Social and emotional learning comes to life in many ways, but few are as imaginative and engaging as a puppet show! This April, students in United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s Education United after-school program spent two weeks crafting their very own puppets, before taking “center stage” to put them to work.
Students used their handmade puppets to act out real-life scenarios, practicing how to navigate everyday challenges with empathy, patience, and kindness. In one scenario, students were asked to respond to a friend who accidentally broke their crayons. Rather than reacting with frustration, students were guided to express their feelings calmly and resolve the situation using kind words, nurturing the kind of conflict resolution skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom.
The activity gave students a safe and playful space to explore big emotions and practice thoughtful responses–and if the smiles on their faces were any indication–it was time well spent.
