Envelope+Puppets

ENVELOPE PUPPETS WORKSHOP RESPONSE January 26, 2012

http://literacymethods.wikispaces.com/Envelope+Puppets (go to the link for a template to make the puppets) This puppet is so easy to make. It took me less than 5 minutes and as soon as I had bent the unopened long side to create a mouth – it was “instant puppet!” (This is not decorating it) I am used to seeing brown bag puppets in elementary age settings. In the photos on the wiki workshop page, I can see that material can be added to make much more elaborate puppets; fun for older children, adults, or for those students that may enjoy spending more time elaborating on one project. However, the plane envelope decorated with crayons, markers and a few add-ons such has yarn for hair would be very convenient and economical to use in the typical classroom. Making these puppets in the Early Elementary classroom might be a good extension and comprehension activity to go along with a unit on folktale literature. Traditionally, folktales often have easily recreated human characters and many talking animal characters. Small groups of students could choose a folktale to create puppets for and then act out the story with their puppets. There would not even have to be a written script for this activity. Students could refer to a book or help each other from memory. Some of the tales that could be used for this:


 * The Little Red Hen
 * The Three Little Pigs
 * The Billy Goats Gruff
 * The Lion and the Mouse,
 * The Tortoise and the Hare

After practice and feedback from the teacher and peers, student groups present their puppet shows for an audience.

Variations of this, the puppets could be created by students to use for a written reader’s theater script: having the puppet say the lines. The puppets would also add creativity and drama to social studies and could be made to look like a historical figure.

__Reflections__: My 11 year old daughter and I created envelope puppets for the tale of the Bill Goats Gruff. She chose to make the Troll while I made the three goats. We gathered a few materials: crayons, markers, colored pencils, googly eyes and glue. Later yarn was needed for the troll’s hair and the goats seemed to need teeth, ears, horns and beards to look more “goatish”. While it was fun to while away some of the afternoon making the puppets and scavenging the craft cupboard for materials, in a more traditional classroom setting, it would be helpful to have various supplies on hand, and samples for students to consider while making their own creations. A basic supply list might be: coloring items, pencils, glue, scissors, envelopes, yarn, construction paper, or extra scrap paper to be colored.

To help students that may have never made this type of puppet, the teacher may model coloring after making the puppet (how if flattens, and then can be refolded).


 * Sarah's Troll ||