieces for dramatic play or a guided drama experience (e.g., process drama, story drama, creative drama).

LA: Develop real and imagined narratives. 

Adaptations

Have the teams choose music that could accompany their puppet plays. Can they think of songs or pieces that help to evoke the feeling of a scene? You might play excerpts from various styles, such as classical, jazz, bluegrass, hip-hop, etc.

Have students present their puppet plays to younger classes. Or arrange to visit a nursing home where students can perform their shows.