Patterns for two different court jester stick puppets...

Two examples of Mardi Gras or court jester stick puppets using my
patterns below.

        To make our versions of court jester stick puppets your will need: green, purple and yellow construction paper, pom poms of the same colors, my printable pattern below, recycled paint stirring sticks or old wooden rulers, white school glue, colored pencils and cardboard.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Print out my pattern on your home computer or at school. 
2. Cut it out to trace around on top of either construction papers or decorative scrapbook papers. 
3. Assemble and paste the parts to a stronger piece of cardboard.
4. Cut the cardboard out carefully and mount each court jester to a wooden ruler.
5. Cover the parts of the ruler that might show with additional colorful papers.
6. Color in the faces using pencils, crayons or watercolors depending on what you have on hand and what you are comfortable using. Students may copy the faces that I have shown above or make-up their own versions instead.
7. Glue on pompoms, let dry.
8. Seal with Mod Podge later if you wish!

 

These puppet printables are made by me for young students to use freely.
They are copyrighted and not intended for sale.

The court jester could commit 
''tomfoolery'' without prosecution?

       A court jester was an old-fashioned stand-up comedian that was employed by a nobleman or by royalty to entertain the company of their wealthy hosts. 

       The jester could do magic tricks, tall jokes, act-out skits, juggle, etc... They could entertain at anyone's expense without prosecution by the law or king.

       Jesters wore outrageous colors and patterned costumes, especially in Shakespeare's plays. Today, jesters are often seen at Mardi Gras celebrations wearing antiquated fashions. 

       Jesters do not dress like modern-day clowns. They rarely wear face-paint, perform at circuses or drive tiny cars in parades. Court jesters are considered to be a bit more sophisticated in their chosen 'art.' In fact, they are notorious for their political humor, but perhaps this is more the fault of Shakespeare than anyone else.

• Color and assemble a jumping court jester here.
• Print, color and assemble even more court jesters from my Christmas blog here...       

More About Court Jesters:

• The Maladjusted Jester by Danny Kaye,1955
• Joni Weisfeld plays the fool, jester, in 'King Lear'
• How dangerous was it to be a jester?
• See a giant Jester on float footage and see a giant jester puppet made of a Mardi Gras parade here.