Fantasy on My Fingers

Tell tales with wiggles and words. These original puppets debut at your fingertips before the curtain goes up.

• 1.

  Puppets make any fantasy seem real! Choose a favorite fairy tale or true story to turn into a puppet show. Which characters do you need? How do they look? Finger puppets are small, so you can add lots of detail.

• 2.

  Puppeteers have lots of control with finger puppets. To start your finger puppet, bend and tear a recycled cardboard roll the height you want your puppet to be. Overlap the torn edges. Wrap the roll around your finger. Tear off any excess paper. Secure with Crayola® School Glue. Air-dry your puppet base.

• 3.

  Form a layer of colorful Crayola Model Magic onto your puppet base for its body. To mix new shades, blend two or more colors. Add white for lighter colors. If you knead only a little, you get a marbleized look. Experiment with different effects.

• 4.

  Flatten, pinch, or roll more modeling material to make your puppet’s head, arms, legs, and/or tail. Create Model Magic clothes and accessories, too. Press these decorative features on your puppet’s body.

• 5.

  Add decorative items such as ribbon, buttons, or sequins. Glue them on with Crayola School Glue if necessary. Air-dry your puppet at least 24 hours.

• 6.

  Rehearse your performance with wiggles and words. Your puppets are ready to take their places on stage!

Benefits

• Students translate story characters into 3-dimensional figures.
• Students fabricate a detailed finger puppet out of modeling material.
• Students present a puppet performance with their creations.

Adaptations

• Older students research the history of puppetry and present their findings in a puppet show for younger students.
• Use these puppets to explain science or health concepts.
• Construct a puppet theatre as a class project. Hang a cloth halfway across a doorway, cut a refrigerator box, or construct one with wood.