How to Make a Child's Shadow Puppet

Shadow puppets can be as simple as shapes made with hands, or as intricate as paper designs moved with sticks.

Shadow puppetry can be traced back as far as Ancient China and Ancient India. The Chinese legend is that the emperor was distraught over his wife's death, and a magician used shadow puppets to make him think she had risen from the dead. An Indian poem dating back to the 4th century B.C. describes the epic story of the life of a king's son, told with shadow puppets. In modern times, children use different kinds of shadow puppets for fun and for storytelling.

Things You'll Need

• Light
• White sheet, curtain or large paper
• Sturdy art paper
• Scissors
• Wooden sticks
• Tape

Instructions

How to Make Shadow Puppets With Hands

1. Shine a bright light onto a curtain or background. The light source can be in front of or behind the audience, as long as the person making the puppets is between the light and the background.

2. Stand off to the side and create different shapes using your fingers, arms and hands. For example, to make a butterfly, cross arms in front of your body, palms facing your chest. Hook your thumbs together and move fingers back and forth for the wings.

3. Make a bunny by flashing a peace sign with your hands. The index and middle finger are upraised, ring and pinky fingers are down, and the thumb is bent over touching the ring finger. Make your hand jump across the viewing area.

4. Use a second person to tell stories using more than one character at a time.

How to Make Simple Shadow Puppets Out of Paper

1. Draw your character on a piece of paper or print off a favorite character.

2. Cut out the outline of the character, as well as eyes and a mouth. Add textured details, such as hair, by taping or gluing yarn or fabric. Remember that color will not be important as the shadow is all the audience will see.

3. Tape a wooden stick to the back of the character.

How to Make Moveable Shadow Puppets Out of Paper

1. Draw the outline of a character or print off a pattern.

2. Cut the outline of the character. Cut out details such as facial features and some patterns on character costumes. Separate arm and leg extremities so that the puppet can be more mobile.

3. Attach extremities back to the main body by using paper fasteners. This allows the arms and legs to be moved during the puppet show.

4. Use tape to fasten wooden sticks the paper puppet. Use one at the head, one on the back and one on each arm and leg.

Tips & Warnings

• Shadow puppet styles and stories are limitless. Use your imagination to come up with new designs and stories.

• Use different types of shadow puppets for a twist on your performance.

• Do not touch hot lights as they can cause serious burns.

• Keep flammable objects away from hot lights.

References

• Shadow Puppets: The Origin of Hand and Shadow Puppetry
• Apples 4 the Teacher: How to Create Hand Shadows
• Disney's Family Fun: Shadow Puppets

Resources

• "Making Shadow Puppets (Kids Can Do It);" Jill Bryant & Catherine Heard; 2002
• "The Art of Hand Shadows;" Albert Almozninio; 2002