Character Puppets - Clumsy & Friends Classroom Activity

Overview

This hands-on art and drama activity engages students in creating simple puppets based on Clumsy & Friends characters. These puppets become tools for storytelling, role-playing, and creative expression that reinforce literacy skills while developing fine motor coordination and imagination.

Art & Drama 30-45 minutes Ages 3-8

Learning Objectives

Develop fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, and decorating
Strengthen character comprehension and understanding of personality traits
Encourage creativity and self-expression through puppet design
Enhance storytelling abilities through puppet performances
Build social skills through collaborative puppet shows
Practice oral language skills through character voice and dialogue

Materials Needed

Basic Materials:

Paper bags or socks

Construction paper

Scissors (child-safe)

Glue sticks

Markers or crayons

Character templates (provided)

Optional Materials:

Yarn (for hair)

Googly eyes

Felt pieces

Popsicle sticks

Fabric scraps

Buttons

Pipe cleaners

Puppet Types

Choose one or more puppet styles based on your classroom resources and students' ages:

Paper Bag Puppets

Best for: Ages 4-8

Materials: Small paper lunch bags

Technique: Decorate the bottom flap of the bag as the puppet's face with the opening at the bottom. The body is drawn on the bag itself.

Sock Puppets

Best for: Ages 5-8

Materials: Clean socks (preferably light colors)

Technique: Place sock on hand, with the heel forming the mouth area. Add eyes, hair, and accessories with glue.

Stick Puppets

Best for: Ages 3-6

Materials: Cardstock, popsicle sticks

Technique: Draw and color character on cardstock, cut out, and glue to a popsicle stick.

Finger Puppets

Best for: Ages 3-5

Materials: Felt or paper strips

Technique: Create small tubes that fit on fingers, decorate with simple features.

Preparation

Read a Clumsy & Friends story and discuss the main characters' appearances and personalities
Prepare material stations around the classroom
Print character templates (provided at the end of this resource)
Create a sample puppet to demonstrate the process
Set up a puppet theater area (optional: use a table turned on its side or a large cardboard box)

Teacher Tip: For younger students (3-4), pre-cut basic shapes and facial features to help them focus on assembly rather than cutting.

Activity Instructions

Part 1: Creating the Puppets (20-30 minutes)

1 Introduce the Activity

Show your example puppet and explain that students will create their own Clumsy & Friends character puppets for storytelling.

2 Review Characters

Briefly review the main characters from the story, discussing their key features, colors, and personality traits.

3 Demonstrate

Show students how to create their chosen puppet style, emphasizing key steps and techniques.

4 Create

Allow students to select materials and create their puppets. Circulate to provide assistance and encouragement.

5 Personalize

Encourage students to add unique details to their puppets that reflect the character's personality.

6 Name Tags

Have students create small name tags for their puppets to avoid confusion during sharing.

Paper Bag Puppet Instructions:

Position the paper bag so the flap bottom is facing up (this will be the face)
Draw or glue on eyes, nose, and other facial features
Add hair using yarn, construction paper, or markers
Decorate the body (main part of the bag) with clothing and accessories
Let dry completely before using

Sock Puppet Instructions:

Place the sock on your hand with the heel forming the mouth area
Glue on googly eyes or create eyes from construction paper
Add yarn for hair, felt pieces for ears or other features
Use fabric scraps or construction paper for clothing
Allow puppet to dry completely before handling

Part 2: Using the Puppets (15-20 minutes)

Option 1: Retelling the Story

Have students use their puppets to retell the Clumsy & Friends story you read earlier:

Break students into small groups with different characters
Allow them a few minutes to practice retelling a scene
Each group performs their scene for the class

Option 2: New Adventures

Encourage students to create new adventures for their characters:

Provide a simple story starter (e.g., "Clumsy and friends discover a mysterious box")
Allow students to work in pairs or small groups to create a short puppet show
Perform for the class or record video of performances to share later

Option 3: Character Interviews

Conduct "interviews" with the character puppets:

Teacher asks questions like "What makes you happy?" or "What was the hardest part of your adventure?"
Students answer in the voice of their character
Students can also interview each other's puppets

Teacher Tip: For shy students, let them perform behind a puppet theater. This often helps children who are reluctant to speak in front of the class feel more comfortable when they can "hide" behind their puppet.

Character Examples

Here are key features to include for popular Clumsy & Friends characters:

Clumsy Gugglebum

Bright blue hair
Big friendly smile
Colorful clothes
Often has bandages or patches
Big expressive eyes

Minnie Tickledust

Jester hat with bells
Sparkly cheeks
Bright colorful outfit
Feather or tickle wand
Big grin

Yawnzarella

Sleepy eyes
Nightcap or star headband
Pajama-like clothes
Crescent moon symbol
Small clock accessory

The Skellies

Weather symbols
Cloud-shaped bodies
Raindrops or sun rays
Different colored eyes
Small umbrellas

Extensions and Variations

For Younger Students (Ages 3-4)

Simpler Designs: Focus on stick puppets with pre-cut features
Group Project: Create one large class puppet together
Sensory Materials: Incorporate textured materials like cotton balls, fabric scraps

For Older Students (Ages 6-8)

Moving Parts: Add movable arms, mouths, or other features
Script Writing: Have students write simple scripts for their puppet shows
Setting Creation: Design simple backdrops and props for performances
Character Biography: Write a short description of their character's likes, dislikes, and personality

Cross-Curricular Connections

Science: Create puppets that demonstrate scientific concepts from stories (weather, dental health)
Math: Use puppets to act out simple math word problems
Social Studies: Create puppets from different cultures or historical periods
Social-Emotional Learning: Use puppets to role-play conflict resolution scenarios

Assessment Opportunities

Through this activity, you can observe and assess:

Fine motor skills and dexterity
Following multi-step directions
Character comprehension and recall of story details
Creative expression and problem-solving
Oral language development during puppet shows
Collaboration and turn-taking during group work

Character Templates

Print and cut out these templates to help students create their puppets:

Basic Puppet Elements

These simple shapes can be used for any character:

Eyes
(various sizes)

Noses
(triangle, circle)

Mouths
(smiles, open)

Hair
(wavy, straight)

Arms
(bendable)

Clothing
(shirts, hats)

Accessories
(stars, hearts)

Expression
(eyebrows)

Note: For detailed character templates, print the separate template pages or visit our website.

Puppet Show Ideas

Mini-Scripts

Here are some simple scripts students can use or adapt:

Clumsy's Big Surprise

Clumsy: Oh no! Today is Minnie's birthday and I forgot to get a present!

Yawnzarella: *yawns* Don't worry, we can make something special.

Clumsy: But what? The party starts in one hour!

The Skellies: We could create a rainbow for her! We know how to make weather magic!

Clumsy: That's perfect! Minnie loves colorful things!

All: Let's work together to make the best birthday surprise ever!

Performance Tips

Speak clearly and slightly louder than normal
Hold puppets so the audience can see them
Move the puppet slightly when it's "speaking"
Practice entrances and exits
Create different voices for different characters