Ada and the Helpers Paper Puppet Theater

Description

Provide your kids with hours of playtime as they re-inact the story of Ada and the Helpers with this printable paper puppet theater!

This downloadable resource comes with 19 pages including assembly instructions to construct a 3D imagination game. Children can create their own stories with the characters from the Children’s book, Ada and the Helpers.

Supplies:
• card stock paper
• scissors
• ruler
• glue or glue gun (with adult help)
• cereal box or poster board

How to build “Ada and the Helpers” characters:

1. Cut all your small pieces out and set to the side. You can loosely cut around the edges, leaving some white border. That way you don’t loose any details from your characters and it makes it easier for small hands.
2. Cut out your small stands. Use a ruler to fold each stand down the center line. Glue the stand to the back of each character down the center. If the character has trouble standing, trim the bottom edge of the stand (the part that rests on the table) to help balance it out more.
3. The larger stands are for the crowd, houses, and Ada’s parents. They could also be used on the back of each scene panel to give them more support (if you wanted them to stand on their own). Just glue two large stands, one on each end of the scene panel, and this should help it stand better when placed inside the theater (but it’s not necessary).

Building the Theater:

1. You can use old cereal boxes or poster board to reinforce some of your theater pieces. This can help the pieces last longer and stand up better. Use the cereal box on the backside of the front and back panel of the theater but not the side panels, because you will need to be able to fold the edges in on the side panels. Glue the front and back panel of the theater, down to the cardboard before cutting out the panels. This will help to keep from seeing the edges of the cardboard after you assemble it.
2. To cut out the front panel. cut into the middle of the page by cutting along the white dotted line at the top of the page. This will be covered up when you glue “Ada and the Helpers” at the top. Carefully cut around the inside edge of the frame, and then carefully cut out the oval. When everything is cut out, glue your oval to the top middle of your front panel, connecting the two pieces where you cut down the white dotted line. Now your front panel should be one solid piece again, with an opening for Ada to perform.
3. Time to connect all the panels. Cut down the middle of your side panel along the dotted line, and use a ruler to fold the side flaps. Take one of your side panels and glue the front folded edge to the backside edge of your front panel. Then glue the back folded edge of your side panel to the backside of you back panel. This should give it a seamless finish when you look into the theater.