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A PUPPET brought to life to enrich the learning experiences of children has become a favourite among students in a Muharraq school.
Created in 2017 by teacher Fatima Abdulla Al Zaebi as a simple printed paper glued to a cardboard, the puppet Dana has evolved over time, encouraging children from grades one to four to be more creative and interactive in class.
“Children tend to be timid and reserved,” Ms Al Zaebi, who has been a teacher for 12 years, told the GDN. “So I had to think of an idea to make them open up gradually in class and to simultaneously maintain their focus. That is how Dana was born.
“I wanted to create a cartoon character that is adored by children and holds their attention, albeit in an unconventional way.”
She named it Dana because she was teaching in Muharraq Primary Girls’ School and wanted the name to resonate with students from the area.
“Muharraq was known for its pearl trade, with the pearl ‘Dana’ being the most precious and rarest among the deep sea gems,” said the 29-year-old.
“I gave the puppet the name so that children can associate it with Muharraq’s rich history.”
The young ones today see Dana as their friend and classmate.
“They ask about Dana more than they ask about me,” said Ms Al Zaebi.
“They search for her in class if I don’t have her on my hand. Some parents have told me that their children tell stories and adventures they had with Dana outside the class.”
The puppet evolved over time to become a virtual character that appeared in slides as Covid-19 forced schools to resort to online learning. Dana has now reappeared again as a hand-glove as children are back for in-person learning in schools.
“I am neither a puppeteer nor a person experienced in handicrafts,” she said.
“But I wanted to do something to ensure children smoothly transitioned to offline classes as well.
“So I watched plenty of YouTube videos and created a puppet that can fit over my hands and fingers, much like a glove. It’s made of cotton and silk and I got it right after four or five attempts. It took me three whole weeks to bring Dana to life.”
Ms Al Zaebi moves her hand deftly and uses voice from pre-recorded clips on her phone to animate the puppet, which even acts as a ‘little teacher’.
“I record children speaking on various topics and use it as voice for Dana. At times, I speak for her too,” she said.
The ambitious teacher is hoping to expand on the project in future.
“I want ‘Dana’ to grow and change alongside the students as they progress from grade one to four,” she said.
“That way, the character can feel more and more as part of their primary school year memory and journey.”
Ms Al Zaebi is hoping to launch her own YouTube channel.
“I hope Dana will become popular and students all around Bahrain look up to her friendly face,” she said.
aref@gdn.com.bh
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