Shadow Puppets

Using index cards, brass fasteners and wooden skewers, children make jointed shadow puppets.

downloads

activity video:

Shadow Puppets

subject

Optics

age range

duration

materials

  • Scissors

  • Hole punches

  • Markers (use a single color only to encourage planful drawing rather than decoration)

  • Light to cast shadows

  • Screen or wall for shadow puppet

  • Performance

  • Clear tape

  • Index cards or thin cereal box

  • Cardboard

  • Short brass fasteners

  • Skewers or long wooden stirrers

  • Straws (optional)

safety issues

keywords

light, shadow, optics, problem-solving, engineering, design, arts, crafts, mechanisms, movement

source

New York Hall of Science (NYSCI)