The screen that we are using in our workshop comes from Lakeshore (See Page 54 of Lakeshore's 1999 catalog). This Shadow Play Screen is a terrific interactive tool for enhancing young children's gross motor skill development. It is perfect for encouraging dramatic play. It is light weight and can easily be taken apart and stored away.
In this workshop we have turned the screen to a vertical position so that it can be used with adults. For classroom use, the screen is set up in a horizontal position so that 2 or 3 children can stand behind it at one time.
Light Sources
We are using a slide projector (you can do this with or without slides). Lakeshore also recommends an overhead projector. You can experiment with light from an open window, a flashlight, or a film projector. Make your shadow projections more interesting by placing a colored transparency or colored sheet on the overhead, or by using a colored light bulb in your light source.
Music and the Shadow Play Screen make a wonderful combination for classroom use. Music and dance can get children warmed up and comfortable with performing in front of others. The “barrier” of the screen will help even the most self-conscious children feel comfortable moving in front of an audience. Before beginning an organized activity we suggest just setting up the screen with a few simple rules and let the children “explore”. You will be surprised at the creative ideas that they can come up with to use the screen.
You can facilitate movement by having children take turns being a mirror. Have one student stand behind the screen and made broad movements. The children on the other side of the screen can watch and imitate. Using their hands and arms they can cast shadow puppets, or have shadow plays by having children make stick puppets. For a more interactive variation children will enjoy starring in their own shadow plays. Ask a few children at a time to enact a play from behind the screen while others act as the audience until it it their turn.
Below are three activities to get you started.
Activity #1
You will need:
* The song “Barnyard Boogie” from the recording Teaching Peace.
Form a circle with the class. Place the shadow play screen at one end of the circle. The children move the circle in one direction so that eventually each child will walk behind the screen. Play the song “Barnyard Boogie”. As each child takes their turn to walk behind the screen they make broad movements: jumping, dancing, waving arms, kicking etc. The other children in the circle can imitate these gestures. As they become more comfortable with it you can have them act like a rooster while standing behind the screen.
Activity #2
You will need:
* The song “Say Hi!” from the recording Teaching Peace.
* Paper puppets on a stick of a dog, a cat, and a smile face.
Two children stand behind the screen and act out the song about being shy - “Say Hi!”
Activity #3
You will need:
The song “Big Rock Candy Mountain” from the recording
Red Grammer's Favorite Sing Along Songs
Material in the shape of a mountain to tape to the back of the shadow play screen
Gum and Rock Candy glued to 2 suspenders
One puppet of a bee and one puppet of a bird
Hand actions created by the class to use for the song.
An example would be “buzzing of the bees” - thumb and index finger come together and then wave hand in circles in the air.
Two children stand in front of either side of the screen wearing the suspenders. Using the class hand motions act out the song Big Rocky Candy Mountain. Both of the two children will have one of the puppets to wave behind the screen when those animals are sung about in the song. You could have them pull the gum off the suspenders to chew and make bubbles with during the song.
Shadow Puppets
Materials
File Folders or Oaktag
Tissue Paper
Laminate or Clear Contact Paper
Velcro Dots
Doweling (7/16 x 36)
Scissors (Manicure Scissors)
To make the puppets
Trace onto oaktag the object to be the puppet.
Trace this pattern onto tissue paper.
Using manicure scissors, cut out the inside of the oaktag object leaving a 1/4 border.
Glue the tissue paper onto the oaktag border, you can add details by using fine tip markers and drawing on the tissue paper.
When you are finished adding details to the object, laminate it or cover it with contact paper. We use contact paper.
Attach a small Velcro dot to the back of the object. Note the back is the side with the oaktag border.
Attach the other part of the velcro to the end of the doweling.
