Puppets have been made and used for entertainment and education for thousands of years. Children and adults have enjoyed their magic and continued to use them as teaching tools for a wide variety of subjects.

During our hands-on workshop, participants learn to make lively puppets using simple, recycled materials. Fine motor skills are strengthened through cutting, gluing, tearing, braiding, coloring, twisting, and threading.

More importantly, puppets can be used to act out feelings. During these challenging times, puppets are an effective tool to help children express a wide range of emotions such as happiness, frustration, fear, anger, confusion, jealously and loneliness. This workshop is a way to expand your creativity, provide new art activities for your students and help children strengthen social and emotional learning.

Karen O. Brown is a lively, encouraging teacher and brings out creativity in everyone!

Materials:

• Cereal, cookie, or cracker boxes

• Cardboard

• Tissue paper

• Newspaper

• Chenille Stems (pipe cleaners)

• Yarn

• Scissors

• Glue - Eileen’s Tacky Glue or Elmer’s All Purpose Glue

• Hole punch

Optional:

• Buttons, Glitter or Sequins, Foil

• Scraps of cloth or felt