Muse Machine 2023 Advanced Teacher Training Seminar-Inspired Lesson Plan
Developed by Amy Mullins
Edwin D. Smith School, Dayton, OH
Art
Grade Level: 6

This lesson plan is also available as a printable PDF:

Introduction:

As creative as art teachers are, most will admit the difficulty of continuously bringing new ideas to their classroom. Amy Mullins of Smith Elementary found her inspiration during the 2023 Advanced Teacher Training Seminar during a discussion with Alan Muraoka, veteran actor, writer and director on Sesame Street, and through a visit to the Museum of the Moving Image. She used that inspiration to challenge her sixth graders to individually create original puppets and then work in groups to write and film an original puppet show related to their characters. Mullins wanted to challenge her students to become effective problem solvers and see how they responded when they got stuck for ideas or when things didn’t go as planned. Her final projects attest to the success of this process and the enthusiasm of students when given such a creative and fun project.

Overview of the Lesson

Summary:

Students will create an original puppet and work with a group of fellow students to create and film an original puppet show related to their puppet characters.

Standards:

6.2CR Brainstorm and experiment independently with ideas.
6.2PE Identify technical skills that impact artmaking.
6.2CO Identify the importance of lifelong involvement and advocacy in visual arts.
6.3CO Link observations, life experiences and imagination for personal and creative expression.

Objectives/Outcomes:

Students will apply their knowledge of art concepts, generate ideas, and make connections.
Students will demonstrate craftsmanship through the use of tools, materials, and process.
Students will apply critical and creative thinking skills to assess and refine their work.
Students will work successfully as individuals or in small groups to create a three-minute (or less) puppet show.

Teaching Approaches:

Full group lecture, independent and small group work

Assessment Tools:

Teacher observation, rubric

Lesson Preparation

Teacher Needs:

Teacher Context & Research

If you have the chance to visit the Museum of the Moving Image or see the touring Jim Henson exhibition, take advantage! Otherwise, MOMI has a lot of online resources about the exhibition.

Helpful Hints

We used Flip to record and share our puppet shows. If your school does not allow the use of this application, you can record locally on the Chromebook itself.
Be aware of your students’ ability to safely use a hot glue gun.

Student Needs:

Prior Knowledge

Knowledge of different kinds of puppets, experience using hot glue

Student Voice

Students will brainstorm how puppets can be used in a performance, decide how and where they will perform their puppet show, and choose the context of the show itself. Students will use their imaginations to create their own puppet character.

Vocabulary

Muppet: Marionette + puppet (a word created by Jim Henson)
Storyboard: a tool artists use to plan a television show

Evidence of Outcomes

Students will perform a show with their puppets to demonstrate understanding of the art of puppeteering. They will photograph their puppet into their online art portfolio and answer questions about what challenges/successes they had in creating their puppets.

Enduring Understandings

Students will understand that puppeteering and puppet-making are possible career paths in the arts and that these skills are also potentially useful in other areas (for example, in the production of our school’s video announcements).

Students will understand that problem solving and creative skills carry over into every aspect of their daily lives.

Learning Plan

Essential Question: What do artists/effective problem solvers do when they get stuck for ideas or when things are not going as planned?

Resources/Materials:

Slide Deck
Chromebooks with internet access
Puppet-making supplies: socks, ping pong balls, pipe cleaners, yarn, buttons, fabric, fur, cotton stuffing, cardboard, glue guns, glue sticks, Sharpie markers, tape, feathers
Access to Flip
Artist Statement handout
Grading rubric

Hook:

I talked to the kids about my experience meeting Alan Muraoka and visiting the Jim Henson exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image.

Main Lesson Narrative/Sequence:

Day 1 (55 min.)

Introduce the lesson. Slides 1-13
Sketch puppet ideas.

Day 2 (55 min.)

Slides 14- 17
Watch videos and discuss how to create a sock puppet.
Research on iPads other ideas or experiment with your own ideas.
Go over safety rules.
Begin gathering supplies needed to make puppets.

Day 3 (55 min.)

Begin creating puppets.

Day 4 (55 min.)

Slides 18-19
Finish making puppets and start writing puppet show scripts

Day 5 (55 min.)

Practice puppet shows and start recording

Day 6 (55 min.)

Finish filming
Write artist statements
Photograph puppet in Google Drive art portfolio

Demonstration of Learning:

Here is a video recap of my class’s work!

Artist Statement #1

Artist Statement #2

Artist Statement #3

Final Review:

I will know the students met the objectives of this lesson based on the level of effort they put into the creative process, their ability to meet the grading criteria on the final puppet performance, and whether they can identify a problem they encountered and how they solved it in their written artist statements.

Lesson Reflection

Students will review their digital portfolios to see their growth over the years. As a class, we will discuss the setbacks and successes of our puppet project. How could we improve this project for future students?