LUNCH BAG ROD PUPPETS
“ How Many Colors in Your Eyes?”
An introduction to puppet construction and
character
“SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING THE PUPPETS COME TO LIFE”
Designed by Judith O’Hare
YOU AND ME PUPPETS
74 Hillcrest Road
Reading, MA 01867 781-944-0965
E-mail jaohare@gmal.com www.youandmepuppets.com
This puppet project is very focused. It
provides a way of thinking about designing and
building puppets, and it introduces ways to think
about developing a character through careful
construction. Think about creating a character by
using observation and tactile reference to your face or
another person’s face for building the face, its
features, expression, and personality. Each step
requires observation, reflection and reference to reality
so that the puppets begin to take on a personality.
What is observed can be exaggerated and reshaped as
long as the starting point is observation. For example,
ask yourself if eyes are on the top, middle, or bottom
of the face. Then measure where the eyes are on your
face and you will discover that the eyes are ______.
From this starting point ask, “How many colors are
there in our eyes?” Look around at people’s eyes, how
many colors do you see. There are three colors, plus a
sparkle. The colors and shapes do not have to be
realistic, but there must be a minimum of three and the
shape can be a design interpretation of anger, fear, joy
etc. The pupil in the center is what gives the puppet
vision and it let’s the audience know that the puppet
can see. This type of observation and thinking is
continued for all parts of the face and hair. The nose is
3-D and our mouths have 2 lips and it dark inside the
mouth. Look carefully at faces.
This is a simple rod puppet and does not
have arms or legs; however, the face is a good starting
point for developing a personality and a personal
voice.
Puppets are inanimate objects that are made
to come to life by a person, a puppeteer. No
construction of a puppet is complete without dramatic
action.
This project can be done with people of all
ages from the very young to grandparents. It can be a
foundation and point of reference for more intricate
construction and character development.
Materials - for each participant
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1 lunch bagFor an extra
zing- try a
party shop for Colored lunch bags / for
GIANTS use grocery bag
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1 paper towel tube or 1” x 12-14” (fax tubes,
shade rods, etc.)-- for sturdy center rod- for
child to hold onto.
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5- 6 pieces of newspaper- to stuff into the
bag to make the head
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Colored construction paper. ( include, white
black and red), for features- sticky back
paper is easy to use.
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1 piece of colored tissue paper- variety of
colors ( cut large sheet in 1/2 – (1/2 for the
body and 1/2 for the hair)
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A Large paper grocery bag to make a
quickie theater
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**Fluorescent paper for features---- The
paper glows in Black Light. It add another
dimension to the head.
For all to share: scissors, Elmer’s type
Glue & glue brushes, glue containers ( cat
food cans or paper cups) masking tape,
magic markers. Glue brushes are an
important tool for this project.
HOW TO CONSTRUCT
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Stuff crinkled single sheets of newspaper (45 pages) – into a lunch bag until it is about
1/3 full of paper. Add the paper towel tube
or other rod and continue filling the bag.
Pack the bag tightly.
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Tape the bag to the tube with masking tape.
Make sure the tube is secure and the head
does not wobble.
Cut or tear pieces of construction paper ( or
fluorescent paper) to make features.
EYES are in the center of the head - make
them large(If children are little or have trouble cutting,
Prepare a variety of cut pieces or self stick
pieces for them to choose from.
Arrange the pieces on the table and look at
them before sticking them to the head.This
is important!
When they look just right, Glue them on.
LOOK at one another. There are at least
3 colors in our eyes, and our features are
3-D. Try to make them stick out. The
nose is 3-D, eye lashes come out from the
face, and eyebrows have different shapes
and are very expressive. Everyone has 2
lips, teeth, tongue and it is dark inside the
mouth etc
Art reflects life- Observe, remember, and
create.
Hair: Use 1/2 piece of colored tissue. Fold
in 1/2 and fold 1/2 again. Holding the folded
end and cut from the bottom making 1/41/2” strips; do not cut through the fold.
Cut or tear at the fold to give 2 large pieces
with strips. Put glue on the bag where you
want hair and attach 1 section of strips.
Then add glue and attach the other section.
You may cut these sections into smaller
sections, trade pieces with one another to get
a multi colored effect etc. - Look at people’s
hair to see how it grows. You will discover
there are layers of hair.
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Body: Use the other 1/2 piece of colored
tissuesSelect ANY color. Put a circle of glue
around the top of the neck tube below the
chin area. Scrunch (gather) the tissue and
glue around the neck to hide the tube, thus
making a simple costume. Try NOT to
overlap the tissue so that the costume is full
and there is a little opening at the back for
the puppeteer’s hand to hold onto the tube.
These puppets can be used to tell many
different kinds of stories. If you have story
in mind before you start, plan out the story,
scene by scene. List the characters in the
story, select who will play each character,
and construct the puppets to represent the
characters in the story. When they are
completed, make a careful outline of the
play. Discuss what each character should
say and “improvise” the scene. Be sure to
add lots of movement, actions. When
everyone is happy with the dialogue and
movements, act it out again. It is amazing,
but everyone will remember his/her part.
Later the script can be written down. The
plays are more sincere, louder and more
dynamic if the puppeteers do not READ a
script when performing but speak what they
know and feel.
MAKE THE PUPPETS
COME TO LIFE
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If you are working with a group, when
everyone is finished: Sing: “Put your puppet
in the air, in the air... Let your puppet do a
dance... Let your puppet jump up high etc.
Experiment with movements-
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The song will focus attention and get
everyone ready to participate, and the song
can provide an impetus for making them
MOVE.
NOW make your puppet move and talk.
What is its name? Where does he/she live?
What does it LIKE? What does it NOT
LIKE? What does it like to eat? What games
does it like to play etc? Does it have
something it really cares about, a person, an
issue, a problem, a joyful event? Share it!
Add a conflict- ne puppet likes something
(ice cream), the other dislikes it; it’s one
puppet’s birthday and the other puppet did
not get invited to the party; one puppet talks
about something, (ex the weather,) the other
changes the subject, etc. Think of situations
that have conflict- then work on conflict
resolution.
Make a large grocery bag theater- Cut a
large square in the bag (cut the side with
words). Create a favorite PLACE on the
other side- use magic markers, collage,
crayons, paint etc. Hold the bag with the
hole side facing you. Pop the puppet up
through the hole and over the top so that
your arm is hidden by the bag. Ask the
puppets to talk about their favorite place,
talk to each other, talk to you, tell a story.
THEATERS: Many different types of
puppet theaters/stages can be used to act out
stories. Put a table cloth on a table and go
behind the table.pop the puppets up. Add
scenery on the table and you can video this
show. This is easy!
ACT OUT THE STORY/
BECOME PUPPETEERS
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