PUPPET NETWORK offers a wide variety of Workshops and Custom Residencies for Kindergarden through 5th Grade that can be brought to your location. They range from 45 minutes through a half day event -- with extended custom residency programs too. All workshops are developed using the Sunshine State Educational Standards.
A WORLD OF PUPPETS
Kids experience world culture through a series of funny and delightful vignette performances using a wide variety of puppet and mask styles - Many puppets performed are original creations from their country of origin.
Ages 7-10
PUPPETS FROM SPACE!
What has three eyes, beaded antennae, and a green face? Could be one of our alien puppets from outer spacel Let your imagination take control as you create a fun and silly rod puppet character from a far-off planet out of fabric, pipe cleaners and delightful doo-dads. These out-of-this-world characters are ready to blast off in their own performance.
Ages 5-10
TWO FACED SPOON PUPPETS
Express your mood with this silly spoon puppet! A large wooden spoon becomes the head and body, which your kids create with fabric, fir, feathers... and doo-dads of choice. Each side of the puppet can be designed by your young artist to express a different mood, be it happy, scared, whatever! Their puppets become great tools for story-telling. Ages 7-10
SHADOWS ON THE CAVE WALL
Kid's are brought back to an ancient time when stories were told before a campfire and played out in the shadows around them. Kids design and build shadow puppets that directly relay to a unit in Social Studies of Language Arts that they are studying the week of the workshop. Ages 7-10
POP UP MUSICAL PUPPETS
Pop goes the.. .puppet! Your kids will create and design a rod-puppet character that tucks into its own secret hiding place until... * .POP! Out it jumps to join in a puppet sing-along. Ages 5-10
HAPPY TALKING PUPPETS
Say what's on your mind. It's easy with these simple paper plate hand puppets. Design your Happy Talker with yarn, google eyes and delightful doo-dads. A simple tug on a string animates its (rubber band) mouth—and the happy talk begins. Puppets then join in a sing-along as part of the fun.
Ages 5-10
GIANT PARADE PUPPETS
In this multi-day "Playshop", kids will be introduced to various types of puppets and learn their fascinating origins. Working in teams, participants will create giant (8-10 foot tall) parade puppets. They learn the techniques of papier mache' and how to build an armature for the body. The magic will blossom they perform using their creations.
Ages 8-11
SPECIAL CUSTOM RESIDENCIES
From a week through an entire semester, our artists will develop a custom program to fit your programming needs and topics of interest, whether it's Antarctic Creatures, Woodland Folkstories or any special topic you choose!
All Ages
INFO ON WORKSHOPS
Puppetry is an art form that incorporates many of the multiple intelligences -- It impacts virtually ALL types of learners. Student writing is not merely expressed through the written word, but brought to life visually and through movement (the essence of puppetry). Additionally, the process of creating a puppet performance involves social skills such as teamwork, compromise and problem solving. The end result- the performance- not only educates the audience, but is also a valuable assessment tool in itself.
Artistic Objectives:
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Students will learn vocabulary related to the art form
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Students will Learn techniques to create a puppet and cultural background
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Students will recognize potential of puppetry to bring a story to life
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Multiple Intelligences targeted include: linguistic, visual/spatial, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, mathematical, natural and musical
INSTRUCTORS
JIM HAMMOND
After receiving his MA in Puppetry Design from The University of Connecticut and his BA in Theatre from State University of New York with an emphasis in Education, Jim created Sideshow Productions in 1996 designing sets, costumes, props and puppets for such clients as Florida Grand Opera, New World Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and regional TV Producers. Every program he has worked on has had an educational component. He has been an Artist in Residence for the Museum of Art, Cuban American National Council, Camp Live Oak, Cities of Fort Lauderdale and Hialeah, along with too many workshops to count. In 2002, Jim began working as part of the puppet department of Disney's The Lion King National Tour and taught master classes on puppetry during his 6 years on the road. Additional credits include: Executive Director, Puppet Festival of the Americas and Artistic Director for Puppet Rampage National Festival. In 2008, Sideshow Productions became Puppet Network and Jim has been focused on developing children's educational media properties as well as designing and producing for stage and screen.
RONNI GERSTEL
The creative spirit behind Flamingo Park Puppets, Ronni has been a puppeteer, builder & instructor for 18 years after receiving her BA in Arts & Therapy. She's toured schools throughout South Florida performing educational puppet programs for the Mental Health Association, Solid Waste Authority, ESE and Multicultural departments. She is one of the original Palm Beach County's LEAP Artists and currently is a lead teacher for the Center for Creative Education working in many classrooms. Ronni has collaborated with over 100 teachers in schools. camps and after- school programs. She's also produced original productions for the Palm Beach Zoo, Puppetry Arts Center and the Jewish National Fund, among others. Her goal is to encourage cooperation and creativity, and boost self-esteem while learning. She has found that puppetry is an effective teaching tool for all age groups, curriculum areas and special needs populations. She and Jim have developed projects together for Broward Center for the Performing Arts, New World Symphony and several other organizations with big plans for the future.
BOOKING WORKSHOPS
Please email Pablo at workshops@puppet-network.com or call our office at 954-560-1028
