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How to make puppets in the class ?

What’s the use of puppets and masks ?

How to make puppets in the class ?

Can you think of several ideas to make puppets in the class ? You have the choice ! Think of : string puppets hand puppets or glove puppets finger puppets stick puppets

The children themselves will make them, which can be linked to a craft activity. 

Here are some ideas you can use easily. The children will make their own puppets from : potatoes peanuts paper plates balloons pipcleaners felt You can use cardboard paper, gloves, socks, felt, etc. You can first ask pupils to describe their own puppets.
	My puppet is a clown, it has got big green eyes ; his nose is an 8 ; his mouth is a banana ; he’s got a purple umbrella, etc.

Try to describe the potato puppets presented here with as many details as possible. It can require quite precise vocabulary !

For language purposes, insist on :

· the instructions (cut, draw, stick, etc.)

· the vocabulary of the body parts (face with ears, nose, eyes, mouth ; whole body with legs, tail, etc.),

· the vocabulary of colours,

· the vocabulary of materials used (felt tip pens, scissors, sellotape, glue, straws, sticks, etc.)

· phrases (have you finished, have you got any problem, well done, etc.)

What’s the use of puppets and masks ?

It can be summed up into three main categories, one valid for the teacher, and two for the pupils in the language class.

Before reading on, spend a few moments trying to figure out what they can be.

1. Presenters of new language

2. role-play / taking the identity of characters in a course book

3. providers of authenticity and motivation

Puppets can first be used by the teacher to help him/her present new language. The puppet can be used to demonstrate what to do, can help and interact in a role-play, explain or mime, without having to translate into mother tongue and without being too long and tedious.

Then puppets can be used by children. They offer interesting possibilities towards oral expression and interaction.

· They are easy and quick to use, so that it will be simple to take the identity of characters in a course book or in a video tape and act out the scene which has been studied.

· They will allow children to take roles which they might feel embarrassed to play, as girls if they are boys, or some kinds of animals, or older or younger characters, etc. They will feel less shy and reluctant to take on all sorts of different roles.

· Repetition of story or dialogue lines can be dull and tedious : it will be far more motivating to learn the lines for a role-play, and it will prove richer !

· It helps authenticity in the communication and brings some challenge for older pupils (beginners in CM1-2 classes). It will be difficult to have the children act out a scene of introduction (Hello, my name is Robin, what’s your name ?) They have often studied together for many years already and know each other quite well ! It is the same with the presentation of objects (this is a pen, this is a book, etc.). It will be much more interesting, and rewarding, to have them introduce their puppet characters/animals/objects.

To sum up, the use of puppets (or masks) can present a practical task challenge on top of the normal language challenge.

If you want to know more about this idea of communication (false and real) within the language class, just click !

Faire aller à l’ancre communication dans la classe de langue dans theoretical background / some personal thoughts