Building Moving Paper Puppets with Joints
Objective
Students will create articulated paper puppets by connecting body parts with fasteners to demonstrate understanding of movement and basic construction techniques.
Materials
- construction paper
- scissors
- brass fasteners
- crayons
- pencils
- hole punch
Hook
Ask students to move their arms and legs like robots, then like dancers. Have them feel their elbows and knees bending. Explain that today they will make paper friends that can move just like they do.
Main Activity
Students draw and cut out puppet body parts including head, body, upper arms, lower arms, upper legs, and lower legs from construction paper. They decorate each piece with crayons to create their character. Using a hole punch, students make holes where joints should connect, such as shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. They attach the pieces with brass fasteners to create moveable joints. Students test their puppets by moving the arms and legs, adjusting fasteners as needed. They practice making their puppets wave, dance, or walk by manipulating the moveable parts.
Discussion Questions
- Which parts of your puppet move the most easily and why?
- How did you decide where to place the joints on your puppet?
- What would happen if you put joints in different places?
- How is your puppet's movement similar to how you move?
- What character did you create and how does it move differently from other puppets?
Exit Ticket
Show one way your puppet can move and explain which joint makes that movement possible.
Differentiation
Support: Provide pre-drawn body part templates for students who struggle with drawing, and assist with hole punching and fastener placement.
Extension: Challenge students to add extra details like clothing, accessories, or additional moving parts such as hands with moving fingers.
