PUPPETS: talking science, engaging science and PUPPETS: talking maths, engaging maths projects
The project involves using human-style puppets to engage pupils in thinking and talking about problems and questions related to the world around them. The initial focus for the project was science in primary classrooms, but this has since been extended to include secondary pupils and mathematics.
The idea of using puppets to engage and motivate children and promote learning conversations in primary science lessons led to a Nuffield Foundation funded research project. This was a joint project involving Jane Maloney, Shirley Simon, Brenda Keogh, Stuart Naylor and Brigid Downing (see PUPPETS research). The outcomes of this research led to a major professional development programme, PUPPETS: talking science, engaging science. Through the programme teachers are given support in how to use the puppets to make science teaching more effective. It also provides subsidised resources to support them in their teaching. The project reached approximately 7000 teachers with funding provided by GlaxoSmithKline for the UK project between 2006-2009. Since then Millgate House has continued to support the project to enable more teachers to get involved, in the UK and beyond.
The professional development project was independently evaluated by David Shakespeare. The independent evaluation showed a high degree of success in terms of change in teacher practice (see Teacher Change research).
The initial focus for the PUPPETS Project was science education. The approach has been extended into mathematics, with pilot funding from NCETM.
There are three publications that provide animated stories to support the use of puppets in science lessons:
Spellbound Science 1 and 2 (written by Brenda Keogh and Stuart Naylor)
Discovery Dog 1 and 2 (written by Kate Blacklock, Jan Childe and Debbie Eccles)
Problem Pup (written by Kate Blacklock, Jan Childe and Debbie Eccles)
The project has been highly influential in the UK and beyond. Brenda and Stuart (supported by a team of colleagues) have presented research seminars and provided CPD for teachers throughout the UK and in Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. This has led to other groups of teachers and researchers continuing the PUPPETS project in several countries, including Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The project has led to several interesting developments, most notably using puppets in secondary, special school and ITT contexts, and using a puppet as the focus for a virtual journey in Ricky goes to Antarctica.
