Activity Description: Scouts create and test shadow puppets using cutouts and a flashlight.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Daisy Space Science Explorer badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Brownie Art and Design badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Junior Art and Design badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 5 of GSUSA Brownie Outdoor Art Creator, Junior Outdoor Art Explorer, Cadette Outdoor Art Apprentice, Senior Outdoor Art Expert, and Ambassador Outdoor Art Master badge requirements.
- Leaders – please be aware of double dipping and make your own informed choice.
Info Needed for Daisy Space Science: The sun looks like it moves across the sky because Earth is spinning. When we see the sun in the morning, our part of Earth is turning toward the light. At night, our part of Earth turns away from the sun. It looks like the sun has gone down. Shadows change during the day because the sun’s position in the sky changes.
Info Needed for Brownie Art and Design: Art composition is how artists arrange the different parts of their artwork, like shapes, colors, and lines, to make it look balanced and interesting. It’s like organizing a room so everything fits together nicely and catches your eye. Art composition is about the overall design and layout.
Info Needed for Junior Art and Design: Space refers to the area around, between, and within objects in a piece of art. It can be positive space (the area occupied by objects) or negative space (the empty areas around and between objects).
Items Needed:
- A darkened room or space and a flashlight for testing puppets
- Scissors (one per scout or shared)
- Glue or tape
- Choose one version of the craft and gather needed supplies:
- Free 3 Little Pig Shadow Puppets on Teachers Pay Teachers by ARA Play Space – printouts and popsicle sticks
- Hue HD Halloween Shadow Puppet Theater – cardboard, black cardstock, wooden skewers or chopsticks
- Science Buddies Shadow Puppets – cardstock, skewers or popsicle sticks
- Shadow Puppet Show – large cardstock and popsicle sticks
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20–30 minutes):
- Choose and Prep the Puppet Design (5–7 min)
- Scouts select which version of the shadow puppet they want to create.
- Cut out puppet shapes and attach them to sticks using glue or tape.
- Create and Decorate (10–15 min)
- Scouts make additional characters or scenery if time allows.
- (Optional) Decorate the puppets with cutouts or silhouette details.
- Test the Puppets in Shadow (5–8 min)
- In a dark space, shine a flashlight at a wall or screen.
- Scouts take turns putting on a mini puppet show using their designs.
The Badge Archive 