Art & Craft — Design, Mixed Media and Technology

Subtopic: Puppetry — Marionette (for age 10, Kenya)

What is a marionette? A marionette is a puppet that moves using strings attached to a control bar. When you pull the strings the puppet’s head, arms and legs move. We will use design ideas, mixed materials (recycled and fabric) and simple technology to make a fun marionette.

Learning goals

• Understand how movement is made using strings and joints.
• Use mixed media (cardboard, cloth, beads, bottle caps) to create texture and colour.
• Design a puppet inspired by Kenyan animals, people or stories.
• Use simple technology ideas: recording a puppet show on a phone or adding a small LED (with an adult).

Materials (easy to find in Kenya)

• Cardboard (old cereal boxes), newspaper, or thin wood pieces (cut by adult).
• Sticks or wooden skewers, small broom handle pieces or chopsticks for the control bar.
• String, nylon twine, sisal or old shoelaces.
• Fabric scraps (kitenge or kikoy pieces), buttons, beads, bottle caps, old beads.
• Glue (PVA), tape, scissors, hole punch or awl (adult helps), marker and paints.
• Brass fasteners (split pins) or small paper fasteners for joints, or tie joints with string.
• Optional (with adult help): small LED + coin battery and tape for glowing eyes, smartphone for recording.

Design steps — make a simple marionette

1. Choose a character: an elephant, lion, bird, child in kitenge or a favourite folktale hero.
2. Sketch: draw the puppet front view on paper. Mark head, body, arms, legs. Keep shapes simple (circles and rectangles).
3. Cut shapes: copy shapes onto cardboard and cut out. Make head, body, 2 arms, 2 legs.
4. Make joints: punch small holes where arms and legs meet the body. Use split pins or tie with string so limbs can move.
5. Decorate (mixed media): glue fabric clothes, buttons for eyes, bottle caps for shoulders, seeds for texture, paint patterns like Kenyan designs.
6. Attach strings: tie one string to the top of the head, one to each hand, and one to each foot (5 strings is common). Make 1 or 2 extra strings for body balance if needed.
7. Make control bar: cross two sticks (like a +) and tie the strings to different points. Shorten or lengthen strings so the puppet stands balanced when suspended.
8. Test and adjust: hold the control bar and move strings. If arms move slowly, shorten the arm string; if legs swing too much, add a small bead as a weight at the foot.

Mixed media ideas (Kenyan touch)

• Use kitenge or kikoy scraps to make colourful clothes for your puppet.
• Use bottle caps as shoulder pads, seeds and beans for texture, and sisal twine for hair.
• Papier-mâché (news + glue) makes a strong head — paint it with local colours.

Simple technology to try (with adult)

• Record your puppet show using a mobile phone. Try different camera angles and add music.
• Add a small LED for glowing eyes: tape LED and coin battery inside the head (adult help).
• Try stop-motion: move the puppet a little, take a photo, and make a short animation on the phone.

Safety rules

• Use scissors carefully — cut away from your body. Ask an adult for small blades or hot glue.
• Needles, awls, hot glue and small batteries must be used by an adult.
• Keep strings tidy so they do not tangle around fingers.

Class activity idea

Make a marionette in pairs. Choose a Kenyan folktale or animal story. Design the puppet, rehearse a short 2–3 minute puppet show, and record it on a phone. Present to the class or to parents.

Assessment checklist (teacher or self)

• Puppet pieces cut neatly and joined (yes / no).
• Strings attached and puppet moves (yes / no).
• Mixed media used (fabric, beads, or recycled items) (yes / no).
• Can explain how the control bar moves the puppet (yes / no).

Vocabulary (simple)

• Marionette — a puppet moved by strings.
• Puppet — a figure you can move to act a story.
• Control bar — the stick or cross you hold to move the puppet.
• Joint — place where two parts join and move.
• Mixed media — using different materials (paper, fabric, beads).

Troubleshooting tips

• If strings tangle: shorten them and wrap them around the control bar when not in use.
• If limbs are too heavy: use lighter materials or add a small weight at the foot for balance.
• If the puppet falls forward: move the head string a little back or add a body string for balance.

Extension tasks (for curious learners)

• Design a small stage from a cardboard box and add painted scenery of a Kenyan village or savannah.
• Make a stop-motion short film of your puppet dancing to a traditional song.
• Try a simple electric change: with an adult, add a tiny motor to rock the puppet for automatic movement.

Quick review questions (answer aloud or write):

1. What parts of the puppet need strings?
2. How do you make a joint so the arm can move?
3. Which recycled items did you use for decoration?

Have fun designing your marionette! Try making one inspired by a Kenyan animal or a folktale and show it to your family.