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Alphabet
> Letter H >
H is Hippopotamus Animals > Mammals > Hippopotamus Crafts > Homemade Toys > Paper Bag Puppets > Hippo Holidays and Events > June > Zoo and Aquarium Month Dec. 27th > Visit the Zoo Day |
This is one of a collection of easy-to-assemble paper
bag puppets with 2 or 3 piece templates for children 2+
and older. It can quickly become one of your favorite
"teaching/ learning helpers" and also a great homemade toy!
If you don't have paper bags, that's OK, because it can also be a
craft stick puppet when mounted or printed onto sturdy paper or thin
cardboard and then assembled. Teaching Aid - Color Version: Templates color head - color body The color version is meant for the educator (parent, preschool teacher, child care provider or baby-sitter) to use as a teaching helper: Ideas: 1. Story time helper: The puppet can be the story teller and reader. It can bring excitement and enthusiasm during reading time. This "helper" can ask questions to the children during and after the reading. Later the children can have fun assembling their own puppet using the black and white version templates. 2. Introduce any New Topics: The puppet can help introduce any new theme, or topic such as letters of the alphabet, numbers, colors, science concepts, animal facts (read below), the seasons, holidays and events. Science Animal Facts: The Hippopotamus Visit National Geographic Creature Feature: Hippopotamus, includes printable fun facts, video, sounds and more! Online Jigsaw Puzzle > Hippopotamus Skill: Problem solving, bilingual English and Spanish Here is an online puzzle the children will enjoy with a fun hippo image. The default puzzle is 6 pieces. Click on the change cut button to change shape and number of pieces. 3. Potty Training / Dental Care / Nutrition/ Visits to the Doctor / Responsibility: The puppet can be a great aid in those special times when parents need a fun helper in potty training, dental care, trying a new food, and give that little nudge and friendly reminder to have the children cooperate in picking up their toys, help in learning how to dress themselves, and even alleviate the anxiety to a visit to the doctor or dentist, or to help introduce a new caregiver, etc. 4. Musical Conductor These puppets are great to get the children in the mood for singing that new song or nursery rhyme! Try it! 5. Safety Issues The puppet can help introduce and role play safety issues: how to deal with strangers, fire safety, water safety, crime prevention, how to call 911 and what to do in an emergency, childhood poison prevention, etc. 6. Alphabet - Letter Recognition - H is for Hippopotamus printables Introduce or reinforce letter recognition with matching printables. Craft Version and Homemade Toy: Hippo Black & White Templates 1. This version can also be printed directly on color craft paper or construction paper to match a particular character in a book, for a example a story with a "Blue Hippo." 2. This version allows the children to be creative and personalize the puppet. Provide a variety of art materials to color, paint and/or decorate the puppet. Assembly instructions: 1. Print template for head and body - black & white version: Template 1: head Template 2: body 2. The template can be colored and decorated before or after assembly, whichever you or the children prefer. My experience has been that many children like to color and decorate after the pieces are glued to the bag. Either way it is fun. If dealing with paints is better to paint before cutting or assembling. 3. Here is an illustration of how to place pieces on the bag. The body template is meant to run a little bigger in the bottom than the length of the bag and legs in some version will dangle. Suggestion: Cut about 2 to 2/12 inches off the bottom of the bag. This makes the puppet more comfortable and manageable for the children. 4. Craft Stick Puppet Version: Print the templates using heavy duty construction paper or card stock. Another method is to print on regular paper color/paint/decorate and then glue to thin cardboard (cereal box or other similar box). Adult needs to cut the template out and then children can assemble. Use a craft stick (Popsicle stick or tongue depressor, or a new pencil that has not been sharpened). |
Color Templates
*paper or construction paper or card stock |
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To view updates to these activities visit: http://www.first-school.ws/activities/crafts/animals/wild/baghippo.htm |
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