Pig Craft | Paper Bag Puppet or Craft Stick Puppet

This is one of a collection of easy-to- assemble paper bag puppets with 2 or 3 piece templates for children 2+ and older.  It can quickly become one of your favorite  "teaching/ learning helpers" and also a great homemade toy!  If you don't have paper bags, that's OK, because it can also be a craft stick puppet when mounted or printed onto sturdy paper or thin cardboard and then assembled.

Teaching Aid - Color Version:Template 1: color head  Template 2: color body
The color version is meant for the educator (parent, preschool teacher, child care provider or baby-sitter) to use as a teaching helper:
Ideas:
1.  Story time helper:
The puppet can be the story teller and reader - visit here for the online story of The Three Little Pigs.  It can bring excitement and enthusiasm into the reading time.  This "helper" can ask questions to the children during and after the reading.  Later the children can have fun assembling their own puppet using the black and white version templates.
2.  Introduce any New Topics:
The puppet can help introduce any new theme, or topic such as letters of the alphabet, numbers, colors (red + white = pink), science concepts, animal facts, the seasons, special occasions & events.

3.  Potty Training / Dental Care / Nutrition/ Visits to the Doctor / Responsibility:
The puppet can be a great aid in those special times when parents need a fun helper in potty training, dental care, trying a new food,  and give that little nudge and friendly reminder to have the children cooperate in picking up their toys, help in learning how to dress themselves, and even alleviate the anxiety to a visit to the doctor or dentist, or to help introduce a new caregiver, etc. 

4.  Musical Conductor
These puppets are great to get the children in the mood for singing that new song or nursery rhyme!  Try it!

5.  Safety Issues
The puppet can help introduce and role play safety issues:  how to deal with strangers, fire safety, water safety, crime prevention,  how to call 911 and what to do in an emergency, childhood poison prevention, etc.

6. Alphabet activities:  Letter P Printable Activities and Lesson Plan 
Introduce or reinforce letter recognition and early handwriting skills.

Craft Version and Homemade Toy:  Pig Black & White Templates
1.  This version can also be printed directly on color craft paper or construction paper to match a particular character in a book, for a example a story with a "Blue Hippo."

2.  This version allows the children to be creative and personalize the puppet.  Provide a variety of art materials to color, paint and/or decorate the puppet.