Make a movie with your puppets. Activities for Kids.

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Make a movie with your puppets

Make a short puppet movie by writing a simple script, building a small set, recording scenes with a phone, and adding voices and sound effects.

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Step-by-step guide to make a movie with your puppets

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DIY Puppet Show Using a Cardboard Box - Great Wolf Lodge

What you need

Adult supervision required, cardboard box or shoebox for a stage, coloured paper and colouring materials like markers crayons or coloured pencils, glue stick, paper and pencil, puppets, scissors, simple sound props like spoons or a container of rice, small toys for props, tape

Step 1

Clear a table or floor space and put your materials there so you can reach everything easily

Step 2

Choose which puppets will be your main characters and give each puppet a name

Step 3

Write a short story idea with a clear beginning middle and end on one sheet of paper

Step 4

Write a simple script with lines for each puppet and short stage directions on paper

Step 5

Draw a quick storyboard with three to five boxes showing what happens in each scene

Step 6

Build your set inside the box and tape or glue paper and props to make the background

Step 7

Place your puppets and props in the set where the first scene will start

Step 8

Practice the script out loud and try different voices and sound effects for each puppet

Step 9

Put your recording device on a stable surface and make sure the set fills the screen

Step 10

Record each scene one at a time using your puppets and do a couple of takes for each scene

Step 11

Use a simple video app to trim the clips and add your recorded voices and sound effects

Step 12

Watch your movie all the way through and fix one small thing if it needs a change

Step 13

Share your finished puppet movie on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

If I can't find a cardboard box, a smartphone, or a video app, what can I substitute so we can still make the puppet movie?

Use a large shoebox or tape paper to a wall as your set (step: Build your set inside the box), record with a tablet, laptop webcam, or a parent's phone placed on a stack of books (step: Put your recording device on a stable surface), and edit with a free built-in camera editor or an online editor like Clipchamp (step: Use a simple video app to trim the clips).

The puppets keep moving out of frame or the video is wobbly—what should we try to fix this while recording scenes?

Make sure the recording device is steady on a flat surface or tripod and reframe so the set fills the screen before each take, then record each scene one at a time and do a couple of takes to pick the best clip (steps: Put your recording device on a stable surface; make sure the set fills the screen; Record each scene one at a time).

How can we change the activity for younger children or challenge older kids while following the same steps?

For preschoolers, simplify to choosing puppets, telling a one-scene story and a two-box storyboard with a parent doing the recording (steps: Choose which puppets; Write a short story idea; Draw a quick storyboard; Put your recording device), while older kids can write longer scripts with stage directions, practice multiple voices, record separate sound effects, and do more advanced edits in the video app (steps: Write a simple script; Practice the script; Use a simple video app).

What are simple ways to extend or personalize our puppet movie after finishing the basic version?

Add custom puppet costumes or name tags, create title cards and end credits, record original music or extra sound effects to mix in the app, and decorate the box set with more detailed props before sharing on DIY.org (steps: give each puppet a name; Build your set; Use a simple video app; Share your finished puppet movie on DIY.org).

Watch videos on how to make a movie with your puppets

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For Kids! Make your own Mini Shadow Puppet Show!

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Facts about filmmaking for kids

🎬 Famous stop-motion puppet films include Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit, all made by moving puppets a little bit for each frame.

🎙️ Foley artists use everyday items to make movie sounds — coconut shells for horse hooves, crumpled cellophane for crackling fire, and tins for rattles.

📱 Many smartphones can shoot in high-definition (1080p and often 4K), so you can record crisp puppet scenes and edit them right on the phone.

🎭 Puppetry is ancient — archaeologists have found puppet-like figures and references dating back more than 3,000 years in places like Egypt and Greece.

🧵 There are many puppet types: marionettes (string-controlled), hand puppets (worn on the hand), rod puppets, and shadow puppets (silhouettes against a screen).

How do I make a short puppet movie with my child?

Start by writing a very short script with a clear beginning, middle, and end—three to five scenes work well. Build a small set using a cardboard box, fabric backdrop, and props. Rehearse puppets and lines, then mount your phone on a tripod or stable surface. Record each scene from a few angles, keeping clips short. Add voices and sound effects while recording or later in a simple editing app, then assemble clips and export the final movie.

What materials do I need to make a puppet movie?

You’ll need puppets (sock, hand, or finger types), a small set (cardboard, shoebox, fabric), simple props, scissors, tape and glue, markers or paint, and a smartphone or tablet for recording. A tripod or phone stand, extra lamps for lighting, a basic editing app, and optional microphone/headset help. Keep craft supplies safe and easy to clean; choose non-toxic materials for young children.

What ages is making a puppet movie suitable for?

Puppet movies work for many ages: toddlers (2–4) enjoy puppet play with close adult help; preschoolers (4–6) can pick characters and lines with guidance; school-age kids (7–10) can write short scripts and help record; older kids (11+) can plan shots and edit independently. Supervise scissors, small parts, and device use. Adjust complexity to the child’s attention span and skills.

What are the benefits of making a puppet movie with kids?

Making a puppet movie boosts storytelling, language, and listening skills while encouraging creativity and fine motor practice. It builds planning and teamwork when kids script, set up, and act. Recording and editing introduce basic tech skills and problem-solving. The project also supports confidence as children see a finished film they helped create and provides a fun keepsake for family and friends.

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