Learning takes place through many avenues:  reading, writing, researching, practicing, playing, drawing, worksheets, real-life experiences, etc.  One way to incorporate all of these into learning is through the use of puppets.  It’s a visual tool that can help your children remember stories, ideas, facts, etc.  Through playing, they are learning.  It’s a great concept and one that many homeschooling families strive to achieve.  For our family, we play board games to help us learn and remember, or even use MadLibs for grammar practice.  It’s fun and they love it!

Puppetools is a website designed to help parents, teachers, students learn through playing with puppets.  The Puppetools Mission Statement embodies exactly what they hope to achieve:

"… to open the door to sweeping change in education by advancing the principle of play in teaching and learning.”

In addition, the Puppetools website states that "with its revolutionary ‘play language’ and play-based communication system, Puppetools equips teachers with the tools and know-how of play-based communication in classrooms ranging from pre-K to college-level foreign language and teacher education.

Recognized internationally as a bridge between brain research and the classroom, Puppetools has advanced play as a foundational “learning birthright.” In its pioneering study of puppet play, Puppetools has identified a powerful wavelength of brain-directed communication energy to which children are innately tuned."

With that being said, puppets are a great way to solidify a learning concept – maybe something that you and your child have been working on but can’t seem to master.  Through the use of play and puppets, perhaps there’s a different way to learn, understand and remember!

Puppetools.com has tons of puppet design templates that you can choose from to help get you started.  The website walks you through how to create your own puppets using paper, glue and scissors and displays what other families/school rooms have done.  In addition, there are some great ideas for uses of puppets in your homeschool.

In summary:

ö      Cost:  Two subscription types:

o        60-day trial offer:  $20

o        Regular subscription: $99/year (with up to 30 different users)

ö      1 year to train and master Puppetools - the "Language of Play"

ö      Access to:

o        Puppetools' online Educator Work Area

o        Puppetools' exclusive practitioner video library

o        Extensive research on play and education

o        Hundreds of puppet images, concepts, and patterns

o        Readings from the 200 page Puppetools Manual

o        Their global community forums - learn with teachers around the world

ö      Put Puppetools to work in just days--for many it's just overnight

o        Learn fast, flexible puppet design and construction--in just minutes

o        Discover how a single paper hinge creates a limitless resource

ö      Engage playful, energized conversation for lessons and activities /all grades

ö      Use puppet know-how and techniques without acting, scripts, or theater

ö      Effectively harness Play and spark motivation, participation, and receptivity

ö      Discover the deep impact of play on students and teachers

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