Submitted by Nikki Ryan, Emmanuel Catholic College -
Western Australia
Unit: Ceramics - Sculpture - Puppets
Grade level: Middle school (adaptable to lower grades) - Examples are 6th grade
Present examples of witches and wizard images from film and
literature
Present PowerPoint of witches and wizards dolls and marionettes
found online. Show other examples of fine art dolls and marionettes.
Demonstrate steps - discuss proportion in puppetry - head larger in
proportion for emphasis.
Demonstrate/discuss various costume possibilities.
Click for larger image
Materials:
Books/images of witches and wizards - images from film and
literature - images of witches/wizards dolls and puppets. (See Resources below) Pattern
for puppet, pattern for clothes (patterns help to make cutting of
clothes go much more smoothly)
Brainstorm and illustrate different types of costumes and
characters
Illustrate the "still life" of a witch (what
props/surroundings would be present). Demonstrate your
understanding of the elements (line, tone and shape)
Design Task:
Develop 2 characters from your brainstorming and preliminary illustrations
Choose one to generate to a full size image. Illustrate the
clothing, hair, jewelry and accessories. Label and color.
Incorporate line, shape, pattern.
ART SKILLS AND
PROCESSES:
Students use skills, techniques and
technologies of the arts
Technology:
To the teacher - Develop a WebQuest for witches and wizards -
find suitable sites for student to explore to see the role in
film and literature....include some online sources for
dollmakers and puppet makers. Teacher will integrate technology
through the use of a PowerPoint of images.
Media Testing:
Experiment with drawing techniques in a variety of ways
Experiment with the different clay techniques shown in class -
in a variety of ways
Experiment with different clothing designs.
Skills and Processes:
Demonstrate the necessary clay skills and knowledge in clay
construction and sculptural detail (pinch method, additive and subtractive and slab methods)
Select the appropriate mixed media and apply detail carefully
to final piece.
Elements and Principles:
Demonstrate careful consideration of the elements - form space
and texture -- and the principles - unity, balance, proportion.
Creativity and Originality:
Create a clay puppet that reflects an intriguing
interpretation of the theme.
Make a pinch pot head to approximate size given - add
facial features and carve features. Make sure head is hollow
- put pin hole in back of head for air to escape. Shape into
chin and neck. Put small hole in neck for tying to body -
put hole through at top for stringing
Cut body section - make impressions for knots of arms and
legs (these will be hot glued on) Alternate - put holes and
tie on arms and legs with fish line. Put hole towards bottom
of body for string - this will help marionette take a bow.
Cut out and shape hands and feet/shoes - put hole in for
string up. Alternate suggestion: put holes in knees to give
a walking motion - using one long string for legs. Make
impression for knots on hand and feet ( or small holes to
tie on with fishing line).
Make knees and elbows - use straw to put hole through.
Put name on back of body - keep all parts together on wood
boards for drying. (Teacher make want to have some quickly
made ceramic bow shapes ready to put all pieces in kiln for firing)
Select media to achieve unique qualities and decorative
treatments within your work.
Completion:
Produce a fired clay puppet that uses mixed media in
construction, decorative treatment and final detail
Assemble puppet - hot glue arms and legs cord knots to
hands, feet and body. String puppet up - make cross bar by
latching the two sticks at 90° angle. To the teacher: Look
at a variety of marionette puppets to determine the way you
prefer to string them up. Holes can be pre-drilled in cross
bars. Wire brads can be nailed in at either end of the cross
bar for one long continuous string for legs.
Work Practice:
Demonstrate you can focus on the end task, take pride in your
workspace, be responsible, clean up and participate in
discussions.
ARTS IN SOCIETY:
Students understand the role of arts in society
Research:
Research dollmaking and puppet making using source provided
Explore an artist who make dolls and/or puppets
Discuss and show example of their work
Extension:
Write a short play for your puppet.
ASSESSMENT -ARTS
RESPONSES
Students use aesthetic understanding to respond
to and evaluate the arts
Self Evaluation
Fill out self-evaluation rubric
Outline why you think it is or isn't successful and how you
could make improvements.
Modified Rubric:
Assess on craftsmanship - creativity and originality -
proportions - embellishments - costume design and accessories
Alternate themes:
Heroes, Super Heroes, Mythical/fantasy creatures, Story telling (each
student make a character for a student written play).
I would think the easiest way to make a witch costume would be to fold a length of fabric in half that is as wide as the length of arms if they were outstretched (select a tightly woven fabric)... from arm to arm ... and as long as you need ...doubled. Make a small hole in the fold for the head ... add a small slit in
front until you can stick the head through the hole. Then cut sleeves by cutting a triangle shape ... Sleeve wider at the bottom ... going up toward the arm pits (leaving enough fabric at top of arms to put hand and elbow through). Allow plenty of fabric to fit around the body - and tie in at the waist. Sew under arm seam and side seam. Tie the waist with a bit of extra fabric or ribbon. Cut the sleeve area into small wedges the lower edge - spikey. Do the same to the bottom of the robe as high as needed. It would be primitive ... but I think effective enough for a puppet. Of course it should be out of black fabric to be "witchy" ... and the hat could be made out of a doughnut shaped piece of black foam or paper or painted cardboard
with a cone shape out of the same stuff glued to it (try black Pellon or black felt)
The magician's costume could be done the same way except the I wouldn't
cut the slits in sleeves or hem and I would make it out of blue fabric and
add stars and moons out of yellow. Add a wand ... bend the hat tip
... and you are in gear.
Note from Judy Decker: When I did marionettes - I had the kids all tie
their puppets together using a figure template under it (on 8 1/2 x 14
paper) - Since all of the bodies were the same size block of wood. Using
the template - they got the arms and legs the same length (close enough
anyways). Students had done their own drawings when they planned the
puppets and got their lesson in figure proportion that way. They all
understood the need for consistency in assembling their puppets.
Make one pattern that will work for a witches dress - or a wizard's
robe. Adapt it to fit with different tie belts. Wizard would wear a
slimmer gown under the robe. You can get some black lace to make shawls
for the witches (cut triangle shape and tie in front - draping over
shoulders. Get a parent volunteer to help with the sewing if you decide to
machine stitch them all. Student should be able to hand stitch the sides -
but it will be time consuming. A cape can be made from a semi-circle -
with neck area cut out. Gather up at the neck with a running stitch and
glue a 1/4 inch ribbon tie around to have a bow in front.
Alternate
Harry Potter has been a very successful book and movie franchise and students have a high interest in the subject. Puppets or marionettes could mimic characters from the book and movie. See how one puppet troop does an hilarious skit on Harry Potter with the Potter Puppet Pals below:
Resources
Books
Making and Manipulating Marionettes
- This is a gorgeously printed state-of-the-art book on marionette making. This book is current and is bound to become a collectible book. Be sure and get this one before it is out of print - I doubt many were made. Great stuff on trick marionettes, as well.
The Complete Book of Marionettes
- Entertaining guide provides all the information needed to construct puppets and puppet theaters, including valuable advice on making heads, bodies, wigs, and puppet clothing, manipulating the puppet, setting up and furnishing a stage, lighting scenes, and building miniature pieces of furniture. Complete script for Beauty and the Beast. Over 200 illustrations.
The Hand-Carved Marionettes of Gustave Baumann : Share Their World
- Famous colour woodcut printmaker, Gustave Baumann was a superb woodcarver who was captivated by puppet theatre. In the 1930s, Baumann carved a collection of marionettes for plays he wrote about New Mexico's cultural heritage. This entertaining book tells the story of Baumann's theatre, describing in detail the plays, sets, and costuming, and highlights the extraordinary wood-carving artistry of this master.
Isobel & Vaughan Tyrer are well known doll artists. Their website is no longer in existence and it appears they are retired. However, their dolls are still sold on the web. See Gandalf as an example of their work.
Marionette Gotsi- This is a Greek marionette theater. You can see images of their puppets.
Valerie Bunnell - Mixed media - ceramic figurative sculpture - rich in textures. These are
dolls that are wired together. I can see them inspiring a lesson for
middle school and above.
If you really get into puppeteering, you can join a guild. Check this page for one near you.
Google Image Search - Witch
Marionette | Wizard
Marionette | Wizard
doll | Witch
doll Witches - Wizard searches will bring up lots of
images for you - don't let kids do the search themselves. A Google search for Ceramic Doll will bring up many images.
You might
also want to do a marionette Google search.
The Incredible Art Department is for art teachers, art students, parents, homeschoolers and artists. IAD includes
information on art jobs, art careers, art schools, art education, lesson plans, visual art news, and art resources.
(
could be used), 
1/2 inch x 4 inch wood sticks (for
control bars), assorted fabrics (
can be used too), 
(or 
- This is a gorgeously printed state-of-the-art book on marionette making. This book is current and is bound to become a collectible book. Be sure and get this one before it is out of print - I doubt many were made. Great stuff on trick marionettes, as well.
- Entertaining guide provides all the information needed to construct puppets and puppet theaters, including valuable advice on making heads, bodies, wigs, and puppet clothing, manipulating the puppet, setting up and furnishing a stage, lighting scenes, and building miniature pieces of furniture. Complete script for Beauty and the Beast. Over 200 illustrations.
- Famous colour woodcut printmaker, Gustave Baumann was a superb woodcarver who was captivated by puppet theatre. In the 1930s, Baumann carved a collection of marionettes for plays he wrote about New Mexico's cultural heritage. This entertaining book tells the story of Baumann's theatre, describing in detail the plays, sets, and costuming, and highlights the extraordinary wood-carving artistry of this master.
- See an actual performance of a marionette theater presentation in Salzburg.
