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  Ideas

 

The Worry Bear

At the end of the school day there are always two or three children who are the last to be picked up by their parents. They often express concern that their parents will not come or that they will be the last one to be picked up. Bring out Worry bear to sit with the children. Worry bear expresses her concern with being the last one to be picked up. This takes the children's attention off of their worries and they will often try to comfort Worry bear while she waits with them.

Tattle Dog

When the child wants to tattle on someone or spread gossip have them tell the tattle dog. They tattle to the dog and they leave happy that they have told someone.

The Ten Minute Review

Use a puppet to conduct a review of the subject matter that was emphasized during the day or that was emphasized the previous day.

For instance, if a particular letter of the alphabet was emphasized during the day, then ten minutes before the end of the day place the children in a circle. Place the emphasized letter along with other letters in a bucket and ask the children to pick out the letter that was emphasized and feed it to a puppet such as Smackadoodles the dog. Of course if they get the correct letter, Smackadoodles eats it. If not, he "spits" it out!

"Eating" Those Bad Habits

A teacher recently told me of an effective way to use a puppet that swallows. When a child develops a bad habit (for example, excessive talking) she explains to the child that she or he needs to feed the puppet the bad habit. Then if the unacceptable habit persists, the teacher tries two or three more times to convince the child that the bad habit must be fed to the puppet. Of course if this fails the teacher may need to take more drastic action, but most of the time the child gets the message!

Silver Spoon Award

Each week the silver spoon award is given to the children at the table with the best manners. The puppet is the cafeteria mascot and it visits each table during the week and interact with the children stressing table manners. At the end of the week have the puppet selects the best table and awards the silver spoon to the children at that table. Cuckoo the bird makes an excellent cafeteria mascot.

Music

Use a puppet to assist you in directing group singing. Have the puppet sing along with the group. If the children are not singing loud enough, have the puppet hid behind your back until they raise their voices. Develop a routine where the puppet closes its mouth when the children should to be quiet.

Have a child solo with a puppet. The child is less intimidated when the puppet is "assisting" in the singing exercise.

Quite or Nap Time

When it is time to get up have the puppet nibble on the child's ear or nose to wake them.

Patsy's Tip  Children will often divulge their innermost thoughts and concerns to a puppet. If a child appears to be upset, try sitting them in a quiet place with the puppet. Then listen as they interact and talk to the puppet.

  The Restless Child

Let the puppet nap with the restless child.

Reading

Have the child read a passage in a book with the assistance of a puppet. Again the child is less intimidated if he or she makes a mistake (" the puppet made the mistake!"). If necessary, you can correct the puppet - not the child.

Tasting New Foods

Have the puppet go first to taste a new food. You can use a picture of the food, the real thing or plastic food. You can carry this idea further by using the puppet to teach nutrition or good eating habits.

The Aggressive Child

Have the puppet discuss with the children how it feels to be hit or to be called a name. Have the puppet ask the children how they would resolve the conflict.

Fire Prevention

Have the puppet teach the children about "stop, drop and roll." Have each child take the puppet and show how to stop, drop and roll. Go further and use the puppet to teach fire safety.

Who is Coming to Dinner?

Pick a child at the end of the week to take the puppet home for the weekend. For older children, have them prepare a diary of events the puppet participated in while visiting with the child.

If you cannot send a puppet home with the child, have the puppet sit with a child during the school day.

The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

A number of teachers have asked if I make a puppet for the story There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. I don't , but I suggest that you take my swallowing bear puppet (Jessica) and put a infant's dress and a head scarf on her. Here is what she looks like. I think she looks like the little old lady! And best of all, you also have a bear puppet.

I'm Scared!

How to overcome the first day of school jitters.

Tell the children that you have a friend who wants to be part of the class. Go to the closet and pull out Sara the mouse. "Can anyone tell me who this is?" If one or more members of the class identify the puppet as a mouse, then ask "Where do mice live?" Tell the class that this mouse lives in your closet. Have Sara approach each child and ask their name. Introduce Sara to each child and repeat their name as they say it.

Use Sara to assist the children in getting acquainted with new surroundings and playmates.

Good Classroom Habits

You need a puppet (let me suggest Cuckoo the bird), note paper, bird prints (made out of vinyl or construction paper), and treats such as a box of raisins.

Prior to the first day of school write a note to each child from Cuckoo and welcome them to school. Sign the note with a bird foot print! On the first day of school place the vinyl or paper bird foot prints in the hall leading into your class room.

First Day: As each child goes to his or her desk they find a box of raisins from Cuckoo. The teacher ask the class who Cuckoo is. Finally enough clues are given and Cuckoo is determined to be a bird.

Second Day: There is more discussion about birds. At the end of the second day the class is given the assignment to try to catch a live bird.

Third Day: None of the class has caught a live bird and the teacher discusses why they could not catch a bird. Some of the reasons are birds are very afraid of noise, they will not let you touch them and they don't like children running around.

Bring Cuckoo out and tell the class that she will not stay if the children are noisy or if they are disruptive.

You are developing the rules for classroom discipline. The children learn not to be noisy, not to push and pull at each other and not to run. The next time the class misbehaves place Cuckoo in the closet. Don't bring her out until the class behaves. You might want to take her home because if you leave her some of the children may peek in the closet to see if she is there.

Ready, Set Go, Let's do a Puppet Show

How to write and produce a puppet show.

You need a theme and a puppet such as Too Tall the Frog. Additional materials may be necessary for specific shows.

There are many things that come to mind when developing a theme for a puppet show. Think of defining moments in your school year such as the first day of school, a school holiday, or graduation. A historical event, such as the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock can be enhanced with a puppet. Other theme examples are book reports and vignettes on protecting the environment or fire safety.

To get started we will do a theme with a very short script. Our first theme is recycling glass and aluminum cans.

Now that we have a theme we need a script. Prepare the script starting with word association. I used Too Tall the frog as the puppet so I have listed under "Frog" some words that immediately come to mind. Under "Recycling" do likewise.

This is truly a "stream of consciousness." List the words no matter how silly, absurd or ridiculous. You may not use a single word you list in the script. But this exercise will guide you in the preparation of a script that is both informative and interesting.

Word Association:

Introduce Too Tall to the class and tell them that he has come to talk about recycling.

Teacher:

"Too Tall, What's recycling?"

Too Tall: "Is that like riding a bicycle?"

Teacher: "No you silly frog. Recycling is reusing something again, again and again."

Too Tall: Looking directly at the class he says "Again, again, again, again, again."

Teacher: "Stop it, stop it! You got the message."

Too Tall: "Reusing something. Like what?"

Teacher: "Like glass bottles, cat food cans and soda cans."

Too Tall: "Cat food cans!" "I haven't liked cats since I was a tad pole, why would I want to save cat food cans?"

Teacher: Dumps a bag full of "clean" used aluminum cans and glass bottles on the floor.

Teacher: "Because you can save space in the landfills and help the Earth!"

Too Tall: "How does it help the Earth?"

Teacher: "Well if the cans and glass bottles are melted down and new cans and bottles are

remade from the scrap, they can be reused again and again."

Too Tall: "OK, I want to help the Earth, but I still don't like cats."

Teacher: "Too Tall, cats are nice pets and recycling helps save the Earth for people, cats

and even frogs. Now help me pick up these cans and bottles."

Too Tall: "OK, if it helps people and frogs I guess it's a good idea and we had better hop to it!"

 How Do I Get Their Attention?

Children intuitively relate to puppets which makes them a very effective teaching aid.

You need a portable tape recorder, blank cassette, paper bag, and Jessica the bear.

Start the cassette on "record" with 20 seconds of silence. Then yell, "Hey! Come back here and let me out. Help! I'm trapped in this bag. Let me out! Heeeeelp!" Pause and cough and gag, and then yell a little more. "Hey! I need help! Someone let me out of this stinky bag! I want to learn about _____." After you end your message, record another 20 seconds of silence.

Rewind the tape, and put the recorder and Jessica in the bag. Put the bag on your desk, and at the appropriate time, reach in the bag and turn on the tape recorder. Walk away nonchalantly. Suddenly your message comes out of the bag. You feign shock and gasp, "What's this?" Look around to see if it's some sort of trick. "Oh, my." Walk over to the bag, peer in, tentatively put your hand in, turn off the recorder, and pull out Jessica. "Oh, I'm so sorry. How did you get in there?"

And now, with the undivided attention of the entire class, start your teaching assignment.

A Package in the Mail

Everyone likes to receive a package (unless it's tax forms). This is especially true of young children. For special occasions, holidays, or a theme, dress your puppet appropriately. Place it in a box, wrap it, and address it to your class.

For instance, at Halloween put a mask on Pinky the pig and place her in the box. Put the box on your desk before the children arrive. "Look what came in the mail yesterday. It's addressed to us. I wonder what it could be?" Tear open the package and bring out Pinky. The excitement of what is in the package heightens the children's interest and is a good way to introduce a new subject. For example, if you're teaching about nutrition, dress Pinky in an apron and put healthful foods in the box with her. Then take Pinky out and let her talk about nutritious foods.

 Inspector Zip

The day's almost over, the room is a wreck, the kids are unbridled, and you're tired of being the police officer. So pass the buck. Let Inspector Zip (for example, Mr. Moosebumps) do the dirty work for a while. Put inspection glasses on Zip (you can make some out of wire or purchase children's sun glasses) and walk around with him as he performs his duties.

"Hmmm. I see some scissors here. Where are they supposed to be? And what about all this paper? Steve, isn't this your job? Well, look at how well Sam put away the books. And Kim's desk is absolutely immaculate!" When everything is cleaned up in a zippy and orderly way, Inspector Zip examines coats to make sure they're zipped and reminds the kids to take their homework.

 Puppy Hugs and Sign Language

Douglas Rescue, the signing dog, is used for sign language. Strap him around your neck and place your hands in his front two paws and then stick out your hands. Now Douglas Rescue is ready to sign. In addition to signing, he is used to massage small faces and to give puppy hugs as a reward for a job well done.

A graduate student was working with a young boy who refused to cooperate and would crawl under a table to hide. She used the signing-dog puppet to persuade the child to come out from under the table. Then, as the child participated in the exercises, the Douglas Rescue gave him a puppy hug as a reward.

It has also been reported that a teacher is using Douglas Rescue to teach children the computer key board and another teacher has been using him to teach piano lessons. Of course he also signs.

Vinnie the Varmint Is Sick

You will need Vinnie, tissue paper and a small blanket.

A kindergarten teacher, tired of having to pick up after her students at the end of the day, came up with an excellent idea. She wadded up tissue paper, put it on Vinnie's stomach, and covered it with a small blanket.

At the beginning of class she announced that Vinnie was very sick and that he had spent the night in the hospital. She explained that the students had not picked up the classroom before they left the previous afternoon and Vinnie, the class mascot, had eaten everything that was left out.

As she carefully cradled Vinnie in her arms, she told the class that he had to go to the emergency room the night before and showed the class his distended stomach. She described how sick Vinnie felt and said that it would take awhile for him to recover.

The teacher reported that from then on she had the complete cooperation of her class in picking up at the end of the day.

Waiting to Exhale

A teacher in Michigan ordered Smackadoodles and unwrapped the box in front of the class. As she pulled him out she made him gasp for air because he was sealed in the box and had come all the way from Virginia. He held his breath the entire trip!

For her geography lesson that day the teacher had the class trace on a map the path of Smackadoodles took from Virginia to Michigan naming all of the states he crossed.

Patsy's Tip  What's the most important part of the puppet? The eyes. Make sure the eyes are looking at your audience. This way your puppet's mouth is not gaping open!

Special Needs Children

What do you do if a child will not participate in an activity? Try using a puppet as an incentive to encourage the child to participate in the activity. For example, if you are working on language skills the child says the word or words correctly, they get to feed the puppet.

"Knock! knock! Are you in there?"

Place a puppet in your desk drawer. Have the child knock on the desk to see if the puppet is there. Then you knock on the desk as though the puppet was answering out of view of the child. After doing this a few times, have the puppet come out and visit with the child.

Share Your Ideas

Share your ideas with others. Submit them to playfulpuppets@verizon.net.

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Playful Puppets, Inc. 11292 Landy Lane Great Falls, Virginia 22066

Telephone (703) 430-4722

Fax ( (703) 430-4722

Revised: November 12, 2007