Center for Puppetry Arts Study Guide

Center for Puppetry Arts Study Guide
A note from our
Education Director
Dear Educator,
Welcome to the Center for Puppetry Arts and
Coad Canada Puppets’ production of There’s
a Dinosaur in the Closet. Founded in 1978, the
Center is a cherished cultural and educational
resource in Atlanta. We value your patronage
and are delighted that you have chosen us as a
teaching resource. Your students are in for a big
treat!
This study guide was designed to enhance
student learning before and after your visit to the
Center for Puppetry Arts. There’s a Dinosaur in the
Closet is a delightful tale performed by a master
puppeteer. This imaginative show is the perfect
accompaniment to a thematic unit on dinosaurs,
prehistoric life, geologic time, storytelling,
puppetry or children’s literature.
Feb 19 - Mar 2, 2008
Performances Tuesday - Sunday
Show
sponsored by:
Puppets: The Power of Wonder
Exhibit sponsored by:
2007-08 Family Series sponsored by:
Create-A-Puppet Workshop
sponsored by:
Season
sponsored by:
All three areas of programming at the Center
for Puppetry Arts (performance, puppetmaking
workshops and Museum) meet Georgia
Performance Standards (GPS), Georgia Quality
Core Curriculum Standards (GA QCCs) and
Georgia Bright From the Start Pre-K Program
Standards. To access the GA Performance/QCC
standards that have been correlated to each
programming area according to grade level, click
the links below:
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet, P-K & K
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet, Grade 1
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet, Grade 2
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet, Grade 3
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet, Grade 4
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet, Grade 5
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet, Grade 6
To access a complete list of GA Performance/QCC
Standards for all grades and subjects, please visit
www.glc.k12.ga.us.
Education programs supported in part by:
Atlanta Foundation • Georgia Health Foundation • Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.
Herman Miller Foundation • The Imlay Foundation, Inc. • Kraft Foods
Pittulloch Foundation • The Rich Foundation, Inc. • Travelers Foundation
Thank you for choosing the Center for Puppetry
Arts for your study trip. We hope that your
students’ experience here will live on in their
memories for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Alan Louis
Director of Museum and Education Programs

Luman Coad was born in Buhl, Idaho. He studied
children’s theatre at San Francisco State University. As
a college student, he was director of the puppet theatre
at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, CA, and won his first
international puppetry award at the age of 23.
In 1966 he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and
co-founded Coad Canada Puppets with his wife Arlyn
Coad. An outstanding puppet mime artist, Luman’s work
has been seen on such television shows as “Stargate SG-
1” and in feature films such as “Being John Malkovich.”
He was the founding secretary of the Canadian Centre
of Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) and
has served on numerous committees of the Puppeteers
of America.
Luman’s company has performed throughout North
America as well as seventeen countries across Europe,
the Middle East, South America, and the Pacific Rim.
The troupe has won numerous major puppetry awards
including First Prize at the 1977 International Festival
of Puppet-Actors in Poland, and both the Puppeteers
of America Trustees’ Award and the President’s Award
(the highest honors in North American puppetry).
The American Centre of Union Internationale de la
Marionnette has awarded the Coads six Citations of
Excellence in the Art of Puppetry. In 1987 they set up
Charlemagne Press to publish books of advanced level
puppetry and related topics. Over twenty titles are
currently available.
Each year Coad Canada Puppets create a new show
for a solo performer which tours for eight months to
elementary schools throughout British Columbia as well
as children’s festivals across Canada.
About the Artist
Luman Coad
Synopsis
Despite his frequent appeals, Darryl is forbidden to keep
a pet. One day he smuggles a large “pet” rock into his
room. Imagine his surprise when out of this rock pops a
small and very hungry dinosaur! Now Darryl’s problems
really begin. What does it eat? How can he train it? Why
is it growing so quickly? And most importantly, how can
he keep his new pet hidden in his room? But Darryl can’t
keep it a secret for long. What will Aunt Amelia do when
she discovers that his pet rock has turned into a gigantic
pet dinosaur?
Style of Puppetry
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet is performed with hand
puppets by a solo puppeteer. Hand puppets are figures
that are brought to life when a puppeteer places his/her
hand inside the puppet’s glove-like body. The puppeteer
manipulates a hand puppet with his/her fingers and
wrist so that the puppet characters become extensions
of the puppeteer’s own hands.
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Bibliography
• Dingus, Lowell, et al. Dinosaur Eggs Discovered: Unscrambling the Clues. Twenty-First Century
Books, 2007.
• Dixon, Dougal. Cretaceous Life (Prehistoric World). Barron’s Educational Series, 2006.
• Dixon, Dougal. If Dinosaurs Were Alive Today. Running Press Kids, 2007.
• Hoff, Syd. Danny and the Dinosaur. HarperTrophy, 1992.
• Holtz, Jr., Dr. Thomas R. Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur
Lovers of All Ages. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2007.
• Pallotta, Jerry. The Dinosaur Alphabet Book. Charlesbridge Publishing, 1990.
• Potts, Aidan. Uneversaurus. David Fickling Books, 2007.
• Priddy, Roger. My Big Dinosaur Book. Priddy Books, 2004.
• Rey, Luis V. Extreme Dinosaurs. Amazon Remainders Account, 2001.
• Sharfe, Elaine. There’s a Dinosaur in My Room. Chestnut Publishing Group, 2005.
• Tanaka, Shelley. New Dinos : The Latest Finds! The Coolest Dinosaur Discoveries! Atheneum, 2003.
• Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends? The Blue Sky Press, 2006.
• Zimmerman, Howard. Dinosaurs! The Biggest Baddest Strangest Fastest. Atheneum Books, 2000.
Darryl and Dinosaur playing tug in a
scene from There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet
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http://www.dinodon.com/index.htm
Meet Dino Don, author of 25 books on dinosaurs.
Internet Resources
http://paleobiology.si.edu/dinosaurs/index.html
Visit the dinosaurs Web page created by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in
Washington, D.C.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dinosaurs/
Find answers to your questions about dinosaurs at this Web site produced by the U.S. government.
http://dsc.discovery.com/guides/dinosaur/dinosaur.html
Take an interactive dinosaur tour at Discovery.com.
http://www.livescience.com/dinosaurs/
You’ll find lots of great information on dinosaurs at Live Science.com.
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/dinosaurs
Visit New Scientist.com’s comprehensive dinosaur site.
http://www.coadcanadapuppets.com/
Check out what’s new at Coad Canada Puppets on the Web.
http://members.shaw.ca/charlemagnepress/welcome..htm
Shop for puppetry books at Luman Coad’s Charlemagne Press online.
http://www.fairyland.org/
Visit the historic Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, California where puppeteer Luman Coad began his
career. First open to the public in 1950, this children’s theme park still continues its tradition of puppet
shows for young children.
Darryl’s pet rock hatches in a scene from
There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet
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Learning Activities
P-K & K: Dinosaurs Patterning Activity
Georgia Bright from the Start Pre-K Content Standards covered: Mathematical Development
MD 2 b (Children will create and duplicate simple patterns). Georgia Performance Standards
covered: Kindergarten, Mathematics (Geometry) MKG3B.
Objective: Students will identify simple picture patterns and select a picture from the list that
completes each pattern.
Materials: Dinosaurs patterning handout from this study guide, scissors, glue, glue sticks or paste,
crayons, chart paper and markers.
Procedure:
1. Reproduce Dinosaur patterning handouts so that there are enough for each student.
2. Before distributing handouts, draw a few simple patterns with geometric shapes on the
board or on chart paper. Say the names of the shapes out loud as you point to them.
For example, “Triangle, circle, square, triangle, circle, square.”
3. Draw a different sample pattern and ask students to identify the patterns in each row, saying
the name of the shape out loud as they “read” the picture of the shape.
4. Distribute dinosaur pattern handouts. Review the names of the dinosaurs with students.
The dinosaurs pictured on the handout are: T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus and
Triceratops.
5. Asks students to cut out the squares along the bottom of the page and glue them at the
end of each row to complete each pattern. Ask them to say the names of the dinosaurs
aloud to help them recognize the pattern if they are having difficulty doing it visually.
6. When all the patterns have been completed, ask students to color their sheets.
Assessment: Collect student handouts for review. Check for accuracy and remediate as necessary. Save
work samples for mathematics portfolios or classroom bulletin board display.
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Name___________________________________________ Date_______________________
Dinosaur Patterns
Directions: Cut out the pictures below. Paste one picture in each square that will
complete the pattern for that row. You will use all but one picture.

1st & 2nd Grade: Write Your Own Fantasy Dinosaur Story
Georgia Performance Standards covered: Grade 1, English/Language Arts, Writing, ELA1W1a,c,d,e,
f,g,h,i,j,l,m; Grade 2, English/Language Arts, Writing, ELA2W1a,b,c, h,i,j,k,l,m,p,q,r.
Objective: Students will write and illustrate their own fantasy dinosaur story in book form after
attending a performance of Coad Canada Puppets’ There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet.
Materials: Chart paper, markers, paper, pencils (or computers with word processing software and
printers), crayons, construction paper.
Procedure:
Learning Activities
1. After attending a performance of There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet at the Center for
Puppetry Arts, divide a piece of chart paper into three sections: one for the beginning of the
story, one for the middle of the story and one for the end of the story. Label each section:
beginning, middle and end.
2. Ask students to recall what happened at each point in the story and fill in the details on the
chart paper.
3. Ask them to think of ideas for their own fantasy dinosaur story about their own encounter
with a dinosaur. What kind of dinosaur might they meet? What might happen to the
dinosaur? What might happen to the student? Ask them to fill in their ideas on a piece of
paper (or a computer) for the beginning, middle and end of their stories just like the class
did for There’s a Dinosaur in the Closet.
4. Have students pre-write to generate ideas, create a first draft, revise their first draft, edit
their work and finally publish it in book form accompanied by illustrations. Remind them
that their stories must have a clear beginning, middle and end. Use the structure of There’s
a Dinosaur in the Closet as an example.
5. Ask students to share their stories with the class.
Assessment: Check students’ work for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Do their stories have a
clear beginning, middle and end? Save books for language arts portfolios.
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3rd & 4th Grade: Research Your Favorite Dinosaur
Georgia Performance Standards covered: Grade 3, English/Language Arts (ELA), Writing, ELA3W1.
Grade 4, Language Arts, Written Communication (Reading): 13, 16, 17, 21; (Writing): 39, 40, 41. Social
Studies, Core Social Studies Skills (Information Processing): 24, 25, 26, 36. Georgia Performance
Standards covered: Grade 4, English/Language Arts (ELA), Writing, ELA4W2.
Objective: Students will select a dinosaur to research and then write a report on their findings.
Materials: Paper, pencils, computers with Internet access, access to school media center and/or
public library.
Procedure:
Learning Activities
1. Prewriting. Teacher should guide students through a brainstorming session to list different
dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops,
Pterodactyl, etc.
2. Research. Ask each student to select a type of dinosaur that they would like to learn more
about. Once they have chosen a dinosaur to research, they should locate books,
encyclopedias, digital media and Web sites on the Internet to gather information about
their species. They may also conduct an interview with a paleontologist in person, by email
or by telephone.
3. Drafting. Students should use research finding to complete the first draft. Ask students to
address the following points:
• Describe your dinosaur’s appearance.
• In what geologic period did your dinosaur live?
• In what sort of habitat did your dinosaur live?
• What foods made up your dinosaur’s diet?
• How did your dinosaur organize socially? (Alone or in groups?)
• How many eggs did the females usually lay at one time?
4. Revising and editing. Have students prepare a first draft of their report for editing.
5. Publishing. Final drafts should be presented before the class.
Assessment: Check to see if students have followed the writing process: prewriting, drafting, editing,
publishing. Save finished reports for student writing portfolios.
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Learning Activities
5th and 6th Grade: Dinosaur Egg Discovery: A Word Search Puzzle
Georgia Performance Standards covered: Grade 5, English/Language Arts, Reading, ELA5R3a,b,
c,d,e,f; Grade 6, English/Language Arts, Reading, ELA6R2a,b,c,d.
Objective: Students will read a paragraph about dinosaur eggs and complete a word search puzzle
featuring vocabulary words from the reading.
Materials: Copies of word search puzzle handouts, pens, pencils or highlighters.
Procedure:
1. Have students read the paragraph about dinosaur egg discoveries at the bottom
of the word search puzzle paying special attention to the words in bold face. Discuss the
meaning of any unfamiliar words.
2. After they have read the paragraph, ask them to locate the bolded words in the puzzle.
Students should circle or highlight each word as they find it. Words are hidden vertically,
horizontally, diagonally and backward.
Assessment: Check student handouts for completion, comprehension and retention of information.
Remediate content from paragraph if necessary.
1404 Spring Street, NW at 18th • Atlanta, Georgia USA 30309-2820
Ticket Sales: 404.873.3391 • Administrative: 404.873.3089 • www.puppet.org • info@puppet.org
Headquarters of UNIMA-USA • Member of Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts and Theatre Communications Group
Text by Alan Louis and Amy Ellis • Original artwork by Anthony Owsley • Copyright © Center for Puppetry Arts Education Dept., February 2008.
© 2007 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T,
AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of
AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
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Name___________________________________________
Date ____________________
Dinosaur Eggs Discovered!
A Word Search Puzzle
Directions: Read the paragraph below about dinosaur eggs. Locate all 13 bolded words in the puzzle. Circle
or highlight each word as you find it. Words are hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally and backward.
N M A S S I V E D H S O G A N
H O E Q Q Y U X E Y C Z C I O
E H I Y Y P M R M B I I H N I
L N A T G X D T H B E O U O T
C B O T C S Y R O M N H L G I
A A Y A C U C U D S C K H A D
K Y F I A H D B U E E P V T E
A T S I G O L O T N O E L A P
X Y U C W A E I R X D A C P X
K U V N S C C H N P E Y E F E
I T F Y A A Q C X G E M J W Z
A P U T R Y Z G S X S R G I W
G T E F O S S I L I Z E D L D
A R A C X U C I N O Y R B M E
C S G G E D I S C O V E R E D
The science of dinosaur eggs and embryos is still relatively new. Compared to dinosaur bones, dinosaur
eggs are rarely found and are much more difficult to study. In 1997, paleontologist Luis Chaippe made
an exciting discovery when he found a chunk of embryonic skin inside a dinosaur egg while leading an
expedition in Patagonia, the southernmost region of Argentina and Chile. This was the first time a scientist
had ever seen fossilized dinosaur skin. Chiappe called it the highlight of his career. The eggs Chiappe and his
team discovered represent the largest dinosaur nesting site ever discovered. The site was massive. They
concluded that herds of dinosaurs from the Cretaceous Period were nesting and caring for their hatchlings
on this site and returning time and time again when it was time to lay eggs. Important sites like this inspire
new theories about dinosaur reproduction.
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Study Guide Feedback Form
The following questions are intended for the teachers and group leaders
who make use of the Center for Puppetry Arts’ study guides.
1. In what grade are your students?
2. Which show did you see? When?
3. Was this your first time at the Center?
4. Was this the first time you used a Study Guide?
5. Did you download/use the guide before or after your field trip?
6. Did you find the bibliography useful? If so, how?
7. Did you find the list of online resources useful? If so, how?
8. Did you reproduce the activity sheet for your grade?
9. Additional information and/or comments:
Please fax back to the Center for Puppetry Arts at 404.873.9907.
Your feedback will help us to better meet your needs. Thank you for your help!