The use of puppets brings a story to life.  The puppets are especially useful for students who are learning English as a second language, as the puppets can give visual cues to dialog and plot.

Yet puppetry still requires children to use their imagination.  Puppets should be simple to allow the child, and movement and gestures kept slow and soft.  This encourages students to focus on the language rather than the visuals.  Also, we want the children to use their imagination and bring their own understanding to the play.

After modeling proper technique, I often will allow the children to work as the puppeteers while bringing to life a story they have heard me tell before.  Sometimes I will have them help me to make the puppets which will be used in our classroom puppet play.  When the children are involved in the production of the puppet play, they are more invested as co-creators of curriculum.