Easy to Use Puppet Shows is a collection of many puppet shows written over the course of my 12 years as a Head Start teacher. I have always loved seeing children’s faces light up when they see a puppet. Puppets truly make a story come alive.

I have never met a child who didn’t get excited to see a puppet. One day, as I struggled with a lesson plan on "Feelings and Emotions," I was motivated to write "Freddy Frog’s Feelings." We presented it to the children as they sat spellbound. When we finished, the children said, "Do it again." The staff was also enthusiastic and excited.

Soon, we presented this puppet show at a parent meeting. What a winner it was! Not long after, I taught an early childhood class at Southwest Baptist University. We again featured "Freddie Frog’s Feelings." The university students also were complimentary and offered many positive remarks. At that point, I realized that this puppet show had become an essential, helpful tool in our classroom.

So it began-- Taking common lesson plan themes, I would write a puppet show. The staff and children began to look forward to the puppet shows. They would ask for another one. Through the encouragement of my wonderful staff at Bolivar 1 Head Start, I compiled this collection of our favorite shows through the years. I hope you enjoy using them as much as I have enjoyed preparing them. Have fun!

Joy Rothdiener is lead teacher at Bolivar 1 Head Start in Bolivar, Missouri. She has been employed with OACAC Head Start for 12 years and been serving in the early childhood field for 14 years.

She and her husband, John have been happily married for 29 years. They have two wonderful sons and daughters-in-law. Joy loves to spend time with her two beautiful grandchildren...Kaylie and Braden.

Joy’s favorite hobby is scrapbooking. She sees the importance of preserving memories for generations to come. She also has a love for music, which she uses in the classroom as well as her church.

Easy To Use Puppet Shows is a valuable resource designed to:

Help teachers gain confidence with puppets in the child’s classroom
Teach young children important learning concepts
Be a time saver for busy teachers
Be a tool that teachers will use repeatedly...bringing to life puppets through common lesson plan themes
Make a teacher see the many benefits of puppets

Many teachers feel intimidated with puppets. Yet puppets are one of the most beneficial tools to own in the early childhood classroom. Puppets are a visual device that can bring a story to life and capture each child’s attention...many times when all else seems to fail.

Each puppet show in this book is filled with important educational information for the young child. Children love to learn through puppets, which seem to make a story come alive.

The puppet shows in this book can be done with a minimal amount of rehearsal. You may want to repeat the story a few days later...kids absorb more each time they see a puppet show.

Many puppets are brought to life in this book. If you do not own the puppets in this book, that’s okay...this book is still for you. You may substitute some of the characters with the puppets you have or make a simple clip art puppet. You can easily color the patterns in this book, cut them out, laminate, and glue them on a craft stick. Over a period of time perhaps you can budget for puppets and begin to build your own collection. Some of the puppets in the shows are frequently used, some less frequently. However, you will most likely want to do these shows repeatedly, making it worthwhile to invest in puppets.

If you do not have a puppet stage available it is easy to improvise. You can use a large box or table with material or a sheet draped over it. Another idea is a tension curtain rod, with a curtain...set in a hallway. Be creative.

Rehearse the script, so the puppeteers are comfortable with the puppet show. It may be beneficial for you to attach the script onto the back of the stage, making it possible for all the puppeteers to see the words. You might like to tape record the script ahead of time and have the puppets "lip-sync" the words. This can help if you are uncomfortable with puppets.

Additional Tips:

Be creative with your voices; practice them ahead of time. Make them funny and distinct. Put emotion into it.

Make the puppet that is talking move so that the children know who is saying the words. The action of the puppets captures the attention of the children.

Practice in front of a mirror. You can see the motions that best fit the puppet.

Have fun with it! Puppets are a wonderful way to release creativity. Make them come alive! As you practice you will find yourself more comfortable with doing puppet shows. You will see it as an essential tool, just as the kids will.

These are ideas to stimulate conversation with the children. You can also use your own questions. Listen to the children as they share what they have learned and their own ideas. Discuss the most important educational thoughts. Repetition is important at this age. Let the children retell the story back to you. Let them be creative as they tell the story. Encourage feedback from all the children, making sure not to put a child on the spot. Praise them for their answers and their effort.