Shadow Tubes: Easy Light and Shadow Craft for Preschoolers
Looking for a hands-on way to explore light and shadows with young children? This light and shadow craft for preschoolers is quick to set up and uses cardboard tubes, stickers, and a flashlight. It’s the perfect blend of science and creativity for preschoolers and even older children!
Why Try Shadow Tubes?
This light and shadow craft for preschoolers supports:
- Understanding how light and shadows work
- Recognizing shapes
- Developing fine motor and observation skills
Materials for a Shadow Tube
- Cardboard tubes (paper towel or toilet paper rolls)
- Small piece of plastic wrap
- Rubber band
- Stickers with simple shapes (circles, stars, animals, etc.)
- Flashlight
- A blank wall or light surface
How to Make a Shadow Tube
- Make the cover:
Cut a small square of plastic wrap and stretch it over one end of the cardboard tube. - Secure it:
Use a rubber band to hold the plastic wrap tightly in place. - Add a sticker:
Place a simple shape sticker in the center of the plastic wrap. - Project the shadow:
In a dim room, shine a flashlight through the open end of the tube toward a blank wall. - Observe the shadow:
Watch the shape appear! Move the flashlight or tube to change the size and clarity of the shadow.
Tips:
- If your flashlight is very bright, try adjusting the angle or distance to make the shadow clearer.
- A cellphone flashlight works great!
- Set up a center in your room with a variety of shadow tubes and flashlights for preschoolers to explore.
STEM Skills & Lesson Objectives
Creating shadow tubes allows kids to exercise many different valuable STEM skills, including:
| Subject | Skill | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Science | Light and Shadows | Children explore how light travels, how shadows form, and the difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. |
| Technology | Using Simple Tools | Kids use tools like scissors, rubber bands, and flashlights, learning how to handle and apply them to create a functioning light device. |
| Engineering | Construct and Test | Building the shadow tube involves creating a working device, testing how light behaves through it, and adjusting the angle for best results. |
| Math | Shape Recognition & Spatial Awareness | Children identify and name basic geometric shapes and observe how their size or clarity changes depending on distance and light angle. |
| Fine Motor Skills | Precision and Control | Stretching plastic wrap, placing small stickers, and aiming the flashlight help strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. |
More Shadow Fun!
Love exploring with light? Try our DIY Shadow Puppet Theater for Kids for more playful science and storytelling fun!
Want to make shadow puppets? Check out my Tortoise and the Hare Shadow Puppet Set on Teachers Pay Teachers.
