Assignments

Puppet Construction and Cultural Puppetry Presentation

Course: Puppetry with Children / Puppetry Workshop

Author: Gordon Hensley

Institution: Arizona State University

Collected from http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showthread.php?t=8886.

These companion assignments are designed to introduce students to both puppet design and performance as well as using puppetry as an educational tool.

Description of Assignments

Puppet Construction—Constructed in class and due 01/12
Using materials that you bring to class (start collecting now!), and some that are provided, construct the following types of puppets: Sock puppet, Glove puppet, Box-mouth puppet, Rod puppet, String puppet, Shadow puppet, Felt head puppet, and Junk puppet. At least one of your puppets should teach or explore a concept (shapes, colors, doctor visits, etc.). Construction will be graded on effort, creativity, intent, and educational value. Your work will not be compared or graded against others in the class. 512 students will be graded with higher artistic and creative expectations.

Cultural Puppetry Presentation—Due 01/03 and 01/04
Research and present to the class a style of cultural puppetry of today or of the past. Some suggested topics include: Japanese Bunraku puppetry, Indonesian shadow puppets, Vietnamese water puppets, Native American masks, Wayang Golek, German puppet festivals, Italian glove puppets, Bil Baird, Jim Henson, William Patten, Tony Sarg, and the Bread and Puppet Theatre. Turn in an outline of your presentation. In your ten-minute presentation to the class, include visuals and answer these questions:

How are the puppets constructed (materials, process, who makes them)?
How are they manipulated? Who manipulates them?
What events, stories, rituals, or celebrations are associated with these puppets? Describe them.
Who is the audience for these puppets/this style?
What did you find most interesting?

Lesson Plan / Puppet Show Presentation—Due 01/08, 01/09, 01/10, and 01/11
Each student is required to present two lesson plans OR two puppet shows (this is determined by your focus area) to the class. This section of this class is broken into four separately graded phases.

Planning Session
Devise a lesson plan or a puppet show for presentation. You must present a rough-draft lesson plan or script outline to the instructor and be able to brainstorm ideas.

Written Plan
The lesson plan or puppet script must be typed and in an acceptable format. Lesson plans should include designated grade level, Arizona State Educational Performance Objectives (Improvisation/Design/Playwriting/Producing standards), a warm-up, a supply list, a process, and a reflection/assessment area. Puppet shows should include the script, a props/scenery list, development sketches (if needed), and a manipulation chart. Provide a copy for all classmates the day of your demonstration.

Self-Evaluation
This assignment is a verbal reflection, in class, after your demonstration. Briefly answer the following questions:
How might the students respond positively? Why?
How might the students respond negatively? Why?
What did you learn from conducting this lesson or constructing this puppet?
What would you do differently if you were to do it again?

Presentation
Tell us about your lesson, then present the puppet as if we were your students. Puppet shows will be performed in class. Dates will be assigned. All presentations will be during the class period. Teaching/facilitation should only last about 5 minutes. Know your lesson/show, be prepared, and lead with confidence!

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