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How to Make a Shadow Puppet

Puppets have been used for many years to entertain children. Some believe the very first puppets were shadow puppets. Creating your own shadow puppets can be a great family activity that you can do with your kids.

Things You'll Need

  • Dark-colored poster board
  • A design
  • Small sharp knife
  • Masking tape
  • Wooden skewer or other handle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a design online that you want to use for your shadow puppet or draw your own onto a piece of dark-colored or black poster board. If using a design from the Internet, transfer the image onto the poster board with tracing paper.

    • 2

      Cut out the shapes. Cut eyes into the shadow puppets, cut the shape of a hat on its head and add other intricate patterns to give it interest.

    • 3

      Tape a wooden skewer or a similar stick to the back. Position this handle so at least 4 inches of it extends out from the bottom. You should be able to comfortably grip the handle in your fist.

    • 4

      Create your stage and put on your shadow puppet show behind a white piece of paper (the screen) with a light shining behind the stage to create the shadow.

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