The lamb stick puppet is a simple art activity that can be used in almost any early childhood classroom. Tie this project to an animal or season theme (i.e., March come in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb). The following activity plan lists the materials that are needed, and the steps to follow in creating these adorable playful lamb friends.
Lesson Objectives for the Lamb Puppet Activity
- Explore artistic processes.
- Increase fine motor skills.
- Develop animal recognition and recall skills.
- Develop the ability to follow steps in a sequence.
- Increase aesthetic awareness.
Grade/Age Level
Ages three through six.
Materials Needed to Create the Lamb Puppet
- Paper circles (cut from a thick paper stock) or paper plates
- Cotton balls
- Glue
- Craft sticks (both thick and thin)
- Tempera paint and brushes
- Long paper triangles (to be used as ears)
- Tape
Steps to Create a Lamb Stick Puppet
Before starting this activity in your classroom, you may need to prepare or pre-cut some of the materials. If you are not using paper plates, pre-cut paper circles from a thick or sturdy paper stock such as cardboard or poster board. These should be roughly the same size as a paper plate. A bowl turned upside down is an easy way to create a circle template. Additionally, you will need to cut long triangles from construction paper. These will become the ears.
It may be helpful to discuss lambs prior to beginning this activity. Try reading a book with lamb illustrations or photographs. Hang animal posters featuring lambs (in nature, on a farm).
Process Steps:
- Have the children glue the ears to the circles or paper plates. Glue sticks may be the easiest (and least messy) way to do this.
- Ask the children to paint a lamb face using the tempera paints. During this time you may want to discuss facial features.
- Allow the paint and glue to dry.
- Have the children glue the cotton balls to the paper or plate in order to create wool. This can be done by using school glue straight from the bottle or by giving the children puddles of glue and craft sticks (to spread the glue). Remind the children not to cover up the lamb's facial features. Also, encourage the children to put the glue on the paper/plate. The glue should not be spread directly onto the cotton balls as it will stick to the spreading surface (either the glue bottle or craft stick).
- Allow the glue to dry.
- Tape a large/thick craft stick to the back of the circle. This will be the stick handle.
Lesson Wrap Up for the Lamb Art Activity
Ask the children to discuss what they have made and how they created it. Suggestions for question prompts include:
- What was the most fun part of making the lamb puppet?
- What animal did we make today?
- Was anything difficult in creating this art project?
- What types of art materials did you use?
- How did you get the wool to stick?
- What were the steps that we followed in making this project?
- What can you use a puppet for?
Enrichment Activities for the Lamb Puppet
Child made puppets invite dramatic play. Stage a puppet show. Ask the children to create a puppet theater out of a used cardboard boxes. Have the children create invitations for special friends, family members, or other classes in the school.
In conjunction with this puppet activity, try making other animal puppets. If you are using this activity with a March season theme, have the children create lion puppets in the beginning of the month and lamb puppets towards the end of the month.
The lamb stick puppet activity utilizes art processes, while fitting in to an animal or season theme. Follow the simple steps listed, and watch as the children that you teach fill the classroom with woolly friends and pretend play.
