Grade 4 Art And Craft Design, Mixed Media And Technology – Puppetry: Glove Puppets, Tick/rod Puppets Notes

• Design simple puppets using mixed media (fabric, paper, recycled items).
• Make a glove puppet and a tick/rod puppet.
• Use simple technology: record a short puppet show with a phone.
• Work safely and tidy up after craft.

1) Make a simple Glove Puppet

Time: 25–35 minutes

1. Choose a clean sock or glove that fits a hand easily.
2. For the face: Stuff the toe (or glove finger) lightly with cotton, old cloth or soft paper.
3. Make eyes from buttons, bottle caps or cut paper circles. Glue or sew them on.
4. Make a mouth with colored paper or felt. Glue under the eyes so your fingers can open and close it.
5. Add hair using yarn, string, or torn fabric strips. Glue or stitch to the top.
6. Decorate clothes by wrapping a small shirt from scrap fabric or drawing with markers.
7. Try it on your hand: the thumb can be the lower jaw and fingers the upper head (or the other way around).

Tip: Use local character ideas — a Maasai elder, a talking dik-dik, or a friendly teacher.

2) Make a Tick/Rod Puppet (stick puppet)

Time: 20–30 minutes

Note: "tick/rod" means a puppet fixed to a stick (rod). These are easy to move and good for small stages.

1. Draw a simple character shape on cardboard or stiff felt (head and body). Size about palm-sized.
2. Color and decorate the face and clothes using markers, scraps of kitenge, beads.
3. Cut out the shape carefully. Glue a stick or thin rod to the back with strong tape or glue.
4. For movable arms, punch small holes and thread string so arms can move when you pull gently.
5. Add small details: a hat, a spear (made from straw), or a shield from bottle caps.

Tip: Use long, light sticks so the puppet can be shown above a table or behind a cardboard stage.

Using Simple Technology

• Record a 1–2 minute puppet show with a phone. Practice lines first.
• Use the phone torch for simple stage lighting (ask an adult).
• Create a short stop-motion using many small movements and pictures (with help from teacher/parent).

Classroom idea: Make small groups. Each group records a short performance about a Kenyan folktale or a school story.

Activity Plan (one lesson)

1. Start (5 min): Show examples and explain materials and safety.
2. Make (25–35 min): Pupils make glove or rod puppets in pairs.
3. Practice (10 min): Pupets talk or act in pairs for 1 minute.
4. Present (10–15 min): Small performances or a recorded show.
5. Clean up (5–10 min): Collect scraps for recycling and wash hands.

Simple Assessment (for teacher)

• Participation: helped with ideas and worked safely.
• Creativity: used mixed materials and bright design.
• Function: puppet can move and be used in a short story.

Extension / Homework

At home, make a puppet stage from a cardboard box. Ask a family member to watch your short show. Tell a story from your community — a proverb or folktale — using your puppet.