Workshops
English and Hebrew
Puppeteer Workshop for kids and families
Come and enjoy a Puppeteer Workshop in a creative atmosphere.
At this workshop we will learn to create puppets from recycled material as we discuss the environmental importance of working with previously used materials.
At the end of the workshop, we will put on a puppet theatre show.
This family workshop helps enhance creativity, patience and communication skills among family members!
Puppeteer Workshop for educators and teachers
This workshop is an opportunity to learn about environmental education, by creating a puppet theater from recycled materials.
The workshop provides unique tools to work with children and develop their creativity and communication skills.
It helps the participants apply different techniques and strengthen fine motor skills, which are lost in our technological world- like using scissors, painting, sewing and even fixing old toys and clothes. We create the puppets together, and learn the principles behind the operation. Later, we work together and brainstorm ideas for a puppet show.
For an article about parenting and education Puppet Theater- Scroll down!
Puppet Making WorkshopEnhancing Creativity and Improving Communication.
Creating a Mandala, as a method to understand and cherish Biodiversity.
By observing the shapes, colors and textures of animals and plants, we can understand the importance of nature in our lives. The tousle shapes and colors remind us how much we are depended on nature and how we are in fact a part of it.
In the workshop there is an emphasis on group cohesion. To support a creative atmosphere each participant leaves the workshop with a spectacular colorful Mandala, created in a joint effort by all participants. No prior knowledge or painting skills required.
From a sustainable point of view
Learning to create Jewelry and fashion accessories using Papier Mâché, Landscape Painting, and sculpture with earth clay.
Visualization and guided imagination In education
Guided imagery is used as a tool for developing Positive Thinking. It helps the school students become more familiar with themselves and their study habits, as well as improve academic achievement and self-esteem.
For more information about this unique workshop click here
Bring to life the joy of a Sustainable world...
Puppet Making Workshop
Enhancing Creativity and Improving Communication
Theater and the use of puppets have always been sources of pleasure and enjoyment, games and fun; but in fact they are simultaneously a form of personal expression, creativity and an effective tool for experiential learning of communication skills.
Puppets have been recognized as a valuable tool, used in different educational and therapeutic frameworks such as: work with the elderly, trauma patients, special education students and the instruction of materials that are difficult to teach in conventional ways. We can use puppets as way of enriching our children with different content, engaging them and gaining their cooperation through games, in topics they might struggle with otherwise.
How do we do it?
Theatre puppets can be used in two techniques:
The first method involves an adult who operates the puppet, communicating with a child. In this way conversations can be facilitated in an experiential way, focused on educational curriculum, enrichment topics or issues that are complicated or difficult to grasp. The child can open up to the adult through this dialogue, while the adult steers the conversation.
The second technique allows for the child to create his/her own puppet and operate it. This allows for expression of the child's inner world, it often exhibits the difficulties they are dealing with, and exposes forces shaping personal perception. This method allows for an open dialogue, along with development of language, creativity and unleashing the imagination.
Working with groups
Working with groups of children through Puppet Theater contributes to building a cohesive group. Kids within the group develop patience, listening abilities and respect toward their peers. They enhance their abilities to speak in front of a crowd, gain confidence and self esteem.
Drawing from personal experience, every child eventually wants to operate the puppet and make his/her own voice heard. Children are always excited to share their ideas and inventions with others, they enjoy working together and using their hands to create something new.
Making the puppets -
Preferably from reusable materials!
Puppets can be made from many different materials. In fact, anything can be turned into a "speaking" puppet – the eraser at the end of your pencil, a pinecone with play-dough eyes attached, or a constructed puppet made from reusable materials – all can make a wonderful puppet and partner for conversation. This way we can be creative and enjoy, while not harming our environment.
During my undergraduate studies of Education (focused on Ecological and Environmental Education), I developed a method for using theater puppets as a teaching tool for environmental topics. Lessons included how to reduce, reuse, recycle and fix things (rather than throw them away) and more…
Puppet construction relies on different reusable materials. The puppet-making process develops fine motor skills, which in this day and age are increasingly degraded in an evolving technological environment. Sketching, cutting and sewing are just a few examples of skills we rarely utilize and develop these days. Once the puppets are made, students follow instructions on how to operate them.
Hands-on puppetry workshops,
for children and the environment
I currently lead workshops all around the country and in different settings – birthdays, family gatherings, teacher and educator workshops, to name a few. The workshops include a presentation on garbage, pollution and the environment, a puppet making session, an exhibit of puppets that can be made from reusable materials all around your home, and the three most important principles for a puppeteer!
I believe that through the magical world of theater puppets I can help spread awareness and values of environmentalism and sustainability.
I invite and encourage you to join me, experiment, experience, enjoy!
Yours truly,
Nofar Ben-Arye