Selected Poems of Joy Harjo - Music Center

Demonstrate a few possibilities (e.g., puppet leaves suddenly or slowly; exits to the left, the right, from the middle, top or bottom or edge of the screen).
After this demonstration, step 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.
Here is a list of six techniques for you as the puppeteer to use in manipulating your puppet. Note: Teacher posts list on wall chart.
1. Position yourself and your puppet in relation to the light source (puppet visibility)
2. Perform effective, dramatic entrances and exits
3. Show the action your puppet is performing and suggest what your puppet is feeling ( movement to convey action and emotion)
4. Effectively use the screen space
5. Control the speed at which your puppet moves across the screen (vary speed of movement)
6. Coordinate music and sound with puppet movement
Ask this question: What were some of the examples we saw that worked well for the puppet movement?
INQUIRE
How can my choice of puppet movement for the character show its connection to the poem?
How can I express various emotions, movement qualities, and entrance and exit of my shadow puppet in the proper relationship to the light?
CREATE & PERFORM – Becoming an Expert
Preparation for the Creative Task:
Tell the students that they will line up in their groups. Every student in each group will take a turn performing. You will cue their puppet’s entrance by
making a sound. As the sound continues, the puppet will perform its action/emotion. When the sound stops, your puppet will exit.
Task Students individually perform an entrance, a unique movement/emotion, and an exit with their shadow puppet.
Criteria
Student practice and puppet performance will have:
Lighting unblocked by the puppeteer.
A unique puppet entrance.
Puppet movement that suggests action and emotion.
A dramatic puppet exit.
A connection between sound and movement.
REFLECT - Making Connections
What was surprising to you about this puppet movement performance?
How can thoughtful movement of the shadow puppet communicate ideas and themes from the poem?
Music Center Anchor Work Model Curriculum Unit: Selected Poems of Joy Harjo.
©2011 Music Center: Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. All Rights Reserved.
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