You will need:

• Scissors
• **If you have an adult helping, they could also use a box cutter or exacto blade, but not necessary.  Try cutting with scissors.  Ask for help from an adult if you need it!

You will need:

• a pencil
• an eraser
• a sharpie

After you have drawn your puppet & cut it out, this next step is a piece of cake!  Have fun!

You will need:

• 5 colors of paint (black, white, red, yellow, blue)
• 2 brushes
• a container for water
• a small piece of cardboard to use as a pallet
• a rag or paper towel will be useful for wiping your brush

Important things:

• Use the pallet. Don’t mix the paint in the cups.
• Please only put a tiny bit of paint on the pallet to mix your colors.  You can always add more!  If you pour out too much at once, it might go to waste, and you could run out!

• You will need:
  • 5 colors of paint (black, white, red, yellow, blue)
  • 2 brushes
  • a container for water
  • a small piece of cardboard to use as a pallet
  • a rag or paper towel will be useful for wiping your brush

  Important things:

  • Use the pallet.  Don’t mix the paint in the cups.
  • Please only put a tiny bit of paint on the pallet to mix your colors.  You can always add more!  If you pour out too much at once, it might go to waste, and you could run out!

  Don’t forget the final step – put a tiny white dot in the eye.  This will make the eye sparkle and really bring the puppet to life!  The soul of the puppet is in the eyes of the puppet!

• You will need:
  • Bicycle innertube (two big pieces and one skinny slice)
  • A nail
  • Scissors

  *Important note: the nail provided in your packet is smaller than the one I use in the video.  If you just poke it through like I do in the video, the hole may be a bit too small to poke the rubber tie through.  After you make the hole, wiggle the nail around to make the hole a little bigger.  But don’t make it too big or else the knot might slip through.

• Have fun with this!  Make anything you want.  If you run out of cardboard, ask your parents for more!
• Have fun!  I can’t wait to see your puppets when they are done!

• Play with your puppet.  See how it moves.  Try different voices.  Remember, the audience can only see the puppet if you hold it with the flat side facing the camera.  And try not to block your puppet with your hand.  Try all this in front of a mirror to see what it looks like.  Have fun!

• You have the choice to work alone, recruit your family & friends to help, or work together with one of your classmates to create a scene together (your teacher will have suggestions about how to work together remotely). 

  Check out the document Prompts for Scene Making.  Feel free to use one of the scene writing prompts for inspiration to help you get started, or make up your own idea.

  Even if you decide to work mostly on your own, it’s great to have other people to bounce ideas around with for brainstorming—call on your family or friends to help!  Remember when you brainstorm don’t stop with your first ideas!  Every idea is a good idea for brainstorming.  Later you can get rid of the ideas that don’t work and find the gems you want to polish for your final script!

  IMPORTANT:  Be sure to have some conflict or problem that your characters must resolve to make the scene interesting and show off your character’s skills, personality and abilities.  Think about this structure: 1. Beginning situation 2. Problem or conflict 3. Resolve the conflict.

• Pay attention to how you frame your shot—make sure we can see your face and the puppets in the shot! 

  Put on a special outfit!

  Try to find a neutral background.

  Make sure you speak loudly! 

  Get help if you need more puppeteers to hold puppets & props.

  Have fun!

  Answer these questions about the show in my video: what was the beginning situation?  What was the conflict?  How did my character resolve the conflict?  How did my character use his skills and abilities in the show?

  Your challenge is to make a show that is both educational, teaching us something about your chosen historical figure, and at the same time entertaining for your audience. Informative and entertaining go great together!