Paper Plate Puppets

Kids who love theater and drama can now make these fast and easy paper plate puppets that will let their imaginations loose at any time! With some paint paint, paper, and a big imagination, this puppet comes alive with personality. Make several and personalize them as members of your family, and see what adventures pop up!

What You Need:

• Large paper plate
• Toilet paper roll
• Scissors
• Glue
• Tempera paint
• Paintbrush
• Construction paper

What You Do:

1. Have your child flip a paper plate upside down and paint the bottom with a bright color. He can also decorate it with shapes and designs. Let the paint dry completely.
2. Gently fold the paper plate in half to create a slight crease in the middle of the plate. This will be the puppet’s large mouth.
3. Flip the plate over, right side up, and paint the inside of the mouth black or red. Let it dry.
4. Next, cut a toilet paper roll in half for the eyes, paint them a solid color, and let it dry.
5. Show your child how to create the eyeball by placing the toilet paper roll down on a sheet of white paper and tracing a circle the same size. Do this twice for two eyes, and cut them out.
6. If your child wants to make eyelashes, he can cut out a slip of construction paper about the same length as the eyeballs, and snip zigzags on one side, then glue the lashes behind the eyeball.
7. Show your child how to cut out a small circle in the eyeballs, for the pupils. Then glue the eyeballs onto the two toilet paper rolls, covering the holes.
8. Squeeze some glue along the bottom of each eye and attach it to the top of the puppet’s head to create the eyes.
9. Have your child cut out a tongue, some teeth, or any other details he would like to add to the puppet’s mouth. Glue them into the mouth and let them dry.

For really mystical puppets, add horns, yarn, or even flames for hair!