The curious art of puppetry | Art and design | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Puppets are controlled by a ....
- 'person' ✓
Puppets come in different forms, they can be ______ or 3D.
- '2D' ✓
Which of the following are examples of puppets with stereotypical features?
- A witch puppet with a long nose and warts. ✓
- A wise old man puppet with glasses and a beard. ✓
- A puppet of a child wearing regular clothes.
- An animal puppet that looks realistic.
Which of the following best describes a shadow puppet?
- A flat figure that creates a shadow when light shines on it. ✓
- A three-dimensional puppet controlled with strings.
- A brightly coloured puppet used in live performances.
- A puppet made from fabric and operated by hand.
Match the description to the correct type of puppet.
- Giant puppet
  
  ⇔
  
  Large scale, controlled by multiple people and used in parades. ✓
- Marionette
  
  ⇔
  
  Controlled by strings, often used for detailed movements. ✓
- Hand puppet
  
  ⇔
  
  Worn on the hand and directly controlled by the puppeteer. ✓
- Rod puppet
  
  ⇔
  
  Controlled by rods, allowing fluid movements of limbs. ✓
What materials do you think the Chinese dragon rod puppet might be made of?
- Lightweight, flexible materials for easy, fluid movement. ✓
- Heavy materials to make it strong.
- Thick cardboard and glue so that it is easy to make.
- Wooden carvings to achieve the decoration.

Exit quiz

Which of the following statements is correct about stereotypes?
- Stereotypes are always based on facts and true information.
- Stereotypes are unfair ideas about people based on looks, culture, or actions. ✓
- Stereotypes help people understand others better and more clearly.
- Stereotypes are only about how people look, not their behaviour or culture.
What are traditional Javanese Wayang Kulit shadow puppets made of?
- Carved and painted 2D leather puppets. ✓
- Fabric and wood, with clay or resin faces.
- Fabric and string, with embroidered details.
- Paper and fabric, with drawn facial features.
Which of these patterns are examples of geometric shapes?
Which description best describes the qualities of henna pattern design?
- Organic flowing patterns that often include floral motifs, vines, and swirls. ✓
- Bold, block patterns with solid colours, often using straight lines and squares.
- Bright, contrasting colours and abstract shapes with no clear structure.
- Intricate, symmetrical designs with sharp lines and repeating patterns.
How are puppets used in storytelling?
- Puppets are used for comedy and don't tell stories.
- Puppets represent characters and express ideas in a story. ✓
- Puppets show physical actions, without emotions or ideas.
- Puppets represent abstract concepts, not characters or plots.
Which statement is most accurate about puppets?
- Puppets can tell stories, challenge ideas, and promote political change. ✓
- Puppets need to be small scale to be held easily.
- Puppets are always 3D and different sizes.
- Puppets are just made to entertain children.

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

A puppet is a hand-made figure, human, animal, or abstract form, that is controlled by a person.
Puppets come in different forms, they can be 2D or 3D, can be made from different materials and come in various sizes.
Puppets use human characteristics to convey a type of personality; these can play into stereotypes of people.
Puppets can tell stories, challenge ideas, and promote political change.

Common misconception

Puppets are only used for children's entertainment.

Different cultures use puppets to tell important stories, share cultural traditions, perform rituals, and even address social or political issues. Puppets can express powerful ideas and emotions, not just for fun but also to convey deeper messages.

Keywords

Puppet - a hand-made figure, human, animal, or abstract form, that is controlled by a person
Geometric - regular, mathematical shapes like circles, squares, and triangles with clear, defined edges
Organic - free-flowing, irregular, and natural curves