Magical Animal Finger Puppet!

This art activity is great fun, and I have had wonderful success with children and adults of all ages, from 3 years old up to 16 or 17. I have found that working in soft clay is good for nearly all ability levels. If parents are involved, we may encourage parents to make their OWN puppet, and allow their child to create his or her own. Parents often try to do the puppet for their child, rather than let the puppet be from the child’s own imagination. I once had a girl create a “hippopotamus butterfly” because her mother allowed her to do so! Kids will make some beautiful and they will be proud of it! If children need assistance, of course we can help them get started.

I have used this as an art activity in a Family Yoga class, kids, or teen yoga class. You can also do it as an art activity with story. Animal tales help kids to imagine what their animal may look like. You can take more time if you have it. When I do it with a yoga class, it takes about 15 minutes. Prep time is about 30 minutes. In a longer class, you can allow the children to make the bases for their puppets. Encourage children to learn more about their animals or creatures, and maybe even write a story about it!

Supplies:

White or colored card stock

Animal print felt (optional but fun!)

Model Magic or other air-dry modeling clay or compound (white or colored)

Googly eyes (adds to the fun)

Scissors

Glue and glue sticks, tape

Zip-lock bags for storing extra clay

Styrofoam or paper cups for carrying puppets home as they clay is still drying

Teacher Preparation before class:

1. Cut a 3/4-inch-long to a 1-inch-long strip from plain or colored card stock. Strip should be about 3 to 4 inches long. You can use your own finger for a guide as you roll around your first finger. Adjust the strip to fit the tip of your first finger to form a tube. Tape or glue in place with glue stick. I prefer the glue stick.

2. Cut out strips of animal felt, or felt circles, if desired.

3. Arrange embellishments so they can be easily seen and used, perhaps on paper plates, in plastic bowls or containers, etc.

In class:

1. Give each child (and parent) a small, egg-shaped piece of modeling compound, and one of the tubes. You will mold the clay on top of the tube and smooth the clay down over the tube to cover it. Your finger should reach slightly into the compound (the head of the puppet) when the puppet is worn.

2. Add more of the modeling material to create exaggerated features and hair. Apply different colored modeling materials to define features if colors are available. Colors are great because they really get your imagination going! Encourage the use of MANY colors, and stress is OK to have a blue cat, an orange mouse, a purple frog, etc. Colors should be chosen because that particular color appeals to the child, and not because something SHOULD be that color.

3. You may use your fingers, or even simple tools to create texture or imprint the surface of the clay to give more character to your creature.

4. You may also choose to glue or embed, animal print felt (optional) or even make a “cape” for your animal puppet out of the felt. A cape can be created by cutting out a felt circle and cutting a hole in the center for the tube to fit through.

5. Embed or glue on decorative materials such as beads, feathers, and yarn as needed to embellish your puppet. Most often, materials will stick into the modeling clay without glue.

6. Allow the puppet to dry or cure according to directions. Model Magic dries overnight. Paint or use markers on modeling compounds as desired. Using model magic clay, we were able to use markers before the clay was even dry.

7. Give your puppets a name!

You can find more ideas like this at http://fun.familyeducation.com