How to Build Moveable Puppets

A homemade puppet show can keep children entertained in creating the puppets and performing the play.

Making a homemade, movable puppet can be an entertaining activity for children. Not only will time be consumed crafting the puppet, but the puppet shows that will ensue will keep the children engaged as well. A movable puppet allows the puppeteer to make more realistic shows and plays out of the puppets. The mouth is the most essential portion to have mobile, as this makes the puppet's speaking more comical and realistic than a stationary mouth.

Things You'll Need

• Sock
• Scissors
• Cardboard
• Pencil
• Felt
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Have the user of the puppet touch her index fingers of both hands together and the thumbs of both hands to create an oval shape. Cut an oval out of cardboard roughly this size. Draw a line down the center and fold the cardboard on the line.

2. Trace the cardboard oval onto a piece of felt and cut it out and place aside.

3. Cut off the first quarter inch off the toe of the sock, leaving a hole.

4. Insert the folded cardboard, with the curved end pointing out, into the end of the sock.

5. Trim the excess material off the sock around the cardboard. The toe should be rounded like the cardboard.

6. Glue the top of the sock to the top of the folded cardboard and the bottom material to the bottom flap of cardboard.

7. Glue the cut out piece of felt to the inside of the cardboard. This will create the inside of the mouth of the puppet.

8. Glue on other decorations by cutting up more felt into eyes or lips. Add other elements such as feathers or beads for finishing touches.

References

• Danielles Place: Puppets
• Teacher Help: Puppets