Design Technology - Shadow Puppet Theatre (Lower Key Stage 2)

This unit of work forms part of the PrimaryDT scheme of work that features over 60 units of work designed to deliver outstanding outcomes for primary school children in design technology.
This unit of work has been revised and updated for 2026 and is based on delivering six sessions of design technology that are guided by high quality presentation slides accompanied by all the resources that are needed to deliver the lessons, including a knowledge organiser.

Comprehensive medium-term planning that includes
• Unit overview and sequence of learning
• Prior learning needed and links to other curriculum areas
• Learning statements (from our curriculum pathway document)
• List of resources and background information to support teaching and learning
• Key vocabulary for the unit of work
• Teaching activities (investigative and focus tasks)
• Teaching activities (designing and making)
• Advice for challenge and support strategies
• Assessment indicators that children are keeping up with the curriculum

Accompanying this revised unit is further information about the scheme of work and the progression chart and vocabulary list used when creating the scheme of work.

Shadow Puppets is a Design Technology unit of work aimed primarily at children aged 7-9.

Design Brief: Design and make a shadow puppet theatre to tell a story to a group of friends.

Sequence of Learning for Teachers
This unit of work provides opportunities for children to develop and consolidate their knowledge across several areas of design technology and science. In designing and making a shadow puppet theatre children learn how shadow puppetry is the oldest form of puppet show and is thought to originate from Ancient China over 2000 years ago. Children learn the importance of making models to understand how a product works and how it is made. They make movable puppets applying their knowledge of a simple hinge linkage mechanism. They deepen their knowledge of materials, strengthening structures and electrical systems to create a wooden framed shadow theatre complete with scenery and puppets.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. Investigate 1: Investigating Shadow Puppets
2. Focus Task 1 – Shadow Theatre Model
3. Investigate 2: Understanding Structures & Focus Task 2 – Shadow Theatre Model
4. Design & Make: Theatre Designer
5. Design & Make: Theatre Creator
6. Evaluation: Evaluating the product and Skill Builders

Some activities / sessions can be re-arranged or delivered in different ways in the learning sequence to allow for whole-class teaching and/or small adult-led sessions to take place at the same time.