Nora Christensen is one of the founding members of the Louisville based Squallis Puppeteers. Within this collaborative arts organization, Nora designs and produces original puppets and puppet shows. These shows include large puppet processions with a drum and horn band, adult puppet pieces combining video, original music, and puppets as well as conflict resolution hand puppet shows for children. Nora also conducts multiple puppet making workshops for various communities. She has had the privilege of teaching puppet making to the Speed Art Museum, JCPS schools, City of Louisville's program, Studio 2000, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Kentucky Opera, Portland Museum, WAY Festival and Louisville Public Libraries. The world of puppetry has allowed Nora to experiment with many artistic disciplines in order to fulfill her creative callings.
One workshop that I offer is “Puppet Trickster Tales”.
This is a 10-day residency that teaches students the Elements of Drama by offering an opportunity to experience them first-hand. Students will learn about Native American, Traditional Appalachian, and West African versions of Trickster Tales. They will then write a story, make a puppet, and perform their skits for an audience.
Appropriate for Grades 2-5
“Puppet Trickster Tales” will teach students:
Humanity in the Arts
AH-05-2.3.1 Students will describe or explain how drama has been a part of cultures and time periods throughout history.
Cultures: Native American, Traditional Appalachian, and West African (The use of storytelling, myths, legends, folktales in these cultures)
Structures in the Arts
AH-05-1.3.1 Students will analyze or explain the use of elements of drama in dramatic works.
Processes in the Arts
AH-05-4.3.1 Students will create and perform using elements of drama (Literary, Technical, Performance)
Day 1
Introduction to Puppetry and Cultures
Cultures - Native American, Traditional Appalachian, and West African I will introduce students to the art of puppetry and explain how it combines both visual art and drama. We will discuss the project plan with the class to inform them of what to expect from me being in their
classroom. We will then read Trickster Tales from various cultures, including West African, Native American and Appalachia.
Days 2-4
Literary Elements - Script, Story Line (plot), character, and story organization Students will write simple stories using a Trickster Tale template that involves naming a trickster, inventing a trick, and resolving the trick. We will then focus on developing the character and writing a script for the dialogue of the play.
Days 5-7
Technical Elements - Scenery, Props, and Puppets We will create the puppets, scenery and props for the skits. The puppet project could be either a sock puppet, or a finger puppet. (We have more elaborate puppet projects if you would prefer to focus more on the Visual Arts elements taught through puppetry, more time would be needed for this).
Days 8-9
Performance Elements - Acting (how speaking and moving help to create characters) Once the students have their stories and puppets, we will rehearse and experiment with bringing the puppets to life by giving the characters a voice and actions.
Day 10
Performance Day
The class can perform for each other at their desks, in front of the classroom or for their families in a special designated time. The performance day can be as little or as big as the teachers see fit.