the idea: create puppets with my students and then have them put on a quick play
Today, as I continued my class inspired by Asian art in the museum, I made animal puppets with my kids inspired by Chinese shadow puppet shows. Not only did this group make some great puppets, we also all made a story together at the end. This is how it went:
Feathers had a fancy new bunch of feathers that he wanted to show off so he flew into town in search of one of his friends. The first friend he found was Swimon, the fish.
“Do you notice anything different about me, Swimon?” asked Feathers.
“Not really,” Swimon replied. “You should get a bowler hat, like me!”
“You think so?” said Feathers, a little sad that his friend hadn’t noticed his new feathers. “Do you know where I can get one?”
“I’m not sure, but I got mine form Mr. Froggy, let’s go visit him!” Swimon said.
And so Feathers flew and Swimon swam through town in search of Mr. Froggy. Soon enough they found him.
“Hello! I’m Mr. Froggy! How can I help you?” Mr. Froggy said.
“I’m looking for a bowler hat,” said Feathers. “Where di you get yours?”
“Well mine isn’t a bowler hat, it’s a top hat. But I know a store that sells both bowler hats and top hats. It’s run by my friend Nur. Come with me and I’ll show you!” said Mr. Froggy.
He bounced away with Swimon and Feathers following him until they came to the hat store run by Nur, the bunny.
“Nur!” cried Feathers. “Do you have a bowler hat that I could but?”
Nur said, “I don’t think you need a hat. Not when you have such wonderful feathers!”
“I agree,” said Mr. Froggy. “I was just waiting for you to discover this for yourself.”
“Really?” asked Feathers. “I guess I don’t need a bowler hat after all!”
Feathers turned to Swimon who shrugged, “I do like your feathers. I guess I just didn’t notice them when I first saw you.”
“And I guess bowler hats look better on fish anyway,” said Feathers.
He thanked all his friends and then flew off with no hat, but feeling very happy about his new feathers.
Although I played Feathers, this story was completely made up by the three students who I was working with. Even the moral at the end, that Feathers didn’t need a bowler hat after all, was thought of on the spot by one of my kids. Isn’t teaching great?