Puppet Show Palooza: Rethinking the Adaptations Project (16)

Creativity Meets Purpose

Every year in 7th grade and in many other science classes across the country, students either create a critter, design a diorama of an ecosystem or some other visual project on an animal and its behavioral, physical and physiological adaptations. It is a very visual project: a colorful habitat, food webs and lots of animals. The purpose of the project is to create a 3-D representation of an ecosystem with all of its components. After students create these shoe box creations, they present them in some way. Often with a slide show full of information.

Animal adaptation projects are usually a favorite project of the year, because it really lets students have some fun. Its hands-on, artsy and extremely relatable- students love learning about animals at any age. In the past my students created dioramas, in teams, added their animal and then they filmed a stop-motion video of the animal behaving in a certain way (one of its adaptations). This was fun, but this year I decided to do something new and different. A puppet show.

Why a Puppet Show?

Creating puppets requires making mistakes. It requires an investment- as we put on eyes and create a face- it becomes very personal. The puppet becomes an expression of us. Students learn quickly that what they see in their mind is not the same as what they can make in their hands. This inspires problem-solving in an artistic, unique way. Puppets, will have their voice and thus, they will be a representation of them.

Why a Script?

When students write plays they have a few things that shape their words: how they will look on stage, how will they sound on stage and how others will respond to their words and actions on stage. Writing for a puppet show removes a lot of this risk and self-doubt thus allowing them to be a little silly, maybe use an accent or crazy voice. Plus, the plots can be more adventurous since they do not have to act them out personally.

Not only does creating a puppet show help them learn the content but it also helps with writing skills and dialogue formatting. But above all else it helps reinforce social skills: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity.

Play Bill and Puppetry

My students for their projects were given the choice of any animal on the planet. They chose a specific species. Then they researched adaptations, habitats, position in the food web, and other cool facts about their animals. Then they were assigned a group based on the animal’s habitat. Each student is required to create a puppet: shadow, finger, hand, sock etc. of their animal.

As a group they will create a Play Bill (brochure) of their puppet show: characters, plot, setting etc. Then they will write a script: all science based using the research they gathered on their animals. The only ‘bending’ of the truth is that their animals will talk, all else needs to be accurate. Finally, next week they will present their puppet shows to the class and some 6^th graders who are going to stop by to watch. Every puppet show needs a good audience.

More to come….