Shadows are formed when light cannot pass through an object. As light moves in a straight line, shadows are the same shape as the object making the shadow. To demonstrate this, you can make shadow puppets.
Easy shadow puppets for kids
What you need
- card
- scissors
- straws or lolly sticks
- tape
- torch or light
- Pens
What to do:
- Draw some shapes onto some cardboard, and cut them out.
- Attach the shape to a lollypop stick or straw.
- You can decorate if you wish. We made a butterfly and decorated it with glitter, using pipe cleaners and little balls for the antennae.
- In a dark room, hold the shadow puppet against a wall and shine the torch or light at it.
- You should see the shadow on the wall.
Try moving the puppet further from the wall to make the shadow bigger and closer to the wall to make it smaller.
A Real Life Example – Shadows
Shadows are formed during a solar eclipse. An eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, casting a shadow over the Earth. If the shadow blocks out all the light from the sun, it becomes dark during the day.
For younger children, The Gruffalo’s Child is a great book about shadows. The mouse makes a shadow of himself to scare the Gruffalo.
More Shadow Activity Ideas
How about making some themed puppets like our Christmas shadow puppets?
Can you make lots of small puppets and make up a story? Or act out a story you’ve read?
Steam Powered Family has a beautiful shadow puppet theatre you might like.
Or, try one of my other easy shadow activity ideas.
Last Updated on April 4, 2025 by Emma Vanstone
Shadow play is such a great cross curricular idea! From fostering puppetry and story telling to the scientific aspects you have shared! Love it!
Thank you. The simple things are so much fun!