With Krea
How to make a puppet with paper, no sewing
To make a puppet with paper and no sewing, use a paper lunch bag: lay it flat with the folded bottom on top, and the flap becomes the head, with the mouth hiding under it. Your fingers go in the flap and your thumb goes underneath, so the mouth opens and closes. In this course your kid picks a puppet with a big mouth, gives it one thing it loves and one funny habit, builds the mouth from a bag or a folded card, finds a voice and a catchphrase, and puts on a one-minute show behind a table tipped on its side. Krea hosts four short films for kids 6 to 13, and your kid ends with a talking paper puppet and a show for the family. Plan about 4 minutes of films and 45–60 minutes of making and rehearsing. On Kubrio, all four films and the quiz are free, with no account.
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▶ 1:45 tourWhat your kid makes
Your kid ends with a paper puppet whose mouth opens and closes, with a name, something it loves, a funny habit, its own voice, and a catchphrase, plus a one-minute show for the family.
- Ages
- 6 to 13
- Time
- 4 films, about 4 minutes, then 45–60 minutes of making and rehearsing
- You need
- A paper lunch bag, or a piece of card and tape, paper, a pencil, and markers, a glue stick, a table to tip on its side, or a blanket and two chairs
- Host
- Krea
The 4 lessons
Lesson 1. Pick your puppet
A big mouth makes a puppet's talking easy to see, and one thing it loves plus one funny habit gives it a character.
- Pick someone with a big mouth, like a frog, a lion, or your own creature
- Give it one thing it loves and one funny habit
- Draw its face on paper with big eyes and a big, simple mouth
Where: Paper
Lesson 2. Build the mouth
On a paper lunch bag, the folded flap is the head and the mouth hides under it. A card folded in half with two tape loops works too.
- Lay the bag flat with the folded bottom on top
- Draw the top lip on the flap's edge, and the bottom lip and tongue under it
- Glue the eyes on the flap and open and close the mouth ten times
Where: At home
Lesson 3. Make it talk
Pick a voice that fits, open the mouth once for every word, and tip the head down a little so the eyes look at the audience.
- Try a high, a low, and a sleepy voice, and pick one
- Open the mouth once for every word
- Add a catchphrase and say hello in a mirror
Where: At home
Lesson 4. Put on a show
A one-minute show has four parts: hello, a problem, a fix, and goodbye. A table on its side or a blanket over two chairs makes the stage.
- Tip a table on its side or hang a blanket over two chairs
- Plan a hello, a problem, a fix, and a goodbye
- Invite your family and put on the show
Where: At home
Take the quiz
Krea asks 3 questions about the films. Get 2 right and you finish the course.
Transcript
Lesson 1: Pick your puppet
Hi, I'm Krea! Today you make a puppet that talks back. Its mouth opens and closes, just like yours!
First, who is your puppet? Pick someone with a big mouth. A frog. A lion. A crocodile. Or a creature you made up.
A puppet needs more than a face. Give it one thing it loves, and one funny habit.
Meet Fig, my frog! Fig loves to sing. But Fig hates getting wet. A frog who hates puddles!
Now draw the face on paper. Big eyes, so everyone can see where your puppet looks.
Keep the mouth big and simple. Next time, we make it really move.
Your turn. Pick your puppet. Draw its face, and write one thing it loves. Then press Next.
Lesson 2: Build the mouth
Let's make Fig's mouth move! All you need is a paper lunch bag.
Lay the bag flat, with the folded bottom on top. See that flap? That's the head.
The mouth hides under the flap. Draw the top lip on the edge of the flap.
Then draw the bottom lip and a tongue on the bag, right under it. Glue the eyes on top of the flap.
Now slide your hand in. Fingers in the flap, thumb underneath. Squeeze and open. Fig talks!
No bag? Fold a card in half. Tape a loop on top for your fingers, and one underneath for your thumb.
Your turn. Build your puppet. Open and close the mouth ten times. Then press Next.
Lesson 3: Make it talk
Fig can open its mouth. Now, what does Fig sound like?
Try three voices. High and squeaky. Low and grumbly. Slow and sleepy. Pick the one that fits.
Fig is high and bouncy. Hello! I'm Fig!
Here's the puppet trick. Open the mouth once for every word. Not flap, flap, flap!
Tip the head down a little, so the eyes look at the people watching.
Now give Fig a catchphrase. Something Fig says again and again. Hop, hop, hooray!
Your turn. Pick a voice and a catchphrase. Say hello in a mirror, and open the mouth on every word. Then press Next.
Lesson 4: Put on a show
Fig is ready for a show! And every show needs a stage.
Tip a table on its side, or hang a blanket over two chairs. Hide behind it. Only your puppet pops up.
A one-minute show has four parts. Hello. A problem. A fix. Goodbye.
Fig says hello, and starts to sing. Then, oh no! A big puddle!
The fix? Fig takes a run, and jumps right over it! Hop, hop, hooray!
Then goodbye, and a big bow. Invite your family to watch!
Later, draw your puppet, and it can be the star in the Animation Studio.
Your turn. Make a stage. Invite your family. Put on a one-minute show. You made a puppet that talks!
Free guides to practise with
Questions parents ask
How do you make a puppet without sewing?
Use a paper lunch bag. Lay it flat with the folded bottom on top: the flap is the head, and the mouth hides under it. Draw the top lip on the flap's edge, the bottom lip and tongue on the bag under it, and glue the eyes on top. No bag? Fold a card in half and tape a loop on each half for the fingers and the thumb.
How do I help my kid make the puppet look like it's talking?
Open the mouth once for every word instead of flapping it, and tip the head down a little so the eyes look at the people watching. A voice that fits the character, like high and squeaky or low and grumbly, and a catchphrase it says again and again do the rest.
Can the puppet become a character on screen?
Yes. Your kid can draw the puppet and make it the star of a comic or a cartoon. The paper puppet stays at home, ready for the next show.