The room is dark and only small rustles of the last preparations are heard, when suddenly the light comes on. It rests on the screen of a white sheet. Dad clears his throat for the last time, and the first silhouette appears on the stage. And the story comes to life...
shadow theater is a great way to put on a magical performance, keep the kids busy and calm, develop a child's imagination, or simply put a child to bed. At the same time, the imagination of the crumbs works at 100, because in the silhouette the child will try to guess the grandmother, dog or mouse. A gentle and native voice from behind the curtains tells a story about distant (or not so) countries, about guys and animals, about good, evil and real magic itself. And all this can be done with your own hands from improvised means in just 15 minutes.
You can organize a stage for a shadow theater from an old box and cut out the silhouettes of the main characters from it, turn on the lamp and the fairy tale will come to life right before your eyes. So let's get started.
1. Making a scene
At the bottom of the old box, we outline a rectangle for the screen. 
The outline does not have to be rectangular. The edges can be rounded and decorative patterns added. Thus, the box for the shadow theater will take on an absolutely magical look. 
Cut out a hole. 
We color this holey box (the item is optional, but it will look neater this way). 
On the inside, glue a sheet of paper slightly larger than the hole in size.
2. Hero on a stick
We draw characters from a fairy tale on a sheet, but rather print ready-made templates.
We cut out the characters, stick them on cardboard of any density. Cut out the silhouettes and fix on a stick. For this, electrical tape, a glue gun or adhesive tape are suitable. I used duct tape and a glue gun just to be sure) 
I used kitchen skewers, but popsicle sticks, old sticks or pencils work well too. 
We are also preparing the scenery (the environment surrounding the characters). To do this, simply cut them out of cardboard of any density. The thicker the scenery, the more difficult it will be to cut it out, and the easier it will be to fix it to the screen. 
3. Lifehacks
scenery fixing
Strips of cardboard can be fixed along the perimeter, in which it will be convenient to fix the scenery. That's it, the stage for the shadow theater is ready. 
bottom hole
The farther the characters are from the screen, the more blurry their silhouettes appear. In order to keep the scene stable, but to have access "behind the scenes", I made a hole in the supporting wall. Thus, the characters became closer to the screen, and it became easier to control them. 
mount heroes
Keeping all the heroes in one hand is almost impossible. Even with the "Pockmarked Hen" it was difficult. In order not to hold inactive characters in hand, we will make small cuts at the base of the stage. These cuts will hold heroes well on small skewers. If you use, for example, popsicle sticks, then the cuts will be slightly different. 
4. Making a show
The do-it-yourself shadow theater is almost ready, it remains to install our design. We put the lamp behind and direct it to the screen. And then we follow the script and become directors. 
For your convenience, I have prepared several templates for the very first and easy-to-stage fairy tales. And for the fairy tales "Kolobok" and "Teremok" you will find excellent texts in verse there.
Here is one of our first performances. It clearly shows how difficult it was to manage the characters before.
Have a magical evening!
From myself I will add that according to this model I made a theater with my grandchildren. Happiness was a wagon and a small cart!!! All five grandchildren and granddaughters with great diligence carved figurines, painted, glued.......
And then all together and showed and watched.
Below is a master class and ready-made templates for the most famous children's fairy tales.....
FROM THE AUTHOR: "The room is dark and only small rustles of the last preparations are heard, when suddenly the light comes on. It rests on the screen of a white sheet. Dad clears his throat for the last time, and the first silhouette appears on the stage. And the fairy tale comes to life ... 
shadow theater“Children fall in love with the shadow theater right away. At first they enthusiastically watch performances, and then they begin to invent the plot themselves. Let, regardless of whether the child has directing abilities or not, at home he is always waiting for a standing ovation.
At the same time, the imagination of the crumbs works at 100, because in the silhouette the child will try to guess the grandmother, dog or mouse. A gentle and native voice from behind the curtains tells a story about distant (or not so) countries, about guys and animals, about good, evil and real magic itself. And all this can be done with your own hands from improvised means in just 15 minutes.
You can organize a stage for a shadow theater from an old box and cut out the silhouettes of the main characters from it, turn on the lamp and the fairy tale will come to life right before your eyes. So let's get started.
1. Making a scene
At the bottom of the old box, we outline a rectangle for the screen.
The outline does not have to be rectangular. The edges can be rounded and decorative patterns added. Thus, the box for the shadow theater will take on an absolutely magical look. 
Cut out a hole. 
We color this holey box (the item is optional, but it will look neater this way). 
On the inside, glue a sheet of paper slightly larger than the hole in size.
2. Hero on a stick
We draw the characters of a fairy tale on a sheet, but rather print it
5.
.
8.
9.
10.
11.
.
We cut out the characters, stick them on cardboard of any density. Cut out the silhouettes and fix on a stick. For this, electrical tape, a glue gun or adhesive tape are suitable. I used duct tape and a glue gun just to be sure)
I used kitchen skewers, but popsicle sticks, old sticks or pencils work well too. 
We are also preparing the scenery (the environment surrounding the characters). To do this, simply cut them out of cardboard of any density. The thicker the scenery, the more difficult it will be to cut it out, and the easier it will be to fix it to the screen. 
scenery fixing
Strips of cardboard can be fixed along the perimeter, in which it will be convenient to fix the scenery. That's it, the stage for the shadow theater is ready. 
Do-it-yourself shadow theater in kindergarten
Do-it-yourself shadow theater. Master class with step by step photos
Master Class. Making a manual with your own hands
Topic of the lesson: Master Class. shadow theaterAuthor: Sukhovetskaya Oksana Alexandrovna, teacher of the speech therapy group of the Child Development Center - kindergarten No. 300 "Ryabinushka", Novosibirsk.
Material Description: In this master class you will learn how to make a shadow theater. Shadow theater - will help children get acquainted with the theater in a fun way, show their imagination, develop speech activity. This manual will be useful for children of younger and older preschool age, as well as for school children, teachers and parents. The manual can be used both in individual work and in group work. A master class will help prepare this manual.
Material: to create a theater we need:
- the screen is ready (or you can make it yourself, I won’t dwell on this in detail);
- fabric: white (you can use tracing paper), colored backstage;
- threads to match the fabric;
- velcro tape (linden)
- tubes for a cocktail;
- barbecue sticks (large);
- holnitens (rivets);
- fasteners for electrical wires;
- sewing hooks.
Tools for the job:
- a hammer;
- nails;
- clerical knife (cutter);
- a hole punch for a belt;
- scissors;
- press for eyelets;
- awl;
- glue gun;
- ruler;
- pencil pen;
- super-glue "Moment";
- sewing machine.
The result of the master class helps:
Stimulate children and their initiative in theatrical activities.
Develop imagination, creative abilities to develop the articulatory apparatus. To form in children a persistent interest in theatrical activities, a desire to participate in a common action, encourage children to actively interact, communicate, teaches them to be able to communicate with peers and adults in various situations, develop speech and the ability to actively build a dialogue. Develop game behavior, aesthetic feelings, the ability to be creative in any business.
“The theater is a magical world.
He gives lessons in beauty, morality
and morality.
And the richer they are, the more successful
the development of the spiritual world
children…”
(B.M. Teplov)
"Magic Land!" - so the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin once called the theater. The feelings of the great poet are shared by both adults and children who have come into contact with this amazing art form.
A special role belongs to the theater in solving problems related to the upbringing and development of a preschool child. Through theatrical and gaming creativity, we can develop emotional responsiveness, intelligence in children, we develop children's communication skills, artistry, and speech activity.
In the daily life of the kindergarten, teachers use various types of theaters: bibabo, finger, table, planar (flanelegraph or magnetic board), puppet, book theater, mask theater, etc.
I want to tell and show how to make a complex and at the same time very interesting shadow theater.
Shadow theater is an ancient theatre. From time immemorial shadow paintings have been shown in India, China, Java and Turkey on the street at night by the light of an oil lamp.
Props required for this theatre: light source (e.g. headlamp, table lamp, filmoscope), screen with white screen, silhouette puppets on sticks.
At the first stage of work, for the manufacture of silhouettes, we need the following: a clerical knife (cutter), scissors, a hole punch for a belt, a press for eyelets, holnitens (rivets)
Silhouettes can be prepared on a computer or drawn by yourself. I found the ideas of silhouettes on the Internet, printed on a printer on regular A4 sheets
Then we paste the printed silhouettes on black paper. I immediately prepared the silhouettes of the characters and scenery.
Now these silhouettes need to be cut out. We cut out small internal details with a clerical knife, cut out the silhouettes themselves with scissors.
To prevent the silhouettes from bending, I laminated them. If this is not possible, you can use thick cardboard to stiffen the figures.
The next step is to cut out the already laminated double-sided silhouettes.
Since I really wanted the characters (silhouettes) to have moving elements (for example, they could walk), I made separate elements for the silhouettes: arms, paws, legs.
To set them in motion, the parts must be fastened in a certain way. Both wire and threads with knots at the ends are suitable for fastening. But I wanted some elegance, or something. Therefore, I connected the parts using a belt hole punch and holnitens (rivets).
With a hole punch for a belt, I punched even holes at the fastening points, choosing a diameter such that the rivets did not fly out and had free play. Previously, in the places of fastening with an awl, I marked points, aligning the paws so that in the future they would not warp. Then I connected the rivets with a press for eyelets (this press came up in size to the rivets).
Now you need to fix the sticks on the figures, for which the puppeteers will hold them. It is important for me that the theater is compact. Therefore, my sticks will be removable. The sticks for which the silhouettes will drive are barbecue sticks. Wooden, rounded shape.. We select the tubes for a cocktail with corrugation according to the size of these sticks. It is very important that the sticks in the tubes do not hang out, but sit very tightly. And we need to fix = - glue gun.
With scissors we cut off a part with a corrugation (accordion) at the tube, leaving non-corrugated tips of 1.5 cm each
Using a glue gun, I will fix the tubes on the silhouettes. There are two mounting options: horizontal (with corrugation), see on the wolf; vertical (just a piece of a tube 2 cm) see on the piglet.
To understand in the future which fasteners will be convenient for you, insert the sticks into the tubes.
Try to move the silhouettes, play with them. Basically, I liked both mounts. At the same time, I realized for which silhouettes I would use only a vertical mount, and for which I would use a horizontal mount.
Silhouette figures are ready. Now let's get to the decorations. We have already prepared the base when we glued the silhouettes of the scenery onto black paper, cut it out, laminated it and cut it out again. Now we need to strengthen the silhouettes and at the same time make a system for attaching to the screen. Glue barbecue sticks to the silhouettes on the glue gun with the pointed end down.
In order to make full use of our prepared silhouettes, we will prepare the screen. Fortunately for me, we had such a screen in our group.
We will make the main structural changes inside the screen
We need some simple tools:
On the bottom bar of the window, mark the places for plastic fasteners.
We fix plastic fasteners with nails (these fasteners are usually used in electricians, for fixing wires to walls), at the same time we will try on how the decoration sticks will enter. The mounts must be fixed firmly, not loose, otherwise all of our decorations will not be positioned correctly.
We fix the sewing hooks on the top bar of the window with the Moment super-glue. We need them to place on them such scenery as clouds, the sun, the moon, birds. We fasten the velcro tape (linden) under the hooks. It is better to fix it on a furniture stapler so that it does not come off.
On the lower bar above the mounts for decorations, we will also fix the velcro tape.
From the outside, it all looks interesting. The versatility of the manipulations carried out is that all these fastenings can be used not only for the shadow theater, but also for playing any other puppet show.
We will attach a white screen to the velcro tape. We will make the screen from a piece of white calico. Using a tape measure, measure the width and height of the window. (tracing paper can be used instead of fabric, unfortunately, it is less reliable)
Cut out a piece of a rectangular shape, carefully process the edges. On the top and bottom we sew a velcro tape - its second half.
Now the screen can be placed on the screen. It will be held tight by the velcro tape.
Outwardly, the screen seemed boring to me now. So I decided to transform it. Curtain-blinds will decorate our theater.
Sew a pelmet from a narrow rectangular strip of fabric. The lambrequin will cover the top bar of the window.
Rectangles with finished edges will make a curtain in two parts. Both sides can be assembled. You can make a removable fibula so that the curtain can completely close the window or be open unhindered.
With a self-adhesive film to match our curtain, I glued the bottom of the screen.
For comparison: what was and what has become
Our theater is almost ready to show the performance. It remains to install the necessary light and invite the actors with the audience.
In order for the audience to see the performance, we need two light sources. As a light source, ordinary headlamps will act. They are safe and easy to use.
Shadow theater is an ancient, very spectacular and amazing (especially for children) art form. How to make a screen and "actors" for the shadow theater with your own hands; how to come up with and foresee the most spectacular and surprising moments of the performance; how to involve children in the rehearsals and staging of shadow theater performances - the answers to all these questions can be easily found in the publications of this thematic section. Here is collected the live experience of teachers in the field of this type of theatrical art, fraught with great opportunities for the comprehensive development of children.
Shadow play. Mysterious shadows on a magical canvas.
Contained in sections:Showing publications 1-10 of 115 .
All sections | Do-it-yourself shadow theater
Hello again! Greetings to all guests on my page. I want to present to your attention a screen for shadow theater, which I made for children of the second group of early age and fairy tale shadow theater"Turnip". Target: Stimulate children and their initiative in theatrical...
Theatrical activity in kindergarten is a magical world of a fairy tale. Playing in theatre, the child reveals his creative potential. Exactly theatrical activity to a greater extent allows you to develop the creative abilities of the child. Kindergartens use different types ...
Do-it-yourself shadow theater - Synopsis of GCD. Shadow theater based on the fairy tale "Bull - tar barrel" in the middle group
Publication “Synopsis of GCD. Shadow theater based on the fairy tale "Bull - tar barrel" in ... " 
Purpose: the formation of children's ideas about the shadow theater, to acquaint children with the Russian folk tale; to develop and maintain children's interest in theatrical play Tasks: To create conditions for expanding children's interest in theatrical activities. Create a warm, welcoming...
MAAM Pictures Library
Theater begins in childhood. Shadow theater is the most unusual theatre. It originated a long time ago, in ancient China. Here the roles are played not by actors or even puppets, but by the shadows of actors or puppets. A translucent white screen is used on the stage, behind which a powerful spotlight shines, and between ...
Scenario for the shadow theater "Zayushkina hut" for the senior group Scenario for the shadow theater for the fairy tale "Zayushkina's hut". Entrance To the music (children stand in a semicircle) Everything can happen in a fairy tale Our fairy tale is ahead. A fairy tale is knocking to visit us, Let's tell a fairy tale - come in! (Hares play in the clearing (exercises to the music) Storyteller Hares in the forest ...
Master class for parents "How to create a shadow theater at home" Purpose: revealing the value of joint pastime and creativity of children and parents Tasks: 1. Introduce parents to the types of theater used in kindergarten. Ways of making shadow theater and playing out. 2.Involve parents to make puppets for the shadow...
Do-it-yourself shadow theater - Shadow theater "The Magical World of a Fairy Tale"
Theatrical activity in kindergarten is the magical world of a fairy tale. Playing theater, the child reveals his creative potential. It is theatrical activity that to a greater extent allows you to develop the creative abilities of the child. Kindergartens use different types ...
Characters: Fox Crane Narrator Narrator The fox made friends with the crane. (The heroes walk towards each other, hold hands and go to the edge of the stage) So the fox once decided to treat the crane and invited him to visit her. Fox Ah! I have long dreamed of inviting you to dinner And ...
Shadow theater is magic that can live in your home. You can create it for a child with your own hands.
What we need:
Thick cardboard
White paper
PVA glue
brushes for glue and paint
scissors
steel wire 2 mm
wire cutters and round nose pliers
wooden slats approx. 1.5 x 1 cm
Fiberboard approx. 14 X 30 X 40 cm
screws
wallpaper nails
dye
white fabric (cotton) without pattern
tube for cocktail
insulating tape
overhead projector (lantern, table lamp)
templates (you can take ready-made, or you can draw it yourself)
Draw or print templates for puppets and decorations.
Puppets for shadow theater can be small in size - about 5-10 cm, and during the performance, the height of the characters can be changed by bringing the figure closer to the screen or, conversely, moving it away.
Glue the template sheets onto cardboard. Try to lubricate the template with glue without gaps, but not too abundantly - the part should sit tight and not warp the cardboard base.
Dry the dolls under pressure and cover them with a layer of PVA glue - for strength. The brush should be semi-dry so that the figures do not warp.
Cardboard dolls are not easy to cut, especially in places where there are inside or outside corners. Instead of scissors, it is convenient to use a clerical knife.
If you have golden hands and a lot of patience, you can cut out the kennels of the face, eyes and small details inside the dolls with a clerical knife. If you glue transparent tracing paper on the figures, they will sparkle with different shades of black and gray. You can also use transparent color film to add color.
To make movable dolls, you need to separately draw and cut out the arms, legs and other details that can move. Dynamic parts rotate on screws or wire, each of which is attached to a wire holder for control.
If the dolls are still warped, put them under pressure for a few days.
Holders for dolls and decorations can be made removable - for convenience. Glue paper pockets on the back of the dolls. They should be slightly curved outward so that the holder's loop slides in easily.
The most suitable material is wire. On both sides of the piece of wire, make rings - one for the pocket on the “back” of the doll, the other so that the holder does not scroll in your hands. We got holders 13 cm long for dolls. Holders for decorations turned out to be 5 cm long and with rings on one side only. The diameter of the rings is 1 cm.
If you don't have wire, glue on popsicle sticks - this is a quick option for doll holders. But he has a drawback - the sticks coarsen and spoil the silhouette of the dolls during the performance.
You can make typical dolls (grandfather, grandmother, granddaughter, animals) and use them in different performances. If you want to put on a new performance, you will only have to make the missing heroes. It is advisable to arrange the sets of heroes for different fairy tales according to signed envelopes.
The screen for the performance is wooden or cardboard. You can even use a picture frame instead of a screen.
A cardboard screen is easier to make and decorate, but less durable.
It is not necessary to make the screen traditionally rectangular. If you are seriously interested in the shadow theater, then you can make a whole set of scenery screens in the form of a castle, a forest, a hut ...
Our screen is made of wooden slats. Its dimensions are:
total height - 45 cm
the height of the "camouflage" fiberboard - 15 cm
screen height - 30 cm
frame width - 50 cm
the length of the supports (legs) for the frame is 25 cm.
The frame needs to be painted, and the bottom of the frame can be decorated with a plot picture.
A favorite theme for screen design is the starry sky. For our theater, we beat the plot of the fairy tale about the golden key. We made decorations from silver-colored insulating tape.
For strength, parts can be coated with PVA glue or varnish.
The screen is covered with a cloth. To measure the fabric correctly, trace the frame directly onto the fabric and cut out a rectangle, leaving a little distance from the edge (about 1 cm around the perimeter).
On the reverse side of the lower rail of the screen, grooves for decoration holders are glued. We used a cocktail tube cut into pieces about 3 cm long.
We stretch the fabric and attach it with wallpaper studs. The more evenly the canvas is stretched, the clearer the contours of the figures will be.
Behind the screen, at a distance of about 25 cm, a light source is installed - a flashlight, a slide projector or a table lamp.
The direction of the light is from above and behind, so the hands of the puppeteer will be invisible, and the shadows will be the most clear. The hands of the puppeteer are between the screen and the light source, and the puppeteer himself is located behind the light.
Tips for the puppeteer
For the first performances, choose simple stories from folk tales.
Rehearse well and learn the secrets of the shadow theater before giving a performance.
If you want the doll or decoration to disappear or appear imperceptibly, turn it edge-on to the screen and move it.
Arrange the puppets in order, and then during the performance the audience will not have to wait long for the “artist” to come out.
Play appropriate music during the performance.
Voice each doll with "her" voice.
By moving the light source, you will achieve various effects - depict wind, storm or snow.
Shadow theater can be played wherever there is bright light and a level wall. Instead of dolls - finger figurines.
Children fall in love with the shadow theater immediately. At first they enthusiastically watch performances, and then they begin to invent the plot themselves. Let, regardless of whether the child has directing abilities or not, at home he is always waiting for a standing ovation.
