Short Story Stick-Puppet Stars

Short Story Stick-Puppet Stars lesson plan

Short stories come to life with captivating puppets—and engage students from start to finish. Script writing and puppet making capture imaginations!

  • 1.

    Brainstorm, write, edit, and prepare a final draft of a short story with Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils. Just erase if you change your mind or to make corrections. Sketch the main character before you start making a puppet for it.

  • 2.

    Using Crayola Model Magic® compound, sculpt your character on a recycled CD or DVD as a base. Remember, you can mix colors to create new hues or to make swirls or a marbled effect. Use multiple layers of various shapes and colors. Flatten large sections, make thin rolls, or cut ribbons—whatever you need for the look that your puppet requires. Model Magic compound sticks to itself and to most surfaces! Model Magic® dries to the touch overnight and dries completely in 2 to 3 days.

  • 3.

    Attach a craft stick to the back of the recycled CD or DVD with Crayola School Glue. Air-dry the glue.

  • 4.

    Add details and more decoration to your character with Crayola Glitter Glue, felt cut-outs, and Crayola Squeezables™ 3-D Paints. Be as creative as possible. Remember the setting of your story and show something about it in your puppet design. Air-dry the glue.

  • 5.

    Let the puppet shows begin!

Benefits

  • Children draft, edit, and prepare a finished draft of a short story with a main character.
  • Students design a puppet to represent the main character in their own short story.
  • Students build a stick puppet using recycled items and art supplies.

Adaptations

  • For students who have difficulty writing, ask them to read a short story and identify the main character and setting. Ask students to them create a puppet that shows the main character.
  • Create puppets for other characters in the stories. Build stage sets for a full presentation to an audience of younger children or families.
  • Use this lesson as a writing learning center. Students are nearly always eager to write stories and create puppets.
  • Challenge students to create a series of short stories about their main character. Put these all in a portfolio to share with others. Perform them as a series of one-act plays.
  • Assessment: Students summarize their stories in an oral presentation to the class and share their puppets.