Puppetify at the University of Hull

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About

The Puppetify! project is exploring how creative activities can help young people understand and advocate for their own mental health and wellbeing

Get involved

We are currently running puppet workshops with young people. In these workshops, we create puppet versions of ourselves, using them to communicate how we are feeling or thinking in the current moment

Have a go!

You can use the resources on this website if you want to try out the activities and turn yourself into a puppet!

Free resources

Make your own paper ball puppet

Full instructions and ideas on you can create your own paper ball puppet!

Download PDF

Running a workshop guide

Full instructions and ideas on how you can run a Puppetify! workshop at your school or setting, including ideas on how to get everyone involved

Download PDF

Make your own paper plate puppet

Full instructions and ideas on you can create your own paper plate puppet!

Download PDF

Photos from our workshops

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{"heading":"Create your own puppet","intro":"Follow this step-by-step guide to make your own puppet, or download the instructions as a PDF.","steps":[{"instruction":"Start with a paper plate.","media":{"mediaId":67,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture1.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":644}}},{"instruction":"Decorate the back of your plate with your puppet's face.","media":{"mediaId":68,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture2.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":644}}},{"instruction":"Cut a hand shape from a piece of card and decorate it.","media":{"mediaId":70,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture4.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":643}}},{"instruction":"Choose a square piece of fabric to be your puppet's body. Tape a corner of the fabric to the back of your puppet's head.","media":{"mediaId":71,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture5.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":644}}},{"instruction":"Take another plate and stick a small wooden spoon to the back of it. This will be the rod you use to operate your puppet's head.","media":{"mediaId":72,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture6.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":644}}},{"instruction":"Sandwich your two plates together with the fabric and spoon in the middle. Tape your two plates together.","media":{"mediaId":73,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture7.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":644}}},{"instruction":"Follow the edge of the fabric from your puppet's neck to the next corner. ","media":{"mediaId":74,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture8.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":644}}},{"instruction":"Tape your puppet's hand to this corner.","media":{"mediaId":75,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture9.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":362,"width":644}}},{"instruction":"Your paper plate puppet is finished! Hold the rod on the head in one hand, and your puppet's hand in the other. Now you can make your puppet move.","media":{"mediaId":44,"mediaURL":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/IMG_0199.jpg","mediaDetails":{"height":1024,"width":683},"scaleToFit":true}}],"pdfLink":"https:\/\/puppetify.wordpress.hull.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Puppetify-Paper-Plate-Puppet-Guide.pdf"}

I loved how we all had the same resources but every single puppet is unique.
Workshop attendee

{"heading":"Reflections from workshop attendees","intro":"During the summer we have been running lots of puppet workshops with schools. Here\u2019s what some people that have attended and run them have said.","quotes":[{"quote":"A wonderful experience for all the children and the adults. It was like CPD for us too!","cite":"From a teacher"},{"quote":"The best bit was seeing all the puppets","media":{"mediaId":0,"mediaURL":"","mediaDetails":{"height":0,"width":0}},"cite":"Young person from school workshop"},{"quote":"We really enjoyed it - the children were all very focused","media":{"mediaId":0,"mediaURL":"","mediaDetails":{"height":0,"width":0}},"cite":"From a teacher"},{"quote":"My favourite thing was designing my puppet","media":{"mediaId":0,"mediaURL":"","mediaDetails":{"height":0,"width":0}},"cite":"Young person from school workshop"},{"quote":"I loved everything!","media":{"mediaId":0,"mediaURL":"","mediaDetails":{"height":0,"width":0}},"cite":"Young person from school workshop"},{"quote":"I loved trying to move the hand. The hair was hard but I did it with some help.","media":{"mediaId":0,"mediaURL":"","mediaDetails":{"height":0,"width":0}},"cite":"Young person from school workshop"}]}

Puppetify! collaborators and co-authors:

Aleasha Scaife

Alfie Dervey

Alicia Kruk

Bailey Scott

Benjamin Scott

Bradley Pundy

Brooke Barley

Callan Derwin

Dakota Drinkall

Delia Higgins

Emily Ashmore

Emily-May Watson

Emily-Rose Norah Matthew

Erin-Millie Wilson

Evangeline Colvin

Evelyn Morrison

Evelyn Sutton

Felicity Wilcox

Freddye Leigh

Gabriella White

Georgie Hart

Happy Boy

Harry Marples

Harvey Kemp

Hayden O’Conner

Hayden Willerton

Hope Howarth

Hetty Bury

Isabella Liverside

Jack Eames

Jack White

Jacopo Zandler

Jakk Stamp

Jessica

Joni Lawley

Josh Johnson

Kenzie Bennett

Layla Lally

Lewis Morley

Lorcan Waldron

Lucas Benton

Lucas Simpson

Luke Powell

Mackenzie Bird

Madeline Wragg

Maya Dale

Maya Kraied

Mia Joy Cawkwell

Millie Lacey

Mr Robloxian

Oliva Lister

Oliver Birch

Oliver J. Sharkey

Oliver Wilson

Olivia Stanley

Olivia Davison

Olivia Haynes

Ollie Smith

Olly Stone

Phoebe Hadfield

Reenie May

Reuben Sisson

Rose

Saoirse Durham

Scarlett Wilmore

Somayeh Nikoumaram

Scarlett Hope

Taylor Dervey

Thandie Hlabana

Thomas Scott

Zachary East

Castledyke Primary School

Leys Farm Junior School

North Lincolnshire Libraries team

Get in touch

A.E.Skinner@hull.ac.uk

Dr. Amy Skinner

Senior Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Practice

View profile

Disclaimer

CACAMH is not a medical intervention and should not be used therapeutically unless you have the right training and experience. Only qualified therapists should carry out therapeutic work.

Help and support for all ages is available from The Samartians (Freephone 116123) or by texting SHOUT to 85258. If you or your child is in crisis, contact your local crisis team, call 999 or go to your local Accident and Emergency department.