Dancing Marionette

Dancing Marionette lesson plan

Imagine a Dancing Marionette made with bright Crayola Neon Color Explosion® Paper and Markers! This unique paper curls, twirls, and swirls!

  • 1.

    Imagine a Dancing Marionette made with bright Crayola Neon Color Explosion® Paper and Markers! This unique paper curls, twirls, and swirls!

  • 2.

    Cut Crayola Neon Color Explosion Paper for the marionette's head, arms, legs, torso, hands, and feet. Coordinate your colors and shapes!

  • 3.

    Using Neon Color Explosion Markers, make bold designs on both sides of the Neon Color Explosion Paper. Add chenille sticks for hair. Make a colorful paper hat to give your marionette a cool look! Curl Neon Color Explosion Paper around a marker barrel to make swirls.

  • 4.

    With Crayola Glitter Glue, add sparkles and details to your marionette. Air-dry the decorations.

  • 5.

    Accordion-fold the arms and legs so your marionette can dance and bounce. Glue the arms and legs to the torso. You can also use wire or jump rings to attach moving parts. Glue the hands and feet to the arms and legs.

  • 6.

    Glue two craft sticks together to form an X. Cut five strings (two for the hands, two for the feet, and one for the head). Glue strings to the ends of the hands, feet, and back of head. Air-dry the glue.

  • 7.

    Tie the other ends of the strings to the craft sticks. Space them out so the strings will not tangle. Now you are ready to put on your show!

Benefits

  • Students design and construct detailed paper marionettes with multiple moving parts.
  • Students create a marionette that represents a character that they will then use to present a story to an audience.

Adaptations

  • Try weaving strips of the paper through parts of the marionette.
  • Work in small groups to write a play, design marionettes, create a backdrop, and present the play.
  • Create animal characters in a similar manner.
  • Assessment: Are both sides of marionettes fully decorated with color and/or other embellishments? Do marionettes colorfully represent the characters being depicted? Do marionettes’ legs and arms move?