Understanding, as we already do, that puppetry is giving human-like features and charactertistics to inantimate objects, then literally anything can become a puppet! In fact, with the advent of glue guns, this can be done quite easily! I challenge you to look around your house, and let your sanctified imagination run wild. HOW? By figuring out what you have in your hose that with some eyes and perhaps a mouth added, which can easily be purchased at anyplace that sells crafts, can be made into a puppet!
I would strongly suggest that you invest some money into the book "Puppets and how to use them" by Fran Rothman. It gives you a good overview of puppetry in general, as well as detailed instructions about how you can take ordinary things, and make them easily into puppets.I can't emphasize enough how important it is for you to invest in this book! You'll be glad you did!
If you would like an overview of a wide collection of ready made puppets, then just click on ready made, and you'll be transported to a website that deals exclusively with these.
There are nummerous puppets available at almost all Christian bookstores, as well as the toy department in "regular" stores, and, of course, in toy stores.
I've even found workable puppets in grocery stores!
Puppet scripts have essentially all of the same characteristics as a good story. For a refresher on those, go back to the last principle, and look at them. However, some are performed live, and others are performed using a tape. Both have "pro's and con's." (of course) Scripts performed live allow the person or people doing the performing to intereact with whatever's happening with the kids. An example is that if you have kids that are having a hard time grasping your topic that day, then you can make your puppet have a hard time understanding, and help the kids. On the other hand live spripts are limited relative to background music, and take greater preparation. And you are limited by the number of puppeteers you have as far as voices are concerned. Taped scripts allow you to have an unlimited number of voices, and background music. However, you're sacrificing interaction, as they run "as is." I've used both successfully.
They're a variety of books and tapes out there that have puppet scripts on or in them. The book that I so strongly suggested, has a section on it as well.
In order to continue with our look at puppetry, just click on p-5.
