SEL Puppet Plays-Kindness

These three puppet plays provide a creative way to teach students about respect, empathy, and cooperation. So often, we forget that a simple act of kindness can be shown in many ways. Helping kids see where they can be kind will only make our world a better place. 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:

Respect Starts with Me
A Puppet Play About Respect

CHARACTERS:

MR./MRS. FOLAMI – a teacher at the children’s school
Note: Folami is an African Yoruba word meaning “honor and respect me.”
PUPPET 1-Child puppet
PUPPET 2-Child puppet

SETTING: Puppet Theater or a Classroom

Note: If possible, have MR./MRS. FOLAMI at a higher level than the children, so he/she can look down to see the students after he/she enters.

(PUPPETS 1 & 2 are looking down and working on something. Then, PUPPET 1 walks over to PUPPET 2 and starts bothering him/her.)

PUPPET 1: (Tapping the other’s shoulder.) Hey.

(No response.)

PUPPET 1: (Tapping the other’s shoulder and says a little louder.) Hey…

(Still no response.)

PUPPET 1: (Tapping the other’s shoulder and shouting.) HEY!!

MR./MRS. FOLAMI appears, but the children do not notice him/her.

PUPPET 2: What? Can’t you see I’m busy?

PUPPET 1: Yeah. I just wanted to talk. What did you bring for lunch?

PUPPET 2: We’re supposed to be doing our work, not talking.

PUPPET 1: I’m done. So, what did you bring?

PUPPET 2: I’m not done, and I don’t want to talk right now.

PUPPET 1: I could help you get it done.

PUPPET 2: No. I am almost done, and I got it.

(There is a pause as PUPPET 1 decides whether he/she should go back to his/her desk. He/She starts walking and then decides not to go back. He/She stands really close to PUPPET 2 and peers over his/her shoulder.)

PUPPET 2: (Slowly turning his/her head to look at PUPPET 1) What?!

PUPPET 1: You never told me what you brought for lunch.

PUPPET 2: Why does it matter? I need to get this done.

PUPPET 1: I am hungry, and I…

PUPPET 2: (Interrupting PUPPET 1) Just leave me alone!

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: What’s going on you two? Have you finished your definitions?

PUPPET 1: Yes. I did.

PUPPET 2: No. I am trying to get them done.

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: So, why are they not finished yet? This class is almost over, and we have other work to do after lunch.

PUPPET 2: (Not wanting to get PUPPET 1 in trouble) Well…

PUPPET 1: It’s my fault, Mr./Mrs. Folami. I was trying to talk to him/her, and I think it was stopping him/her from getting his/her definitions done.

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: Is that true?

PUPPET 2: Yes.

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: I see. Actually, I watched a lot of what happened, and both of you could have been more respectful to each other.

PUPPET 1: Both of us?

PUPPET 2: Respectful?

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: Yes, respectful. (Addressing PUPPET 1) You should have respected his/her space when he/she said he/she was busy. Even though you had your work done, other students may need more time. Also, your talking may have distracted other students who also needed to finish their work before the bell rang.

PUPPET 1: You’re right. I was just bored and should have stayed in my seat.

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: (Addressing PUPPET 2) And the way you answered his/her questions could have been more respectful, too. Don’t you think?

PUPPET 2: I don’t think I understand what you mean.

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: You were very short with him/her. You could have answered the lunch question quickly and then asked politely to be left alone to finish your work. Instead, you gave him/her a bit of attitude, didn’t you?

PUPPET 2: Um… (starts to say something and then nods head)

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: Neither one of you meant to be disrespectful, but that’s what happened.

PUPPET 1: I’m really sorry.

PUPPET 2: Me too, and no worries. I just finished my last definition when Mr./Mrs. Folami started talking to us.

MR./MRS. FOLAMI: Well, I’m glad that both of you finished your work. (Looking offstage) Elyn, stop throwing erasers at Carlos. Please excuse me. (He/She exits.)

PUPPET 2: So… what did you bring for lunch?

PUPPET 1: Nothing.

PUPPET 2: Nothing? What are you going to eat?

PUPPET 1: Whatever the cafeteria is serving today. I’m buying my lunch, and I forgot to check what they are serving today.

PUPPET 2: It’s Taco Tuesday! The best lunch ever! I am buying my lunch, too.

PUPPET 1: Awesome! I am so hungry.

PUPPET 2: Me too. Oh, there’s the bell. Let’s go.

CURTAIN