Talk With the Presidents

Create a Model Magic® finger puppet of a president you research then use puppets to interview other presidential finger puppets created by classmates.

• 1.

  Take part in group activities and read-aloud experiences about U.S. presidential personalities and leadership styles. Choose one president to research. Find pictures and interesting information about his career and major events during his presidency.

• 2.

  Make a finger puppet of your chosen president. Use Crayola Scissors to cut a 2-inch ring from a cardboard roll. Slit the ring down the side. Work with a friend to wrap the tubes around each other's fingers and tape for a snug fit.

• 3.

  Mold egg-size pieces of white Crayola Model Magic around the tubes to create a likeness of the president. Build arms, pinch and press facial features, and attach hair or clothing. Dry 24 hours.

• 4.

  Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. Add color to the puppet with Crayola Tempera Paint, Multicultural Paint, and Paint Brushes. Dry.

• 5.

  Attach fabric and yarn for hair and clothing with Crayola School Glue.

• 6.

  With a partner, interview each other, role playing your president. Ask questions about the time period, presidential decisions, and other ideas. Research information for which you need answers.

Benefits

• Students conduct research to enrich their understanding of current or past presidents' personalities, historic events during their terms, and decisions they made.
• Children sculpt presidential finger puppets from modeling compound.
• Students use their puppets to conduct interviews with each other.

Adaptations

• Puppet makers share questions before the interviews so they can research information.
• Use puppets to present biographical briefs on the presidents. After listening to each of the puppets, students vote for the one president they would most like to meet. Tally results.
• Videotape interviews and play them for an audience of families or other students. Write the interviews in the style of a magazine article. Publish the interviews on President's Day.
• Identify and gather appropriate picture books about presidents for younger children. Refer to pictures while creating finger puppets. Pair students with different presidential finger puppets. Children can informally share information they have learned as they make their puppets "talk" to each other.