Activity Objective

The goal of Puppet Stories: Supporting Understanding of Characters and Setting is to extend students understanding of the characteristics of a narrative by learning about the characters and setting of a given story.

What You Need

Prep Time:

20 minutes
- Select a story to read aloud
- Prepare Story chart
- Photocopy puppet templates (1 per student)

Task Time:

2, 30 minute sessions
- Teacher reads aloud story
- Teacher and students brainstorm characters and setting
- Teacher models how to make a puppet
- Students create character puppets
- Students present puppet play

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers

Students:
- Puppet templates
- Coloring materials
- Scissors
- Glue
- Popsicle sticks

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while teacher reads aloud story

Facilitator:
- while teacher and students brainstorm characters and setting

Modeling:
- while teacher models how to make a puppet

Supporter:
- while students create puppets and present plays

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during read aloud, brainstorming of characters and setting and student presentations

Individual:
- when students create puppets

Assessment Ideas:

- Use a checklist to track students' ability to retell the story

- Make observations and record anecdotal comments on students understanding of characters and setting

- In small groups or one-on-one meet with the students and have them describe the characters and setting of the story
      a. Record student responses on a tracking sheet

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Provide the puppets and the story at a dramatic play center

- Create masks of each character and have the students role play the story
      a. Perform the play for the entire school or another class

- Read and compare different versions of the story
      a. For example: The Little Red Hen, by Byron Barton, The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza, by Philman Sturges

- Have students write a journal from the perspective of one of the characters

- Judge the Better or the Best: Have students choose their favorite character to illustrate and describe in a poster

Additional Comments:

- These kinds of activities can be done prior to students actually being able to "read" to build their understanding of story structure.

- Role play and drama foster active participation and a motivation for literacy. Incorporating the arts into your literacy program leads to an enjoyment for learning and provides opportunities for everyone to participate.

- Provide oral feedback to the students while they practice their plays in small groups.

- Model how to change your voice to fit the character. This will promote student participation as well as your enthusiasm for the activity.

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Provide a quiet work space for students disturbed by sound

- Provide extra support to student whose fine motor skills are developing