Puppets can be used in stories, songs, chants, roleplay and pairwork. There are several pedagogical and linguistic aims behind using puppets.
- For motivation. It is fun so the children will try to speak or listen without inhibition.
- For meaning. The children will try to understand what is happening so they listen with a purpose.
- For fluency. In the desire to communicate with the puppets, the children will build up a flow of language and learn new words.
- For communication. Puppets make even the shyest child become involved, as the child is participating "out of character", e.g. using a different character from their own, or communicating with "someone" outside the normal class enviroment.
- For cross-curricular activities. Puppets can be used in most topic areas of the curriculum.
- To teach vocabulary used in a story or roleplay; parts of the face: eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair, whiskers, etc.
- To teach language for making puppets, e.g. verbs: to color, to draw, to glue, to put, etc.
How to make INSTANT PUPPETS
Materials needed: cardboard, scissors, felt-tip markers, glue, scraps of fabric, ribbon and wool.
Time needed: 15-20 minutes per puppet.
The most important thing to remember when making a puppet for language teaching is the fact that the features of the character play an important part in bringing out the person behind the puppet. You might consider make a puppet in advance to show the students what sort of puppet they will make.
1. Wooden spoon puppets
- Use a wooden spoon and draw a face on the back with felt-tip markers.
- Decorate the head of the puppet with strips of wool for hair. Use scraps of material to wrap around the handle for a cloak, etc.
2. Paper bag puppets
- Draw a face to show an expression on a paper bag and tie it around the wrist with help.
3. Toilet roll puppets (plastic cups)
- Attach a ruler or a stick to the inside af a toilet roll.
- Draw the eyes, nose and mouth with felt-tip markers and add hair if necessary.
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