Episode 108 - Broaden Your Horizons
Segment #3 -ABC's
Activity - ABC Puppets

Make puppets to teach the ABC's.   Start with one or two letters and add to your collection every week.  

Make a basic hand puppet pattern by placing an adult hand (with thumb and pinkie extended to the sides and three middle fingers together) on a sheet of paper.   Draw around the hand.   The pattern should be about 12 inches long and 8 inches wide at the widest point.   Adjust the pattern outline to make it even and cut out along the lines.

For one puppet, place pattern on two pieces of lightweight felt, then pin and cut out.   Use a hole punch to punch holes around the cutout felt pieces 1/2 inch from the edge (except the bottom edge) and 1/2 inch from each hole.   It is easier to punch holes one layer of felt at a time.   Be sure holes match when placing both pieces of felt together.

Match the felt pieces and weave cording or a long shoelace in and out of the holes, beginning and ending at the bottom corners of the puppet shape.   Knot each end.   Your child's hand should fit in the bottom opening with the three middle fingers in the wide body and the thumb and pinkie to the sides.

Use felt scraps to cut a shape of an alphabet letter.   Glue the letter on the puppet with glue. Add more details such as buttons, wiggly eyes, yarn, pipe cleaners, fabric scraps, trinkets, old jewelry etc. to create the puppet's features and personality.   To get you started, try "B" - Baby bunny with a blue bow and buttons, "H" - Hippo with a heart and a hanky, "Z" -Zebra with a zipper, a zigzag and a zero.

OTHER ACTIVITIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Batik
Batik with Flour and Water
Caribbean Chicken
Caribbean Chicken
Plantain Spiders
ABC's
ABC Puppets
ABC Book
Chinese Pot Stickers
Chinese Pot Stickers