1. Light and Shadows Science - Year 3 Light – Block 3L Session 5
PowerPoint
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2. What do we know about Shadows?
Shadows are a lack of light
Shadows occur when an object blocks light
Opaque objects make dark shadows because no light can shine through them
Translucent objects allow some light through them. They make shadows that are not quite as dark as the shadows of opaque objects
Transparent objects (e.g. glass) allow almost all the light that hits them to pass through. Because a small amount of light is blocked they give a faint shadow

3. You are an expert on shadows!
Congratulations!
You are an expert on shadows!

4. How to make a screen for your shadow puppet theatre
Your shadow puppet theatre needs a screen at the front of the stage. A light will shine from behind the theatre onto your puppets which will be inside the box. The puppets will block the light and their shadows will be cast onto the screen. If the screen is made of translucent material, the audience will see the shadow from the front!

5. 1. You need to cut out a piece of white tissue paper that is just a bit smaller than your box when you lay it face down on the table. Put a sheet of tissue paper underneath the stage front and line up one side with the bottom of the box and another with a side. Draw around the other 2 sides of the box with a pencil.
2. Cut out the rectangle by trimming just inside your pencil line on the 2 sides you have drawn.
White tissue paper
Theatre box
One side of tissue paper lined up with the bottom of the box

6. 3. Check that your screen is the right size by laying it inside the box with the uncut (perfectly straight) edge at the bottom. It should fit neatly inside.

7. 4. Using a brush, spread PVA glue around the inside of the stage front and then gently lower your piece of paper over the top. Check that the perfectly straight edge is along the bottom. It will help if there is a hand on each corner as you lower it into position so make sure you work as a team!
5. Gently press the tissue paper into the glue, smoothing around the edges so there are no wrinkles. When you stand up your theatre, it should look like this.

8. Why does tissue paper make a good screen for a shadow puppet theatre?
Because it is translucent. If it was opaque, the audience would not be able to see the shadows from the other side. If it was transparent, they would see right through it to the light and the puppets which would spoil the effect!

9. Because your screen is made of paper, you will need to treat it very gently so that you don’t tear it.