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Fun Ideas: Story Puppets

Puppets can be used on the finger, the hand, on a string, or on a stick. Puppets can be integrated into a range of activities, e.g. during mat time or music and movement. As we’ll be celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, our resource for Educators/Nannies is a set of picture-puppets on a stick for children/tamariki to actively engage with the story of “How Kiwi Saved The Forest”.

You can access the full illustrated story and audio file to read along with your family/whānau here:

https://instructionalseries.tki.org.nz/Instructional-Series/Ready-to-Read-Colour-Wheel/How-Kiwi-Saved-the-Forest

Part of the fun and learning is the process of creating puppets and story props. Here’s some ideas for children/tamariki of all ages:

Infants

Download or draw pictures from a favourite story, cut out and turn into a hanging mobile; use finger puppets for rhymes; using soft toys as characters to tell a story using a range of fun voices – this is a great way to learn some basic words of a child’s home language.

Toddlers

Magnetic stories; tell a story using dress-ups to become a character; create puppets using paper bags and craft items; use puppets when singing familiar rhymes/waiata.

Young Children

Create your own puppet using a sock and craft materials that can be glued or sewn; draw your own character onto card, cut it out and secure to a stick or wood; write a story together and use the puppets created to tell the story.

The learning outcomes from Te Whāriki for puppets and story props include:

Belonging Mana whenua - Connecting links with the family and the wider world are affirmed and extended. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga

Communication Mana reo - They develop verbal communication skills for a range of purposes. Understanding oral language and using it for a range of purposes | he kōrero ā-waha

They experience the stories and symbols of their own and other cultures. Enjoying hearing stories and retelling and creating them | he kōrero paki

They discover different ways to be creative and expressive. Expressing their feelings and ideas using a range of materials and modes | he kōrero auaha

Exploration Mana aotūroa - Their play is valued as meaningful learning and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised. Playing, imagining, inventing and experimenting | te whakaaro me te tūhurahura i te pūtaiao