Let's Make Puppets! Puppet Craft Class!

Puppets are magical!  Almost everyone is captivated when an object acts like it's alive!  In this class learners from 6 to 11 will make a variety of simple puppets and learn how to bring them to life! You don't need any prior experience!  Just a willingness to explore and play!

Each class will begin with a quick overview of the puppet style featured that day.  We will briefly look at ways the puppet has been used in various cultures around the world.

Using simple, easily found materials and some basic craft methods we will turn the ordinary into extraordinary!  Learners will learn how to make a simple hand puppet, rod puppet, marionette, shadow puppet, and even a simple Japanese Bunraku puppet variant!

In our first class we will make sock puppets!  The sock puppet is often the first foray into puppet making for people!  We will go beyond a traditional sock puppet and give our puppets more personality and character.

Class two will feature hand puppets.  From the glove puppets of Taiwan to Punch & Judy, hand puppets are found throughout the world.

During our third class learners will create a rod puppet.  Rod puppets can be found from Indonesia to Europe.

Finally, our last class will have the learners make a puppet based on the Bunraku puppets of Japan.  Our puppets will be much simpler in construction, but will be manipulated and performed in much the same way as Bunraku.

We will be using a hot glue gun to create some of our puppets.  Learners should be comfortable using a hot glue gun.  If they are not, then they will need a parent present to assist.

After making the puppet, learners will work on vocal expression, characterization, and manipulation of each puppetry style.  There will also be time for the puppets to interact with the teacher and each other!