Lesson #1: Shadow Box Puppet Theater

For this lesson students will be creating a shadow box puppet theater out of a cereal box like the one above.

This lesson would be appropriate for a grade 5 class.

Materials 

• Empty Cereal Box
• Tracing paper, or parchment paper
• Tape or glue stick
• Dark coloured card stock
• Popsicle sticks or bamboo skewers with tips snipped off
• Scissors 

Directions:

Step 1: 

Begin by undoing all the flaps on the cereal box and laying it out flap.

Next, cut out two large rectangles on each face of the cereal box. The rectangles need to be 19 x 28cm (if you are using a cereal box that is 21x30 cm)

Step 2: With the printed side of the cereal box facing up, tape or glue a piece of  tracing paper or parchment paper over one of the rectangles to create a screen.

Cut off  the two flaps either side of the screen  (as shown above).

Re-assemble the box. It is suggested to do it 'inside out' so that you see the white side of the box instead of the cereal box graphics.

Step 3: Making the puppets. Images are printed and drawn on dark card stock or drawn free hand on card stock. They are then cut out, and glued to the popsicle sticks or bamboo skewers. Students can also create scenery or boarders to go around the display of the theater. 

 

These are some examples of shadow puppets which can be found at the following websites: http://owlyshadowpuppets.com/products/diplodocus-shadow-puppet and
http://www.teachersyndicate.com/ttsd/node/1804

Step 4: Illuminate the back of the shadow theater with a bright lamp in order to bring the set to life (PLEASE REMEMBER lamps get hot – so don’t leave it unattended or too close to little ones, or big ones for that matter!).

Modifications/Adaptations  

The lesson above without any modifications is appropriate for a grade five class. If I wanted to do this lesson with a younger class I could have older grades come to help with the activity. I could also have the cereal box already deconstructed with the rectangles cut out in the middle. Or I could have the puppets already cut out on dark paper and they could just create the puppet theater.

If I wanted to do this lesson with an older class I would have a discussion afterwards about lighting and how when the lamp is placed in different locations (e.g.: In front of the puppets, beside the puppets etc) versus behind the puppets. I would also encourage students to find ways to show detail and characteristics by cutting out small sections to show finer details. A drama component could be incorporated to the lesson by having older students write a play to preform with their puppet theaters.

This lesson could also be adapted to suit a subject or theme in class, or a holiday that is coming up such as medieval times or earth day. 

This lesson plan has been adapted from the two websites: http://www.teachersyndicate.com/ttsd/node/1804 and http://owlyshadowpuppets.com/teacher-lesson-plan.