Types of Puppets for Drama Class
There are literally dozens of different types of puppets students and teachers can use in drama class. Puppetry is a fun and exciting way for students of all ages to learn about stagecraft, storytelling and performance.
The universal appeal of puppetry enables students to be instantly engaged in both the process and product. Drama students love constructing puppets, writing and performing their own puppet plays, and interacting with puppets as an audience member.
Puppetry can be undertaken as a unit of work in drama class from Kindergarten to Year 12. Younger children enjoy the excitement of being involved in puppet shows of any kind, while senior drama students are equally attracted to the more sophisticated use of certain types of puppetry, sometimes linked to particular styles of theatrical performance.
Here is a selection of videos showcasing a number of different puppet types, from simple sock and finger puppets to computer generated puppets and giant puppets the size of a city building. Enjoy!
Wow! What serendipity!
I was only just searching your site yesterday for information regarding puppets for a unit 9/10 will be studying next term. There was nothing yesterday and today, a gift!
We will be attending a performance of ‘The Little Prince’ by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre (out of W.A.). After a Responding Task, students in groups will adapt a children’s story to the stage, incorporating puppets or objects (Object Theatre). As a cross-curricular enterprise students in Music class will be composing and performing pieces for each performance also. We will then perform for the Primary students at our school… I hope it all comes together!
Thank you for all the information you collate and share Justin.
Aha! Must have been ESP, Nicole :-). Somehow I knew you needed a resource on puppetry and so here it is! Thanks for the ‘thank you’.
How wonderful Justin, such a fabulous resource, thankyou so much!
My pleasure, Maryanne. It was a lot of fun researching this post! Glad you have found it useful.