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    Home » Holiday Science » Halloween Science » Halloween Shadow Puppets

    Halloween Shadow Puppets

    September 8, 2020 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

    Shadow puppets aren’t just for sunny days, they’re great fun indoors with a torch in winter too. These Halloween shadow puppets would be great for a Halloween Party activity or for adding a bit of spooky science fun to your house decorations.

    Collage of shadow puppets made for Halloween. One is pumpkin shaped and one bat shaped with yellow cellophane for the eyes

    If you love all things icky and sticky my new book might be perfect for you! Gross Science is full of sticky, slimy and gruesome science experiments for kids!

    Gross Science book for kids, image of chocolate poo and blood cell cupcakes!

    What is a shadow?

    Shadows are made when an object blocks light. The object blocking the light must be opaque or translucent for a shadow to form.

    Halloween Shadow Puppets

    You’ll need

    Lolly sticks or craft sticks

    Black Card or orange card

    Scissors

    Cellophane – optional

    Double sided tape – optional

    Torch

    pumpkin shadow puppet with a torch shining behind ut

    How to make a shadow puppet

    We made bat and pumpkin shadow puppets, but you could also make witches hats, spiders, ghosts or anything else Halloween themed.

    First draw the bat, pumpkin etc outline on a piece of card and carefully cut it out.

    If you want to add extra colour, cut out shapes on the inside of the shadow puppet and attach cellophane over gaps using double sided tape.

    The puppets are a bit easier to hold if you attach a lolly stick or craft stick handle, but this is completely up to you.

    Ask a friend to hold the torch behind the spooky shadow puppet and you should see the shadow form on the wall.

    Try moving the torch further away and closer to the shadow puppet to investigate how the shape and size of the shadow changes.

    Bat shadow Puppet made with card and a lolly stick. Image shows the shadow created when a torch is held behind the puppet
    Bat Shadow Puppet

    Remember – Shadow Facts

    Transparent materials let light pass through them in straight lines. We can clearly see though transparent materials.

    Translucent materials ( like our cellophane ) let some light through, but scatter the light in different directions. We cannot easily see through translucent materials.

    Opaque materials do not let any light pass through them. We cannot see through opaque materials at all.

    More Halloween Science for Kids

    We’ve got lots more Halloween science ideas including making your own fake blood, a pumpkin lava lamp, witches potions and lots more!

    Affiliate links

    Image shows Halloween themed shadow puppets shaped like a pumpkin and a bat. The shadow is created by a torch shining behing them.

    Last Updated on September 28, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

    « Science for Early Years on a Budget
    Science Activities for Roald Dahl Day »

    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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