Story Sock Puppets
Basic supplies:
(Supplies may vary depending on the characters in the book you are reading)
3-4 old socks
Glue
Markers
Construction paper
Yarn (for hair)
Google Eyes
Your child’s favorite book
Hot Glue Gun (possibly for especially fussy materials that do not want to stick with glue)
What You Do:
Decide on the characters you will create. Use yarn for hair and construction paper to make details, clothes, and accessories. You can use old fabric or felt to make puppet clothes and details if you have it. Secure all items with glue to your sock. Make sure socks are washed and dried throughly or new. Use large socks and small socks for different characters in the story.
As you are waiting for the sock puppets to dry, read the story to your child. Then do a little study of the story by asking some questions. Questions you may want to ask are:
Who was the story about?
Where did the story take place?
What happened in the beginning of the story?
What happened in the middle of the story?
What happened at the end of the story?
Once your child has a firm understanding of the story, let her know that it will be her time to act it out. Have her use the sock puppets as characters and allow her to act out the book. Once she feels comfortable, perhaps you can have her present her play to the rest of the family.
This type of activity or narration reinforces reading comprehension. Children love interaction and this method of allowing a child to interact with a story will help create a sense of excitement with regard to books and reading. If you like the activity but do not want to make puppets for every book, simply use dolls or other figures you have at home such as stuffed animals.