Selected Poems of Joy Harjo - Music Center

Timing Your Puppet Movements
Directions:
Move the puppet across the screen quickly.
Move the puppet across the screen slowly.
Ask this question:
o What happens when I move my puppet quickly? Slowly?
After this demonstration, teacher steps away from the screen to lead the entire class in practicing the movements with an imaginary screen and light
source. The students mirror your movements.
Using the Screen Space – Various Ways the Puppet Can Move Within the Screen
Directions:
Move the puppet vertically, horizontally and diagonally within the screen space.
o What is a strong move/position for the puppet? A weak move/position for the puppet?
Demonstrate these movements: walking, swimming, dancing, flying, skipping, falling….
Ask these questions:
o What movements did I use to make the puppet walk, swim, and so forth?
o How would you do this?
After this demonstration, teacher steps away from the screen to lead the entire class in practicing the movements with an imaginary screen and light
source. The students mirror your movements.
Use of Screen Space – Movements that Suggest Emotion:
A shadow puppet’s movement can suggest emotion.
Ask these questions:
What emotions can you name for my puppet to portray? (angry, happy, surprised, dreamy)
What emotion does this movement suggest?
How did the movement suggest that emotion?
Side coaching: After this demonstration, teacher steps away from the screen to lead the entire class in practicing the movements with an imaginary
screen and light source. The students mirror your movements.
Use of Screen Space – Entrances and Exits
How and where does the puppet first appear on the screen?
o Does it pop on suddenly or fade in?
Demonstrate a few possibilities (e.g., puppet appears suddenly or emerges slowly; appears from the left, the right, the middle, top or bottom; stays on the
edge or moves to the center of the screen).
o How would you invent a different entrance?
After your puppet plays its part, it needs to exit.
o How and where does the puppet leave the screen?
Music Center Anchor Work Model Curriculum Unit: Selected Poems of Joy Harjo.
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