Design Technology - Ramayana Puppets (Key Stage 1)

Ramayana Puppets is a Design Technology unit of work aimed primarily at children aged 5-7.
Design Brief: Design and make a puppet to tell the story of the Ramayana in a class puppet show.
The package provides the medium-term plan, six lessons (each lesson has a MS Powerpoint presentation). Any additional resources are provided as PDFs or as Powerpoint Presentations. This unit of work fulfils the National Curriculum (England) Design Technology requirements for this age group in the following strands of learning:

• Materials
• Textiles
  In this unit children make a hand puppet by marking out, cutting, and joining pieces of fabric together to create a character from the story of the Ramayana. Children learn about different types of puppets and some famous puppets such as Sooty and Sweep and the Muppets. They understand that a puppeteer makes the puppet appear alive. They draw a puppet design based on a character from the Ramayana. They learn how to thread a needle and the technique of the simple running stitch. They apply and practise the running stitch to create decorative stitching using Binca material. Stitching two identical templates together they create a basic puppet figure which they then decorate using a range of skills following their puppet design of a character from the Ramayana.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. IDEA Task 1 – Let’s Find Out About Puppets & Focused Practical Task 1 – Starting to Sew
2. IDEA Task 2 – What makes a Good Puppet?
3. Focused Practical Task 2 – Making a Hand Puppet
4. Designing Your Puppet
5. Making Your Puppet
6. Evaluation Session