Childs

Play

PUPPET MAGIC!

 

 

Are you sitting at home, feeling bored and with nothing to do? While away a few hours by making a couple of puppets then putting on a puppet show for your family and friends. It is easy - just follow the instructions below.

Here is a Puppet historical fact for you - The Chinese were the first to make puppets for fun. Long, long, ago Chinese emperors were entertained by shadow puppets made from very fancy paper cut-outs.

Are you ready, then let's start making some puppets!

 

 

Following are instructions for making three different types of puppets - all work very well, and with practice can make a wonderful puppet show.

Sock Puppets - (ages 8 and up)

You will need an old or odd sock (ask you Mother first), the more colourful the better, some cardboard, scissors, glue (p.v.a) and felt pens.

Cut an oval of cardboard, no wider than the sock. Fold the cardboard in half.

Turn the sock inside out and flatten it so that the toe seam runs from side to side.

Coat the inside fold of the cardboard with glue. Press the sock into the fold and leave the glue to dry.

When the glue is dry, turn the sock inside out, and pull it back over the cardboard until the puppet has a smiling mouth.

Glue on eyes and a nose, made out of the cardboard and any other features you want. Examples are: button eyes, large flat button used for the nose, red felt for the tongue, wool for the hair, or make the hair from the plastic netting used for scrubbers or around flower arrangements. Experiment with different materials and make different looking creatures - have fun. For a variation, add wings to make a dragonfly or mosquito. Use your imagination.

Finger Puppets - (ages 5 and up)

If you have no sock available, try making a finger puppet. For this you will need some heavy cardboard, pain or coloured pens, scissors and glue.

Draw the outline of your favourite animal or a person on the cardboard, draw on the eyes and other features and colour it in. Cut the shape out of the cardboard, and also cut two holes down at the bottom of the shape to put your fingures through (see the clown below). If you are making an elephant, cut one hole where his trunk would be for your finger to go through, and make two little loops at the back of the cut out to put your other fingers through.

Shadow Puppets - (all ages)

If you have no cardboard or socks, you can make shadow puppets instead.

Before doing this:

If you are going to use or move one of your Mothers or Fathers lamps as a light source check with your parent(s) first.

Remember that light bulbs can get very hot, so do not touch the light bulb.

Remember to leave plenty of room between the lamp and the wall or sheet, so you can move around easily without knocking the lamp over.

    To do this all you need is a light source like a lamp and a pale coloured wall. Place your hand between the light source and the wall or sheet, you will then be ready to make your shadow puppets. Some tips, a small lamp will throw sharp shadows, a larger lamp will make softer shadows. To make the shadow puppets appear, link your hands together and move them around to change the shape to get the look you want.

Now find a story you like and put on a puppet show for your friends and family. Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Do you want to practice being a puppeteer?

Then click on the words Light & Dark Shadow for a play.

 
Light & Dark Shadow

 

A message to all children -

Both young and old

Have you got some artwork, a story or a poem you would like to share with everyone who comes on to this website? Email Katy with your contribution and we will include it on this webpage if it compliments our current topic.

 

 


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