An Exciting Craft Project For Your Classroom

Have you been looking for a new option for classroom crafts?

Making puppets can be a wonderful craft in elementary schools and even in art classes for older students. The problem is that there is little to stir the imagination in the typical paper bag or sock puppets. When done correctly, a puppet making project can engage the imagination right from the start and even teach skills for creating a character, developing his back story and giving him a life of his own. When the character becomes vivid, it is much easier to create a plot line and a story that involves other student's characters. Imagine, a craft project that can lend itself to story creation and one that begs to be re-enacted in a show.

But how can you make dynamic puppets without needed tons of supplies? Well, to answer that, take a look at the master of the business, the late Jim Henson. In this video, he and his fellow muppeteers show you how to use everyday objects and make puppets that have tremendous personality. The video has cameo appearances by some muppets you may know. Take a look:



The world is a sadder place without Jim Henson in it. Watching him talk about his muppets, it is easy to see how much he loved his creations. It is a little poignant to be reminded of how much his “teaching” voice sounds just like his most famous muppet, Kermit the Frog. In the middle of the video, when he is being heckled slightly by a puppet, I am guessing that the mysterious puppeteer is his business partner Frank Oz. You can hear Jim's voice change slightly to almost be Bert's voice when talking to that puppet, which makes me think of Henson and Oz's amazing Bert and Ernie.

So try this puppet making technique in your classroom and let me know how it turns out. You can even post links to videos of your puppet shows.

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By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.