Materials:

• socks (one for each child)
• fabric markers
• children's safety scissors
• white craft glue
• material to decorate puppets, including yarn, pom-poms, feathers, buttons, sequins, fake fur fabric, felt, fabric scraps, foil, and colored construction paper
• chart paper and marker

Objective: Children will work together to create sock puppet pets. This activity will spur creativity and encourage social interaction and language development.

In Advance: Send a note home to families requesting children to bring in an old, laundered sock for the puppet activity.

Activity

1. Read stories to children about pets or animals and then engage them in a conversation about different types of pets. Do they have pets? What types of pets do they have? What types of pets do they wish they had?
2. Tell the children that they will make sock pet puppets out of socks. Show children the art materials and ask them to think about the different types of pet puppets they can make. Record the children's ideas on chart paper.
3. Set out the art materials and invite children to work together in small groups. Offer assistance if needed. Don't forget to make a puppet for yourself so that you can join in the play.
4. While the glue is drying, ask the children to think about what they would like to name their pet puppets. Invite everyone to bring her puppet to circle. Include the pet puppets in the morning greeting.
5. Encourage children to participate in activities to develop dramatic-play and language skills. Select two or more children and assist them in developing conversations with their puppets. The children can use their pet puppets in the block and dramatic-play areas or during quiet time or naptime. 
    

Curriculum Connection
Music: Singing Puppets. Ask the children to choose a favorite song to sing using their pet puppets. Explain that they will substitute the words of the song and use animal sounds instead. Children can have a turn to practice their animal sounds. Now let the singing begin!