Educator Resources

Find Everything You Need to Prepare Your Lesson Plans

Our educator resources include study guides, educational standards, and research topics, so you can write field trip rationales, engage student learning and use art to enhance your upcoming curriculum.

Educational Resource Guides are available for many of our activities (specifically, school-year Family Performances for grades preK-5) and are designed to enhance student learning before and after a visit to the Center. Guides includes show-specific activities, details about performances and artists, puppetry resources, creative opportunities for extended enrichment, resource lists, and more.

Lesson Plan Resources

Educator Study Guides

Performance Guides

Use Study Guides to Supplement Your Instruction

Educator Resource Guides for past productions may still be applicable to your current curriculum. Teachers are welcome to download the study guides and use them in the classroom.


Museum Catalogs

Use Museum Catalogs to Learn More About Puppetry

Want to supplement your visit to the museum with pre and post enrichment activities? The following resources will extend the magic and joy of your visit.

Digital Learning Guides

Use Digital Learning Guides to Prepare for Online-only Experiences

Educator Resource Guides are available for most Digital Learning programs. They provide instructions for making puppets in your classroom, as well as curriculum-supporting activities you can use to keep students engaged.

Educational Standards

All three programming areas at the Center for Puppetry Arts (performance, puppet-making workshop and museum) support Georiga Pre-K Bright from the Start Content Standards/Common Core State Standards and Georgia Performance Standards (GPS).
Pre-K & Kindergarten Standards
Open the following PDF to see a full list of the educational standards that the Center meets for Pre-K and Kindergarten classes.
1st Grade Educational Standards
The following PDF includes a full list of the educational standards that the Center for Puppetry Arts meets for today’s 1st grade students and classes.
2nd Grade Educational Standards
Download the following PDF to retrieve a full list of the educational standards that the Center for Puppetry Arts meets for 2nd grade classes.
3rd Grade Educational Standards
The following PDF allows teachers to download a full list of the educational standards that the Center for Puppetry Arts meets for 3rd grade classes.
4th Grade Educational Standards
Download the following PDF to retrieve a full list of the educational standards that the Center for Puppetry Arts meets for 4th grade classes.
5th Grade Educational Standards
The following PDF allows teachers to download a full list of the educational standards that the Center for Puppetry Arts meets for 5th grade classes.
All Georgia Early Learning Standards
The following PDF includes a full list of the educational standards that the Center for Puppetry Arts meets for today’s early learning students.
Georgia Performance Standards
Visit the following site to see a full list of the educational performance standards that the Center meets for Georgia classrooms.
Georgia Standards of Excellence
Visit the following website to see a full list of Georgia Standards of Excellence that apply to your visit to the Center.
Next Generation Science Standards
Visit the following website to see a full list of Next Generation Science Standards that can be met by puppetry STEM activities.
10 Reasons for People to Support the Arts
Use the following article to support your field trip rationale for visiting us onsite or via distance learning.
Top 10 Skills Children Learn from the Arts
Use the following article to support your field trip rationale. This is especially helpful for young classes.

Additional Web Resources

The following institutions and links will help you learn more about the art and history of puppetry. Several offer courses and workshops as well.

UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette)

UNIMA was founded in 1929 and is the oldest international theater organization in the world, with chapters in over 90 countries. UNIMA was adopted as a Member of the International Theatre Institute in 1959, and is a Member of the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNIMA-USA

The Center for Puppetry Arts is the headquarters of UNIMA-USA, the United States branch of the international organization. In 1966, with more than one hundred Members of UNIMA in the United States, UNIMA-USA was formed with Jim Henson serving as its first chairman. The organization’s mission is to promote international understanding and friendship through the art of puppetry. To fulfill its mission, UNIMA-USA organizes conferences and symposia, curates a Puppetry Calendar and blog, gives the annual Citation of Excellence to recognize and reward the best of puppetry arts in the country, publishes the biannual Puppetry International magazine and distributes a quarterly newsletter packed with global and local puppetry news. Additionally, the UNIMA-USA Scholarship to study abroad is awarded annually to puppeteers who wish to expand upon their art.

International UNIMA Centers

Here you can find a listing of the many international UNIMA centers, with contact information and links to their websites.

Puppetry Yellow Pages

UNIMA-USA strives to connect puppeteers both in the United States and abroad. In service to that goal, UNIMA-USA’s Puppetry Yellow Pages resource guide provides contact information, services provided, available performances, and more for over 80 companies. Their functions can encompass the following:  touring company, puppetry center, resident puppetry theater, puppetry museum, workshops, classes, design, construction services, and other activities (including birthday parties, festivals, puppet slams, etc.).

Puppeteers of America

Puppeteers of America, a national non-profit founded in 1937, provides information, encourages performances, and builds a community of people who love puppet theatre. Along with sharing the enchantment of puppetry with others who are enthusiastic about the art form, Puppeteers of America offers resources to working puppeteers that include information on educational opportunities, opportunities to perform, information on regional festivals, and more. They also publish Puppetry Journal. Their Bulletin Board forum is a great place to find out about work opportunities, puppets for sale, performances and more. Members can create new topics.

Atlanta Puppetry Guild

Chartered in 1974, the Atlanta Puppetry Guild is a part of the national Puppeteers of America organization. The guild is dedicated to bringing together artists, educators, librarians, hobbyists, professionals, and everyday people who share an interest in the art of puppetry. Current activities include potluck socials, field trips to view and discuss adult and family puppetry presentations, occasional workshops, and participation in both the World Day of Puppetry on March 21 and National Day of Puppetry in April.  

The Jim Henson Foundation

The Jim Henson Foundation offers a myriad of resources for aspiring and established puppeteers, including grants, awards, and Puppet Happenings, a frequently updated list of festivals, events and performances held both nationally and internationally.

The Jim Henson Company

Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog cut the ribbon to open the Center for Puppetry Arts 40 years ago. Today, the Hensons remain strong supporters of the Center. Learn more about the Jim Henson Company’s projects and Jim Henson’s legacy on the Jim Henson website.

The Puppetry Home Page

The Puppetry Home Page is a free resource for the puppetry community and is dedicated to helping people connect with the world of puppetry. This site is the place to start for research or if you have a question about a specific puppet. Lists link to numerous other puppetry sites and resources.

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP)

BIMP is a branch of the Department of Dramatic Arts, School of Fine Arts, at the University of Connecticut. It was founded in 1987 to preserve the puppets built by students under the direction of Frank Ballard, a professor in the Department of Dramatic Arts. The Museum now includes puppets of all types from all corners of the world.

PUPTCRIT Mailing List

PUPTCRIT, a mailing list created in 1994, is an electronic forum for the discussion of the aesthetics, history, experience, theory and praxis of puppet theatre. Visit the PUPTCRIT website to learn more about the list, how to join and what to expect from their emails.

Learn STEM Skills

I truly appreciate the level of depth and thoughtfulness your team used when preparing this workshop… My own 5-year-old returned to school telling classmates how to make snow, and made a pulley with a scarf, a hanger and a water bottle. Keep up the great work!

Jada, Girl Scout Troop Leader

Inspiring Young Artists

Maren was just named stage manager for her middle school play… Puppetry Arts nurtured her love of theater, and Puppet Camp gave her the confidence to believe she could really be a part of it. She’s thinking now that she wants to work in theater!

Parent of Maren, Puppet Camp Participant

The Best Field Trip Ever

Dear Puppetry Center, Thank you for that puppet show. My favorite part was making the puppets. I really love watching the Billy Goats Gruff and other tales. You people made this the best field trip I ever had.

Kevonna, a student

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