The puppets can be used for parades, celebrations, dances and retelling stories about Giants and other large characters. The workshop further discusses how puppets can be used in the social studies and literature program, how sensitive issues can be dramatized by puppets and used for classroom discussion. This workshop can include construction of Shadow puppets. A residency involves working with in the school with 1 or more class or group of youngsters to develop a puppet presentation. It can include construction, story creation and performance, or it can include learning performance skills with puppets that are provided.
Residencies are partnerships between teachers, puppeteer and students.
The final outcome, the play can be done for other classes, parents, touring to other schools, senior centers etc. It is a full learning process that gives students an opportunity to plan, create and present their own understanding of literature, curriculum studies or life experiences with puppets. Greek Myths, Native American Tales, Rain Forest, historical reenactments, Literature and Life experiences make good topics for Residencies. . This course will provide ideas on how to use puppetry in the classroom to stimulate learning and provide a unique way to assess understanding of literature, social studies, multicultural issues and interpersonal relations. Teachers will learn how to construct a variety of puppets and masks, how to use them in an expressive way, and how to incorporate them into the curriculum in the inclusion classroom.