Prof K’s Tips for Prof K’s Tips for Puppetmaking with Puppetmaking with

ChildrenChildren

Encourage Creativity!Encourage Creativity!

Allow for Individual Allow for Individual ExpressionExpression

Give opportunities to make choices

Go beyond copies of pages to cut and color!

Individual ExpressionIndividual Expression

Emphasize ProcessEmphasize Process

Provide structure that allows multiple solutions

Creative problem-solving is key

Simple examplesSimple examples

Keep it simple – less tempting to copy!

Model using your puppet Make it move Make it talk Start with “Hi my name is________

and I like to _________.”

Have a simple exampleHave a simple example

Be ChallengingBe Challenging

Present projects that are slightly above the ability level of the children.

This allows for mastery of new skills.

Be ChallengingBe Challenging

Stretch the ImaginationStretch the Imagination

Use a rich source of materials

Ask open-ended questions

Allow the child to come up with answers!

““Tell me about your Tell me about your puppet.”puppet.”

Try to avoid “What is it?”

Be PositiveBe Positive

Offer individual recognition and group encouragement

Be honest

Be specific

Use “I see…” instead of “I Use “I see…” instead of “I like”like”

““Good job” can feel empty if Good job” can feel empty if used too often…used too often…

Be specific!Be specific!

Look for shapes, colors, textures, lines, character…

Warning! Warning!

Let the students do all of the project!

DO NOT DO IT FOR THEM – even if they ask.

Even if they beg…

Even if time is running out…

““Will you do this for Will you do this for me???”me???”

“You mean I have to create it myself?

Oh No!

Wait…that was fun!”

““I did it!”I did it!”

How How CanCan You Help? You Help?

Ask questions to help decision making

Offer several choices

Help hold things

Show “how” without doing it

““I’ll hold while you I’ll hold while you glue.”glue.”

You will be surprised!You will be surprised!

““Look what we did!”Look what we did!”

Let it be an experience Let it be an experience to remember…to remember…