Ripples of Joy
Home/Activity Basket/Shadow Theater with Flashlight and Box
Shadow Theater with Flashlight and Box
Activity Basket

Shadow Theater with Flashlight and Box

A cardboard box with a paper screen, a flashlight, and paper puppets on sticks bring bedtime stories to glowing life.

This page may contain affiliate links. I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Ages 3-620 min prep
A window cut in the box and tracing paper taped taut across it.
A window cut in the box and tracing paper taped taut across it.
Black silhouettes cut out and taped onto skewers.
Black silhouettes cut out and taped onto skewers.
Lights out, flashlight on — the story begins.
Lights out, flashlight on — the story begins.

What you'll need

  • A medium cardboard box
  • A large sheet of white tracing paper or thin baking paper
  • Craft knife (adult use) and tape
  • Black cardstock for puppets
  • Wooden skewers or straws for puppet sticks
  • A small flashlight

How to make it

  1. 1

    Cut a large rectangular window in one side of the box — this is the screen frame.

  2. 2

    Tape the white paper across the window on the inside so it's smooth and taut.

  3. 3

    Draw simple silhouettes on the black cardstock together — a bunny, a tree, a moon, a person.

  4. 4

    Cut out the shapes and tape each one to a skewer or straw.

  5. 5

    Set the box on a table with the paper screen facing your child.

  6. 6

    Turn out the room lights. Shine the flashlight from behind the box and move the puppets between the light and the paper. Tell a story as the shadows dance.

Tip

The closer the puppet is to the paper, the sharper the shadow. Pulling it back makes it huge and mysterious.