Objective: To stretch the student imagination by focusing on being someone else and to be creative. Props: 1 or 2 potatoes for each group, Knife (for adult use only), Some straight pins, thumbtacks, toothpicks, or paper and glue, red felt-tip marker (optional) for each group, Enough yarn, handkerchief, or aluminum foil for each group Step by step instructions
  1. Divide the students into groups with 3 or 4 members
  2. Give them the needed materials
  3. Give these instructions based on these orders and at the same time, the groups let’s start the activity. Show also the photo of “Potato Puppets” to students for a clear
  4. Take a small potato and cut a hole in one end large enough for one or two fingers to fit into.
  5. For eyes and nose, your students can poke in pieces of paper or other objects with straight pins or thumbtacks, or they can paste on dots of paper.
  6. For the mouth, they can dig out a round hole and color it with a red felt-tip marker, draw a mouth on paper and paste it or tack it on, or scratch on a “happy face” smile with a pin.
  7. The hair can be a handkerchief tied around the head, bits of yarn pinned into the top, or torn strips of aluminum foil pinned to the head for the “heavy metal” look.
  8. Once the puppets are made, act out a scenario. It could be the events of that day, starting from that morning, or it could be a pretend situation, such as going to see the doctor or being an actress getting interviewed at the debut of her big Potato Head film.
  9. You can also take advantage of stories already written and act out your version of a classic fairy tale.
Optional
  • If you want to use your Halloween pumpkin-carving skills, get as elaborate as you want with mouths that have teeth and eyes that are deep set and have raisins for pupils. You can get as simple or as complex as seems fitting to the moment and age level.
  • Don’t have a potato handy? You can also do simple instant puppets by wrapping an adhesive bandage around your sweetie’s finger and drawing a face on it.
  • Puppets can also be made out of small paper bags. This is good if you and yours are in a crayoning mood and want to draw the puppet’s facial details.
Educator’s note: Print just a photo for group of students and encourage them to make other forms of “Potato Puppets”.