Today I’m showing you one of my favorite quick DIY props for online teaching: a shoebox puppet. If you teach English (ESL) or honestly any subject with kids, a simple puppet can turn a “regular” lesson into a storytime moment—fast. I walk you through how I build it so it’s easy, low-cost, and classroom-ready, even if you’re not a crafty person. The goal is to get a character you can bring out for greetings, silly mistakes, rewards, and those moments when you need instant engagement. What I love about a shoebox puppet is that it’s sturdy, easy to customize, and big enough for kids to clearly see on camera. You can give it a personality, a voice, and a job in your classroom—like asking questions, celebrating correct answers, or “forgetting” vocabulary so your student can help. If you want to see how I actually use my favorite puppet character while teaching, I also point you to the Funtime Learning YouTube channel, where I’ve been building resources for early childhood language teachers all year.