SEL Puppet Plays-Be Strong

These three puppet plays provide a creative way to teach students about Responsibility, Perseverance, and Courage. These concepts can be difficult for younger students to understand, and these scenes can open the discussion and aid instruction. These playful puppet shows can be performed by elementary children or by older students performing for younger audiences.

About the playwright:

Liz Farney Maxson has been a high school English teacher, dance teacher, and drama director for over twenty years. She has degrees in dance, creative writing, and education. She teaches grades 9- 2 in Ohio and directs theater for her high school and local community theaters. In her spare time, she teaches dance and performs. She is excited to write for Drama Notebook as she loves to use the scenes and plays on Drama Notebook with her students.

Excerpt from the plays:

Being Responsible is So Real
A Puppet Play About Responsibility

CHARACTERS: 2 Child Puppets (any gender/creature)
PUPPET 1
PUPPET 2

SETTING: Puppet Theater or Open Space

(This scene could take place anywhere. It could be on the street, at the playground, in a classroom, etc. Two students are talking about taking care of a pet.)

(PUPPETS 1 & 2 enter from different sides of the stage or room. They see each other and wave. Then they cross to each other to start the conversation.)

PUPPET 1: Hi.

PUPPET 2: Hi. How are you?

PUPPET 1: Living my dream, you?

PUPPET 2: Living your dream? What does that mean?

PUPPET 1: It means that I just got the best present for my birthday.

(Beat.)

PUPPET 2: Well?

PUPPET 1: Well… what?

PUPPET 2: What did you get?

PUPPET 1: I got a puppy!

PUPPET 2: You did?! That’s awesome! What does she look like?

PUPPET 1: Well, it’s a he, and we named him Darwin. He is a little Golden Retriever.

PUPPET 2: That’s very cool. Have you ever had a dog before?

PUPPET 1: No. This is my first pet… EVER.

PUPPET 2: So, what are your responsibilities?

PUPPET 1: My what?

PUPPET 2: Responsibilities? What jobs do you have to help take care of the puppy?

PUPPET 1: I don’t think I have any of those.

PUPPET 2: Really? When we got our first dog last year, we all had to pick a job and do that job every day to help our family take care of the puppy.

PUPPET 1: What jobs did everyone take?

PUPPET 2: My sister feeds Barkley and gives him water after school. My mom and dad take Barkley out to use the bathroom every few hours, and I feed and give Barkley water in the morning before school. We still do those jobs now.

PUPPET 1: Boy. That’s a lot of work.

PUPPET 2: Yeah. It takes a lot of responsibility to take care of a puppy.

PUPPET 1: Whose job is it to play with the puppy?

PUPPET 2: Oh, we all do that. That is more fun and not really a responsibility. We all like to walk Barkley too, so we also take turns with that job.

PUPPET 1: Why is it so important that everyone has a puppy responsibility?

PUPPET 2: I asked my mom that question too. She said that we all wanted to have the dog in the house, and it would be too hard for just one person to do all the jobs. So, we all have to share the work and be dependable. Just think what would happen if we didn’t do our jobs.

PUPPET 1: What do you mean?

PUPPET 2: Well, if my sister and I didn’t feed Barkley and give him water every day, he would get really sick and die.

PUPPET 1: That would be awful.

PUPPET 2: Right? And, if my mom and dad didn’t take the Barkley out all the time, he would never learn to go to the bathroom outside and we would have to clean up his messes everywhere.

PUPPET 1: That would be so gross.

PUPPET 2: I know. I’ve had to clean up a few messes, but we all share that job too.

PUPPET 1: Is it worth it?

PUPPET 2: Absolutely! In fact, my favorite part of the day is when my alarm goes off because Barkley sits in front of my bedroom door, waiting for me to feed him. He is so cute, and we get to spend that part of the day together every day.

PUPPET 1: I can’t wait to go home and talk to my mom and dad about what job I can do every day for Darwin.

PUPPET 2: You should totally ask to feed him in the mornings. It’s the best responsibility you could ask for.

PUPPET 1: I will. Hey, let’s go get our dogs and take them to the park this afternoon.

PUPPET 2: That’s a great idea. Come on!

(PUPPETS 1 & 2 exit.)

CURTAIN