Seaside Holidays activity 10: create a Punch and Judy show
Overview
Create a Punch and Judy or Seaside character puppet booth and storyboard and act out a simple show using sock, stick, string or shadow puppets.
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding of the history of the seaside and seaside entertainments. Skills and confidence to create a simple script and put on a puppet show.
Curriculum links
KS1-2 History (Local Area Study, seaside holidays).
KS1-2 English (script writing, performance)
Children explore seaside entertainments by looking at Learn with Objects Seaside holidays 11: entertainments. They look at the comic postcard of the Punch and Judy show being knocked over and then discuss what a Punch and Judy show is.
- What’s happening in the booth?
What is a Punch and Judy show? - Where is it taking place?
- Who’s been to one?
- Does anyone know some of the other characters?
- What happens in the story?
- Why do some people not like Punch and Judy shows today? (the violence, wife beating, child murder etc).
Ask the children to research the history of Punch and Judy shows, and different types of puppets including sock, string, stick and shadow puppets.
They then work in teams to create a non-violent, but funny seaside puppet show. It might include some of the Punch and Judy characters, or completely new ones invented by the children.
The show should convey an important That’s the way to do it! message, through humour, such as the need to clean up our beaches or the oceans, to wear sun-cream when on the beach, to follow water safety advice from lifeguards (like not to go in a dinghy on a windy day as it might get blown out to sea), or not to go looking for fossils underneath dangerous cliffs, but on the beach well away from them.
It may also include characters or objects from the Learn with Objects website.
Storyboard a Punch & Judy show
The children work in teams to storyboard a short seaside puppet shows (1 to 2 minutes long).
They make puppet characters, props and a write a simple script. If time allows a puppet booth and backdrops can be created to add to the effect.
The teams practice, and then perform their puppet shows to the whole class, at assembly or at a public event (selling tickets) with parents and family in attendance.
The puppet shows can be filmed and added as videos to the school and Folkestone Museum Learn with Objects websites.
Learn with Objects links
See Learn with Objects Seaside holidays 11: entertainments and other websites for information and ideas.