Creating a stick puppet stage for your preschool classroom

A week or so ago, I blogged about the use of puppets in the preschool classroom. At that time, I showed you a very plain puppet stage – all white with no bells and whistles. Now I want to illustrate the potential use of a display board once you get it all fixed up!

I am a big user of stick puppets in preschool. For every song or fingerplay that uses a character, I make a stick puppet. To go with my stick puppets, I have made this stick puppet stage.

I bought a yellow science display board from the local school supply store and added bulletin board borders around the edge. I also glued little pockets along the bottom and sides to hold the stick puppets.

Everything has a purpose
You will notice along the bottom of the stage are apples in the pockets and number stickers placed below the pockets. The apples are in an AB pattern – yellow/red.   The numbers help with counting when we are singing a song or fingerplay where numbers are involved. Everything on the board has a purpose!

Keeping organized
The top pockets are holding little frogs and fish that I will also be singing about. I can rotate the puppets as often as I rotate songs. When I am ready to sing thefrog songor the fish song, I just have a few children come up, get a puppet and jump in behind the stage to sing along.


Making a big opening
You will notice that the opening in the stage above is large and low enough for Wy to see through. What I find, is that the younger children are happier when they can see the action or their friends on the other side. They rather look through the window and hold the puppet. The older children may duck down low to only show the puppet, but they like to take a peak too just to see everyone laughing and singing along.

Choosing a board
The thing you need to know about the yellow stage is the back of it is brown cardboard. So the sides have to face out towards the audience. The white board is white on both side so I can pick which side to decorate and which way I want the edges to point. So just keep that in mind when you are choosing a board for yourself.

The other thing to think about is which way the board opens and which side to decorate so the board stands up while the children are playing.  I find that if you let the board open out rather than in – it doesn’t fall over so easily when the children lean on it a bit for play.  But yes, every once in awhile, it comes tumbling down but no worries – it is very light weight and we just set it back up and play some more…

Really, there is no limits as to how a board like this can be used or decorated – you can go simple or more elaborate but either way you will find the children enjoy it…


Now, go and check out all the ways you can make puppets from this NAEYC Teaching Young Children article!

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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