Thai Puppet Show G3 Field Trip
On Tuesday, January 13th, 2026, the Grade 3 students enjoyed an exciting half-day field trip to the Kukrit Institute (สถาบันคึกฤทธิ์)
to watch a traditional Thai puppet show. The visit was connected to their current Unit of Inquiry, “How We Express Ourselves”, which explores how stories communicate meaning and engage audiences.
At the institute, students were introduced to the fascinating world of traditional Thai puppetry, a unique art form that combines storytelling, performance, and cultural expression. Before the show began, professional puppeteers demonstrated how puppets are manipulated, explaining how careful movements and teamwork bring the characters to life on stage.
After the demonstration, students watched a 45-minute puppet performance based on a famous episode from the Ramayana epic. The story presented was “Jong Thanon; Hanuman Catches Nang Supanna Matcha.” In this exciting tale, the brave monkey warrior Hanuman encounters Nang Supanna Matcha, the beautiful mermaid princess. Through expressive puppet movements, music, and narration, the performers told the story in a way that captivated the audience.
• Experience a traditional Thai puppet show and learn how puppetry can be used as a powerful storytelling tool.
• Observe Thai cultural expressions, including costume, music, and performance style.
• Understand how performers communicate meaning and keep audiences engaged through movement, voice, and dramatic action.
The visit also helped students explore the relationship between performers and their audience. They noticed how the puppeteers used gestures, timing, and emotion to capture attention and make the story more exciting.
Overall, the field trip was a wonderful learning experience. By watching the puppet show and learning about the performance process, Grade 3 students gained a deeper understanding of how stories can be expressed through Thai puppet. The trip not only brought their classroom learning to life but also introduced them to an important tradition of Thai performing arts.
Ms. Laura and Ms. Qian, Grade 3 Teachers