Objective

To help teachers create a puppet of a boy for story-telling and other purposes.

Estimated time to create the Boy Puppet

2 hours

Materials required for creating Boy Puppet

1. Chart paper/ thick paper (for body, hand and face cut out)
2. Crepe paper (for costume or texture)
3. Drinking straws (for moveable arms)
4. Bamboo sticks/skewers (for handling the puppet and arms)
5. Scissors
6. Glue
7. Tape (black insulation tape)
8. Black marker/ sketch pens (for facial features and details)

Preparation for activity

1. Cut out body shapes (front and back if needed) from chart paper.
2. Pre-cut the clothes from crepe paper.
3. Cut straws into lengths suitable for arm movement.
4. Ensure bamboo sticks are smooth and the right size.
5. Arrange all materials in a clean workspace.

Procedure

• Cut the body shape and decorate the puppet : Draw and cut out the outline of a boy from chart paper, including head, torso and legs. Cut the shape for the hands separately. Use markers to draw eyes, nose, mouth and hair. Alternatively, you can stick pre-drawn face parts. Use colored crepe paper to make the costume. Stick the pants on the puppet’s body using glue.

• Prepare the arms :  Stick a straw in the rear of the shoulder area. This mechanism of using straw enables the arms to move or fold. Cover the straw with crepe paper to resemble sleeves. Make small pleats while attaching it on the shoulder and glue them. This gives a puffed look to the sleeves. Make a small slit in the open end of the straw. Insert the shape made for the hand into the slit and glue them together. Glue and fix the open end of the sleeve near the hand. Repeat for the other hand. Ensure both the hands are similar and are of equal length Attach the neck tie.

• Fix the control sticks :  Attach a vertical bamboo stick to the back of the puppet using strong tape. This allows the puppet to be held upright and maneuvered.  Attach a bamboo stick at the back of the hand. The stick should be pointing upwards as shown. This will enable us to bend and bring the fore arm of the boy puppet to the front, while operating. If the control stick is fixed downwards, (as shown here for the girl puppet) we can move the whole arm while operating. Let the glue dry properly. The puppet is ready for use now.

Step by Step Pictures to create the puppet

Important Tips

1. Use bright colors to make the puppet look attractive and engaging.
2. Draw some nice face expressions to help convey emotions during storytelling.
3. Reinforce straw joints with tape if they feel loose.
4. Let the glue dry fully before handling the puppet.
5. While creating the puppet, replicate the character illustration given in the children’s textbook. Once the puppet is ready, use the character’s name from the textbook. Using the name in the textbook, helps children remember the content.
6. The teacher should use the puppet at an appropriate time. The teacher can narrate the story in a humorous manner. The teacher may make intentional mistakes to encourage children to correct them, thereby helping them become more actively engaged.

Precautions

Precautions to be taken while manipulating finger puppets:

1. Always keep the face of the puppet towards the audience.
2. Avoid overloading with glue to prevent wrinkling or damage.
3. Avoid very thin paper that tears easily.
4. Avoid overloading the puppet with decorations; keep it light for easy handling.
5. Use non-toxic glue and materials.

Troubleshooting:

1. If the arms are not moving freely, ensure the straws are not blocked with glue.
2. If the body bends or droops, reinforce the back with a second layer of chart paper or a cardboard strip.
3. If the stick comes loose, secure the stick with additional tape or a glue gun (if available).

Notes to the Teacher

• This puppet is a great tool for storytelling, especially in language or moral education.
• Encourage students to make their own versions for creativity and engagement.
• Use the puppets in classroom role-play to make learning more interactive.

Using the Learning Teaching Material

The teacher can conduct a ‘Puppet Show’. Teachers can encourage the students to create these puppets and have a ‘Puppet Show’ in the classroom.

Video: How to use Learning Teaching Material

Source and Attribution of images All images used in the above Assets and Aids are originally created.

This digital material has been developed by the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini Inclusive Education Project, a unit of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam, as a collaborative offering in the service of our nation.