Paper Mache Puppets

Paper Mâché Puppets

For children entering grades 3–5

Explore the possibilities of paper mâché! An ancient material that’s strong enough to make a helmet, yet delicate enough to render fine details, paper mache is versatile, satisfyingly messy (but washable), and so much fun to work with! In this class, students will create a puppet based on an animal of their choice (some students may want to combine two or three animals in their creature). They will begin by making an armature and layering paper mâché until it’s sturdy, then choose colors and patterns and paint their creatures. Next, they will design and create a costume for their puppet, incorporating basic hand-sewing. Once the puppets are complete, students will learn to control and animate them as they act out short stories with their handmade characters. On the last day of class, we will put on a performance of student-led adaptations of classic stories for a live audience.

Session II: July 7–July 18

Late Mornings: 10:20 a.m.–12:20 p.m.

Instructor: Candice Latimer