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

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.