Old MacDonald

Parents: Help your child create this barn for their animal finger puppets. Then ask everyone to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” while your child makes the puppets appear in the window to “quack-quack,” “oink-oink,” or “moo-moo” when each animal’s turn comes up in the song.

You Will Need:

• Shoe box (no lid)
• Pencil
• Ruler
• X-Acto knife (for adult use only)
• Red craft paint
• Craft brushes
• Safety scissors
• Craft foam sheets (green, yellow, and red)
• Craft glue

 

What to Do:

1. Turn the shoe box upside down. To make a window, use the pencil and ruler to draw a 2½-by-4½-inch rectangle in the upper right corner. Ask an adult to cut it out with the knife.
2. Paint the outside of the box red and let dry. (Apply a second coat if needed.)
3. Use the scissors to cut three 1-inch-wide strips of green foam (grass), and use craft glue to attach them to the bottom of the barn.
4. To frame the window, measure a 3½-by-5½-inch piece of yellow foam and cut it out. Measure ¾-inch from the outside edge on all 4 sides and cut out the center. Glue the yellow frame to the window.
5. To make shutters, measure and cut two 3¼-by-2¾ pieces of red foam and two of yellow foam. Use the yellow pieces to make ½-inch yellow frames for the red pieces (as in step 4) and glue them together. Glue the shutters to the window at the inside corners and let dry.
6. Print and cut out Old MacDonald and glue him to the lower left side of your barn. Let dry. Your barn is ready for a puppet show!