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Adam Rolfsmeyer
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2013
- Messages
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Hi all,
I am a first time poster and puppet maker. I live in Okazaki, Japan and I am an Elementary School English teacher. I have been quite frustrated with the level of English education here in Japan for some time. Most of what we do at the Elementary school level is "Play" with English.
I know there is fundementally nothing wrong with this idea, but my frustration manifests itself when my Elementary school students start hating English when they graduate to Jr. High. They start to hate English because of one simple fact; They can't read.
I got together with my fellow teachers and we decided to take it upon ourselves to make a Phonics program which would after completion give students the tools they need to read anything put before them.
Only one problem, we needed a mascot. I remembered Seseame Street and the Muppet Show fondly from my childhood and told myself I would build a muppet. I didn't do much research. None at all in fact. I just kind of dived right into it; buying styrofoam balls and felt and fake fur. I kind of got in well over my head.
Anyway, I really loved the "Pops" character from the Muppet Show, so I decided to make "Gramps" to be our unofficial mascot. It was a difficult but rewarding experience. I know it may seem pretty raw in comparison to much of what you guys have accomplished here but feel free to take a look and give me feedback. Gramps is, I think the term is a half size? puppet. He now has clothes which I have a felt glove for my hand to be used in conjunction with Gramps.
Things went so well that I will be making more characters for our phonics program. This time around, however, I will be doing tons of resheach. The next muppet puppet I want to do has to have eye and eyebrow mechs.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tkciom1zmnr75ut/Gramps.jpg?m=
https://www.dropbox.com/s/byh0kp2xpjfkvtz/Gramps 2.jpg?m=
Cheers,
Adam
I am a first time poster and puppet maker. I live in Okazaki, Japan and I am an Elementary School English teacher. I have been quite frustrated with the level of English education here in Japan for some time. Most of what we do at the Elementary school level is "Play" with English.
I know there is fundementally nothing wrong with this idea, but my frustration manifests itself when my Elementary school students start hating English when they graduate to Jr. High. They start to hate English because of one simple fact; They can't read.
I got together with my fellow teachers and we decided to take it upon ourselves to make a Phonics program which would after completion give students the tools they need to read anything put before them.
Only one problem, we needed a mascot. I remembered Seseame Street and the Muppet Show fondly from my childhood and told myself I would build a muppet. I didn't do much research. None at all in fact. I just kind of dived right into it; buying styrofoam balls and felt and fake fur. I kind of got in well over my head.
Anyway, I really loved the "Pops" character from the Muppet Show, so I decided to make "Gramps" to be our unofficial mascot. It was a difficult but rewarding experience. I know it may seem pretty raw in comparison to much of what you guys have accomplished here but feel free to take a look and give me feedback. Gramps is, I think the term is a half size? puppet. He now has clothes which I have a felt glove for my hand to be used in conjunction with Gramps.
Things went so well that I will be making more characters for our phonics program. This time around, however, I will be doing tons of resheach. The next muppet puppet I want to do has to have eye and eyebrow mechs.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tkciom1zmnr75ut/Gramps.jpg?m=
https://www.dropbox.com/s/byh0kp2xpjfkvtz/Gramps 2.jpg?m=
Cheers,
Adam
