If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Puppet

Supplies: 2 brown socks (one dark brown and the other light brown), black and pink felt or fabric, and washable fabric glue

Process: Pre-cut the shapes for the mouse's face and tail. Have the child use a Q-tip to dip into the fabric glue and put glue on the pieces. Then, have the child carefully place the pieces on the sock. Place the tail on the heal of the sock. Dry for several hours before handling.

September 2010
Originally uploaded by Teach Well Teach Often

Teach Well: Create the puppet after reading the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Have the child use their mouse to act out the story and to share with.

DIY Puppet Stage

It's time to get your classrooms or creative spaces ready for the school year to begin. Why not add your own puppet stage in your dramatic play area? My friend, Rebekah, over at Yeebird posted this great idea from Country Living Magazine. Hop on over to get the instructions. It would look great in your dramatic play area along with these puppet holders.

Teach Well: You don't have to buy new fabric if you have some at home! Make a patchwork stage or paint onto muslin for a one-of-a kind look!

Mary Rice Hopkins & Puppets with a Heart

Those that knew me in the classroom knew that Mary Rice Hopkins' music played most of the time. Whether class was in session or not! I can always find a song from her collection to play in any theme or Bible story that I might be telling. (Make sure to check out Mary's free scope and sequence for each album here.) I also went to several ACSI conferences where Mary was there doing worship and teaching classes. I can not tell you how much I learned from her as a teacher, mom, and Christian! I also remember seeing Darcy with her Puppets with a Heart there as well, and since have been inspired to create my own Bible application lessons with my own puppets.

Since then, Mary and Darcy have teamed up. I feel blessed to have known how God has used them in their ministries before and now seeing His hand in using them together now! I am happy to hear that her new DVD, Mary Rice Hopkins & Puppets with a Heart has the Dove Foundation Seal of Approval! You need to take a look at this DVD! There are life lessons in this video that has always been a part of Darcy's ministry and now Mary has put music to to it. This music will plant those important seeds in your child's heart that will never leave.

To add to my excitement is that TBN is now showing Puppets with a Heart twice a week! Click here for the program schedule. On their website you can meet the characters and view a clip. Check it out!

Teach Well: "Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me." Psalm 25:4-5a

Wooly Lamb Puppet

Supplies: white construction paper, paint brush, cotton balls (or Poly-fil), craft stick, stapler, glue, and black paint.

Process: Use a paint brush and paint the child's hand, palm up. Carefully lay the hand on the white paper and press to make the hand print. The thumb is the head, and the four fingers are the lamb's legs. Have the paint dry. Cut the hand print out. Have the child squeeze glue onto the body of the lamb and place the cotton on top. Let the glue dry. Staple the craft stick onto the bottom of the lamb.


Teach Well: Try and use a stapler for the craft stick. If you need to use glue instead of a stapler use wood glue. Elmer's glue will not last for long on wood and has a long drying time. For easy clean up squeeze some liquid soap into the paint.

Here is the Nest

Keep your eyes on the look out where ever you go! You might find something that you can use for teaching. I found these sweet birds at a garage sale. I bought it not knowing how I would use it. But came across this poem that works perfectly. To read more about how to use puppets go to my previous post.

Here is the Nest

by Lucia Kemp Henry

Here is the nest,

All warm inside.

Three little birds

Can safely hide.

Here is the nest,

All hidden away.

Three little birds

can flap and play.

Here is the nest,

All cozy and deep.

Three little birds

Are all fast asleep.

(from The Best of The Mailbox Magazine: Songs, Poems, and Fingerplays for Preschool and Kindergarten)

Teach Well: If you don't have a puppet that would work that's OK! Have the children create a nest with construction paper and draw their three birds in the nest before or after reading the poem. Have the children pretend they are one of the birds while you read.

Puppets, Puppets, Puppets!

Puppetry can be very useful as visual tools in story telling or dramatic play. They are also very good for helping children with social difficulties express how they are feeling. Maybe you use a devotional Bible or Bible curriculum for your Bible time and are currently just reading the story to your children. Finding puppets that can help you tell the story will help the children experience the story in a new way. Therefore, making the lesson more memorable and help them remember what they have learned!

Be inspired by other puppeteers by learning from them. A great resource is Puppets with a Heart. I had the pleasure of seeing Darcy and her puppets for several years at ACSI. The puppets are created with a heart that you can pull out and "hide" an object in it for the lesson.

Puppets can be expensive...You can have the same rewards with puppets that you find at garage sales or Goodwill.

Some of my favorite finger play puppets are from Ikea. I keep them on a card holder that I found at Target twelve years ago. Think outside the box! Find anything to display your little friends and put it at a level where the children can explore and play on their own. We use these to sing Where is Thumbkin?

Some of my favorite puppets were donated or from garage sales. This raccoon has probably seen better days, but where else can I find a raccoon to use for The Kissing Hand? There are also great puppets at your local dollar store.

When looking for a great puppet for application stories or discussing emotional issues with children (eg. divorced or foster children that might be angry or sad) find a puppet with hands that are soft and move. These are my favorite for Bible and application puppets. If you are uncomfortable speaking through a puppet, you can use a puppet that doesn't even speak but whispers in your ear. I use this lesson when teaching Jesus Calms the Storm but it can be adapted to whatever lesson you are teaching about!

Supplies: small puppet, apron with pockets, Bible

Process: Place your puppet in your apron pocket before the lesson. Tell the children that you are going to have a guest for Bible Time but they are really shy and get really embarrassed around other people. Tell the children that they have to be very quiet to not scare or embarrass their guest. Then say that the puppet has a problem and needs our help. Ask if the children could help their new friend and if they are ready to meet their new friend (don't forget to give the puppet a name).

Begin talking into your pocket. Tell the puppet that it's OK to come out and meet our new friends. Place your hand in the pocket and begin to pet it, calming it, and at the same time get your hand inside the puppet. Poke the head slightly out of the pocket to create interest, then back down again. Still calming the puppet, have the puppet climb out of your pocket and up to your check, hugging you.

Ask the puppet, "You said that you had a problem and needed our help. What is your problem?" Have the puppet cover it's eyes as if it is shy and then whisper in your ear. Then say, "Oh, OK... tell me more." Have the puppet continue in your ear then come back down with shy hands over his face. "Kids, our new friend does have a problem! When it is bed time and his mom turns out the lights, he gets scared! He wants to know what he can do so that he won't have to be scared anymore. Does anyone know how we can help our friend?"

Give opportunities for the children to help solve their friend's problem. Mention that God's Word tells us that we do not have to be afraid because God is always with us (Isaiah 43:5).

"What can we do to talk to God when we are afraid?" Wait to hear answers from children. When someone mentions prayer ask if there was anyone that would like to pray for their new friend so that they would not be afraid. Have the puppet bow their head and pray with praying hands along with the class.

Thank the puppet for coming to visit and have everyone say goodbye. Walk to an area where children can not see you taking off the puppet.

Teach Well: There will be children that might disturb the lesson or dramatic play by calling out "That's just a puppet!" It's OK! Be encouraged! Some children are not able to use their imagination in today's society. Create opportunities in your classroom or home where children can become kids again! Make a time to call on that child to talk to your puppet, answer any questions you have asked, or have them even pray! You will be surprised, they might be hugging that puppet goodbye... maybe even asking when they are coming back for another visit!