Beginning: (This activity is best with only a couple of infants.) Begin talking about how you brought your
puppet friend to school today.
Middle: Put your hand in the puppet and show the infants a sock puppet. Talk to the infants for the puppet: “Hello! My name is Puppet Man (or whatever). What’s your name?” Direct the question to one child at a time. Hesitate a moment to give time for a response. If no response, respond for the baby: “My name is Zelda. Where did you come from?” Continue the conversation until the children reach for the puppet. Then let them handle the puppets, and put them on. Continue to demonstrate how to pretend with a puppet. End: Say: “It’s time for my puppet friend to go take a rest now. Bye-bye! Say bye-bye.” |
Extensions and Modifications: To modify this activity, use very
simple sentences with
questions
that illicit one word answers. To extend
this activity, provide a variety of puppets and a large cardboard box for a
screen. Demonstrate how to hold a puppet
show. Leave the puppet theater with
puppets out during worktime for further exploration and language practice.
Bibliography Post, J. H. (2011). Tender Care and Early Learning. Ypsilanti, MI : High Scope Press. |