classroom kids diy puppet theatre

To prepare your recycled box, untape all the flaps, if needed, cut off the back and bottom flap.
TIP: The box in the featured project is approximately 11" x 14" [28 cm x 35.5 cm]. You can use any size box as the size isn't crucial to the finished project.

Now, determine the front of the stage. For the front, the bottom and side flaps will become the snow hills, the top flap with become the marquee and the back, top flap will become the sky.

On the front, bottom flap draw your rolling hills, then cut them out with your craft knife. Now, fold it up and tape that flap in place. Tape the back, top flap in place. Fold the front top flap up to make the marquee.
TIP: You can make some braces to hold it up with the scrap cardboard by gluing or taping it behind the flap and attaching them to the top of the box.

Paint the sky portion with Light Blue acrylic paint and let it dry.
TIP: Use the image as your guide.

For the snow, adhere the sticky-back white foam sheet to the middle of the box for the snowy hills and trim the top to match the curves of the cardboard. Continue the snowy hills onto the side flaps by adhering the sticky-back white glitter foam and cutting out the hills.

From the scraps of white foam, cut out clouds to adhere to the sky. To continue the glittery look onto the snow, draw some wavy lines with glue and sprinkle with glitter.

Use sticky-back foam to make trees or any other scenery you wish to add to your scene.

Cut the blue foam to fit the flap that is the marquee and use glue to attach, then cut a piece of white foam a bit smaller and adhere to the middle of the blue foam. Add the foam letters to spell "Theatre" or any other title you'd like to use.

To make the puppets, click here to download and print the templates for the fox, bear, owl and deer; then cut out the shapes.

Use a pen to trace the shapes onto felt and cut out all the pieces.
TIP: The bear uses Walnut Brown and Copper Canyon felt, the fox uses orange and white felt, the owl uses Walnut Brown, Copper Canyon and Silver Gray felt and the deer uses Copper Canyon and White felt.

Use a black marker to make noses and other details on your animals.

Glue the pieces for each animal together, then glue the animal to a craft stick. Let dry.

Add tiny wiggle eyes and other details to all your woodland critters!

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