During this engaging group activity, the children were introduced to the concept of light and shadows through hands-on exploration. A light source was set up at the front of the room, and each child was given the opportunity to come forward individually to create their own shadow puppet. As they experimented with different hand shapes and movements, the children demonstrated creative development through imaginative play, while also using problem-solving skills to explore how their shadows changed in size and shape depending on their position. Taking turns and standing in front of the group supported their personal, social, and emotional development, helping to build confidence and awareness of others.

We extended the learning by introducing transparent coloured objects in front of the light. The children were fascinated to see how the light changed colour, as they explored how light travels through different materials. They engaged in communication and language skills by making predictions, asking questions, and sharing their ideas about what might happen, showing curiosity and developing their scientific thinking.

To further develop their thinking, we placed a variety of objects, letters, and numbers in front of the light, challenging the children to guess what was creating the shadow. During this, the star’s used problem-solving and critical thinking skills as they carefully observed shapes and made connections to prior knowledge. They also demonstrated literacy and numeracy skills by recognising and naming familiar letters and numbers, while continuing to use communication and language to explain their reasoning and listen to others’ ideas.

Throughout the activity, the children engaged in meaningful discussions about how light works, showing confidence in expressing their thoughts and ideas. They listened attentively, responded to one another, and respected turn-taking, further strengthening their social skills and communication.

The children were highly engaged throughout and clearly enjoyed the experience, showing excitement, curiosity, and a strong willingness to explore, discover, and learn. The star’s asked if we can use the light equipment again !