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Mr. Sendek from Perry, GA is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Puppets - Jim Henson is our Hero

My students need 23 materials such as acrylic felt, dowels, glue, and wiggly eyes.

  • $1,123 goal

This project expired on February 27, 2010.

This project expired on February 27, 2010.

Classroom photo
Mr. Sendek profile photo
Mr. Sendek Perry High School
Perry, GA Grades 9-12

Who can forget staying up and watching Jim Henson's The Muppets on TV? As a child I knew that Kermit and his pals were puppets, yet somehow I always allowed myself to put that aside and laugh along with all of Henson's imaginative characters. I teach theatre arts to grades 9 through 12 at a rural Georgia high school and hope to share the creativity and imagination of puppetry with my students.

My students love improvisation. Why? They enjoy creating new wacky characters that they can share on stage. They strive to create new voices, postures, and backgrounds for these characters. When I introduced the idea of puppets and how they too have unlimited character possibilities their interest immediately peaked. How can felt, some dowel rods, and a little imagination create an endearing character? No one will deny the lasting genius of characters like Kermit the Frog. At his base, Kermit is a simple hand and rod puppet artfully created, voiced, and manipulated transforming him into the icon he is and will always be. Will the students create a character as rich as Kermit, who knows?

The greatest need to create these puppets is materials. As I currently teach over 175 students, almost 20% of the student body, I will need a large amount of felt and dowels to create these puppets. Our sewing machines will be working overtime as students assemble their puppets. Many students have never used a sewing machine or even threaded a needle. More than just the experience they will gain from cutting and sewing together the pattern, the students will be able to express their creativity as they bring the basic form of the puppet to life. After the puppets are finished, I can see the real creativity beginning as students name their puppets, create the voice and character, learn to manipulate the puppets, and devise performances for the puppets.

Your donation will allow students who would otherwise only see photos of puppets or use those bought in a store to hold their own creation in their hands. Imagine students starting with a pattern, a piece of felt, and their own ideas and going home with their very own character. My primary focus as a theatre arts teacher is to give my students as many opportunities as possible to express their own creativity and individuality. The puppets that will be created from your generosity will delight the students both in class and at home as they show their creations to their families and friends. Jim Henson once said, "As children, we all live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, and for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood." Thank you for bringing the world Jim Henson described to life for my students and as always thank you for your support of theatre arts in our schools!

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than half of students from low‑income households

175 students impacted
Mr. Sendek Perry High School Grades 9-12

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Perry, GA View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

175 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
ACRYLIC FELT/PNK 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 10 $50.90
ACRYLIC FELT/CHARCOAL 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 2 $10.18
ACRYLIC FELT/CARDNL RED 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 10 $50.90
ACRYLIC FELT/BRN 36INXYD • Blick Art Materials $2.54 4 $10.16
ACRYLIC FELT/BLK 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 16 $81.44
ACRYLIC FELT/KELLY GRN 36INXYD • Blick Art Materials $2.54 6 $15.24
CRTVTY ST WOOD DOWEL/1/4INX12IN 12PC • Blick Art Materials $1.83 30 $54.90
SUREBONDER GLUE GUN/ULTRA 60W HI TEMP • Blick Art Materials $7.06 7 $49.42
GLUE STICKS REG/HOT MELT 10IN 5LB • Blick Art Materials $28.64 2 $57.28
WIGGLE EYES/100/PK ASST • Blick Art Materials $10.51 4 $42.04
ACRYLIC FELT/YLW 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 2 $10.18
ACRYLIC FELT/WHT 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 16 $81.44
ACRYLIC FELT/TURQ 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 6 $30.54
ACRYLIC FELT/TNGRN ORG 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 4 $20.36
ACRYLIC FELT/SKY BLU 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 4 $20.36
ACRYLIC FELT/RED 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 6 $30.54
ACRYLIC FELT/PIRATE GRN 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 2 $10.18
ACRYLIC FELT/NEON YLW 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 10 $50.90
ACRYLIC FELT/NEON LIME 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 10 $50.90
ACRYLIC FELT/LVNDR 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 6 $30.54
ACRYLIC FELT/GRAY 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 2 $10.18
ACRYLIC FELT/GOLD 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 2 $10.18
ACRYLIC FELT/DK PRPL 72INXYD • Blick Art Materials $5.09 2 $10.18

Materials cost

$788.94

Vendor shipping charges

 $78.89

Sales tax

 $31.56

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.83

Fulfillment labor & materials

$9.00

Total project cost

$920.22

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$202.00

Total project goal

$1,122.22

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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