Ages 4-7 · child and adult
Shadow theatre: who is hiding?
Tell a story with hands and a torch. Discover how to turn a small shadow into a giant.
Set your own pace. Preparation depends on your materials.
What to gather
- LED torch with a secured battery compartment
- Plain light-coloured wall
- Hands or a large cardboard silhouette
Keeping it safe Use an LED light, never a candle. Do not shine it into eyes. Clear cables and obstacles from the floor.
Choose a challenge level
Ages 4-5
The adult makes a shadow and the child guesses the animal. Swap roles.Ages 6-7
Make a large and small character using the same shape. Explain the transformation in your story.Step-by-step instructions
Rest the torch securely facing a wall. Keep enough room light to see the floor.
Place a hand between torch and wall. Move it closer to the torch, then closer to the wall, keeping the torch still.
Choose two hand or cardboard characters. One is looking for home; the other offers directions. Act out a beginning, an obstacle and an ending.
TATAAA
Now turn it into a game
Giant and mouse: the same character is frightened, then helpful. The second player adds sound effects and invents a new obstacle.
When it gets tricky
Blurry shadow? Move the shape towards the wall and use one torch instead of several lights.
When an experiment goes wrongWhen you are done
You tell a short story and make two different shadow sizes.
If your child does not want to continue, it is fine to stop. You can safely swap roles or adapt the rules.
What to notice
A shadow forms where an object blocks light. Closer to a small light source, it usually blocks a larger area of the wall.
Background reading
Keep exploring
Build and testPeriscope: see over an obstacle
Build a cardboard periscope with two shatterproof mirrors. Use it to find a secret symbol behind a box.
Open mission
Head out on an adventureShadow clock: where did it move?
Trace the shadow of an upright pencil and return later. Observe changes in the sky through marks on paper.
Open mission