GURGAON: At the best of times, education, especially of the learning-by-rote kind so common in India, can be a chore. This is why teaching with puppets sounds exciting, a refreshing break from the daily rigmarole of conventional schooling.
On Teacher’s Day, Ipsaa, which runs three day care centres in Gurgaon, organized a workshop, ‘Teaching with Puppets’.
The workshop, supervised by Anurupa Roya — puppeteer, puppet designer and managing trustee of Kat-Katha, an organization that seeks to promote the theatre of puppets — sought to prove how puppet-inspired teaching can be both fulfilling and pleasurable, for teachers and kids alike.
Taking part in the workshop were teachers and pupils from a number of leading Gurgaon schools, among them Bharat Ram Global, Paras World School, Scottish High International School, Shri Ram Global School, Kunskapsskolan, Shiv Nadar School and Manav Rachna.
‘Teaching with Puppets’ got under way with a taster of the delights of puppetry — among the oldest of the world’s performing arts — followed by a demonstration of the different forms of puppetry (shadow, glove, etc.). Kids also got to learn about techniques of manipulating puppets. “Attending this workshop has been an insightful experience. Teaching with puppets is as enjoyable for the teachers as it is for students. It’s a wonderful way to leave an indelible mark on the minds of students,” said Pratshree Gupta, a student of Bharat Ram Global School.
Puppetry, an art both ancient and universal, has been recognized as a valuable tool in the teaching of children. “Puppet play is open-ended and provides students with opportunities to improvise in situations that are unfamiliar or challenging,” said Nitu Singh of Ipsaa. “Puppets can stimulate children’s imagination, and encourage creative play and discovery.”