Materials for the lesson

Phase 3. One or more white sheets. Strong lights, preferably construction lights.

Phase 4. Chairs and Cut-out figures or letters in cardboard(Optional).

Layout of the classroom

Phase 1,2,3 and 4. The empty classroom to move freely.

Phase 5. Normal classroom setting.

Phase 1

The teacher divides the students into pairs. One member of the pair makes movements and tries to mimic some daily actions (washing the face, waking up, doing sports, eating dinner etc…). Other member follows the movements and tries to mirror the movements. Then they switch.

Tips to the teacher: The teacher should observe the students that they do not act so fast. The each member should have time to follow and mirror the movement. Therefore at the beginning it is good to start with slow motion.

Phase 2

The pairs continue the activity in different version. One member of the pair makes movements and other member stands behind as shadow to follow the movements. Then they switch.

Phase 3

The teacher brings a long sheet. The teacher asks two volunteers to hold the sheet up. The students are divided into two groups and each team takes place on each side of the sheet. The game is simple. Each team brings one member of the team in front of the sheet. The teacher counts down from 3 to 1 and two volunteers take the sheet down. The person who shouts the name of the other person first takes the member of other team to his or her team. When the students get used the game, the teacher asks the students to focus on shadows while they are standing and guess the person name before the countdown start. The team who gets most members wins the game.

Phase 4

The teacher divides the students into two groups. They have 20 minutes to decide 5 objects that they will show behind the sheet. The students can use their bodies or the chairs in the classroom to build the objects. When a group are ready they place themselves and chairs behind the sheet. The teacher switches on the light and the students will be between the sheet and light. The students present their object one by one. The other team guesses what these objects are based on the shadows. Then the team switches to repeat the same activity.

Tips to the teacher: The teacher can explain how objects get bigger or smaller depending on distance from light. They should think of this when performing their shadow theatre.

In order to simplify the activity and help the students, they can use the cut-out objects since it can be hard to only use their bodies and chairs.

Phase 5

The teacher asks these questions to the students to reflect on workshop.

–       What are the sources of the light?

–       In which countries in Europe get less sunlight or more sunlight?

–       How does the angle of a light effect a shadow?

–       In which part of the day are shadows different?