Teaching Expertise

Shadows can be very fun for children, but they can also be a little scary. Incorporating shadow activities into your preschool lesson plans is a great way to make sure students are comfortable with shadows. Students will learn the science of light and how shadows are formed by angles of light. You can have fun with shadows by featuring colored lights, fun indoor shadow games, and more. To help ease any anxiety preschoolers may have, check out our collection of 12 fun shadow activities. 

1. Follow the Leader: Kid-Created Shadow Play

Students will line up to make body shadows along the wall. Students will take turns being the leader and making movements; reflecting their ideas about shadows. Classmates will copy the movements of the leader. This is a fun game for students to experiment with shadow shapes.

Learn More: The Inspired Tree House

2. Shadow Mosaic 

Preschoolers will be entertained by creating shadow mosaics. You can draw an outline of a flower, tree, or any other picture and have students trace it by posting a large piece of paper on the wall. Then, children can fill in the artistic shadows by adding color and stickers.

Learn More: The Inspired Tree House

3. Art with Shadows 

This outdoor shadow activity is an entertaining way to teach preschoolers about shadows and light sources. The required art materials are;  colored cellophane, cardboard, tape, a glue stick, and an x-acto knife for adult use. You will cut out the desired shape and use the cellophane to project a colorful shadow.

Learn More: The Best Ideas For Kids

4. Shadow Science Experiments 

Teaching about shadows can make for a fun science activity. Students will learn about the science of light with shadow science experiments. Gather items including translucent material and objects that are not. Hold them in front of the light and have children guess if they will see a shadow.

Learn More: KC Edventures

5. Shadow Tracing

Shadow tracing is a fun activity to teach kids about shadows. You can allow your child to pick a favorite toy or item to trace. You will place it on white paper and have your child use a pencil to trace the shadow of the object. 

Learn More: The Dad Lab

6. Shadow Counting Game

This activity allows for the creative exploration of shadows. You can use multiple flashlights for this activity and count the number of shadows with students. They will see really cool shadows that will prompt you to explain the science behind the shadows themselves. 

Learn More: Exploratorium

7. Shadow Zoo Parade

This is the perfect shadow activity for a sunny Summer’s day. Preschoolers can pick a zoo animal to draw by tracing its shadow. When the drawings are complete, you can have a zoo parade with animals and drawings around the school or neighborhood. This is a demonstration of the science of shadows.

Learn More: Simple Most

8. Shadow Painting

This fun form of shadow art may change your child’s ideas about shadows for the better. If your preschooler has a fear of shadows, try encouraging them to paint them! You will need non-toxic paint, paint brushes, white paper, and light sources as well as objects to form shadows. 

Learn More: Artful Parent

9. Shadow Matching Game

This online shadow activity is great for preschool-age children who wish to learn about all kinds of shadows. This is especially engaging for children who love robots! Little ones will look at the character and click on the matching body’s shadow. 

Learn More: Tiny Tap

10. Shadow Puppet Theatre

Having a shadow puppet show is a fun way to teach preschoolers about shadows. Creating a shadow puppet sparks creativity. Children can then position their shadow puppet to be larger or smaller based on the position of the flashlight beam.

Learn More: Science Buddies

11. Shadow Dance Party

This video invites little ones to dance along with their favorite animals. Firstly, they will see the shadow shape of the animal. Then, the teacher can pause the video for the children to guess the animal. When the animal appears, dancing begins!

Learn More: Tidi Kids – Songs And Nursery Rhymes

12. Shadow Shape 

Preschool-age children will love this game! This interactive online game will show children how shadows appear larger when an object is closer to the wall and becomes smaller when closer to the focused light. 

Learn More: Peep And The Big Wide World