Workshops & Residencies

Imagination Stretching Through Puppetry

To nurture the imagining powers of young people is to lead them to be the problem solvers of the future.

Puppetry is a many faceted art form, encompassing movement, visual art, story composition, and performance skills. Workshops in puppetry encourage learning in all styles (verbal, visual, kinesthetic, etc.), as well as promote life skills such as creative thinking, collaborative learning, self motivation, and much more. CALLIOPE PUPPETS' workshops and residencies focus on a variety of academic skills, based on National and Louisiana Contents Standards.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WORKSHOP/RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES:

• For Children
• For Teachers
• For All Ages

FOR CHILDREN:

Poetry On Stage
Theme: Poetry and Imagination
Grade: 4th - 6th
Timeframe: 2 - 6 hours/class
Puppet technique: various

As poetry uses distilled language to create images which invite the reader to include their own experience in their perception of the writing, puppetry also allows the viewer to fill in with their own imagination that which is not portrayed in the visual imagery. Students will read selected poetry, then create their own visual imagery, through shadow puppetry, either embellishing, or expanding on each theme. Students will experience poetry, creative thinking, shadow puppet construction and manipulation in a collaborative learning environment.

Science On Stage: Animal Habitats and Adaptations
Theme: Biology and Creative Thinking
Grade: 2nd - 4th
Timeframe: 2 - 4 hours/class
Puppet technique: hand, rod, etc.

Using recycled materials, second through fourth graders studying animal habitats create invented puppet creatures of their own design, adapted to a fictitious environment of their choice. Students will understand animal adaptation to their habitat, will think creatively, and learn about puppet manipulation.

Literature On Stage: Mythology
Theme: World Cultures and Creative Writing
Grade: 5th - 8th
Timeframe: 4 - 8 hours/class
Puppet technique: various

After reading creation myths from various cultures, students create their own myths to present as shadow puppet plays. Students will appreciate diversity of culture, as well as geography, will write in a collaborative learning environment, and learn to make and manipulate shadow puppets.

FOR TEACHERS:

Finding the Story: Puppetry as Natural Motivator and Assessment Tool

This workshop presents strategies to enthuse students within a variety of curricula through puppetry as they develop skills in problem solving, listening, sequencing, decision making, and collaborative learning. The format leads students to compose work based on assigned research, chapter summaries, or creative writing for presentation using quickly constructed shadow puppets in classroom performances for peers. As students find the element of story (sequential events) across the curriculum, they create contextual connections to promote memorable content comprehension. The use of puppetry serves as both motivation for and assessment of learning.

Workshop handouts include the Story Development Form, which helps students to find the element of story across the curriculum. The Rubric Form helps students to understand clearly what is expected of them, and provides a basis for critique and assessment. Creatively spark the potential of your students through these simple techniques to use right away.

For teachers grades 2 - 8

"Karen Konnerth's training workshops with teachers are highly productive and entertaining. Furthermore, the teachers acquire motivational techniques which they can easily implement in their respective classroom settings."
—Dr. Michael Rudder, Regional English Language Officer, U.S. Embassy, San José, Costa Rica

History On Stage

Learning about history can be a creative endeavor! Experience a process in which students learn about a typical community by researching a particular community member to bring to life as a puppet. Working in groups, students then create and perform plausible scenarios with other puppet members of the invented community. Learn a step-by-step process that includes the assignment of roles, guidelines for character research, techniques for puppet building, development of a story line, and improvised performances followed by critiques. No scripts required! This process can develop students' problem solving, listening, sequencing, decision-making, and collaboration skills, and provide motivation for research and learning. This workshop (in Medieval Community format) has been presented twice at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Opportunities for Educators series.

For teachers grades 4 - 8
3 - 5 hours (depending on puppet building technique focus selected)

FOR ALL AGES: THIRD GRADE THROUGH ADULT

Expression of Emotions Through Movement of Hand Puppets

This interactive workshop, applicable to a wide age range, leads participants through creative dramatics games, followed by puppet manipulation exercises, and group improvisation activities. Working in pairs and groups, participants will study human body language and its use in bringing to life a believable puppet. The workshop will culminate with group performances of short, improvised skits.

"Your talent is immense. We are delighted that children in all parts of the state had the opportunity to meet you and participate in your programs." —State Library of Louisiana

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