Delving into Scripture with Shadow Puppets

By Siobhan Laskey 

FOR THOSE INTERESTED in developing literacy, the strategy of retelling is very valuable and effective. Having children retell, in their own words, what they have read and learned encourages them to delve deeper into Scripture. It enhances their comprehension and vocabulary and helps them identify themes and concepts. 

This summer, working with a small group of children aged 5 to 11 on an overview of the Bible, its structure and genres, I wanted to have them take a closer look at a story that was unfamiliar to them. As a part of the larger unit, we devoted one half hour a day for four days to the retelling of the story of Balaam and his Donkey using shadow puppets. Shadow puppets require only a few easily accessible and affordable materials, allow for creativity and employ a unique type of theatre.  

We reviewed, briefly, the themes of the first five books of the Bible and how “stories” are used to carry us through a lot of the history these books cover. We talked about recurring themes – God’s provision, his leading and faithfulness, human sin and God’s redeeming love. We followed from Creation through to captivity in Egypt, freedom and the long years wandering in the desert. They easily recognized many of the people in these stories — that is, until we got to Balaam. He was new to all but one child. 

We watched a short video about the Book of Numbers [see Resources]. (The actual story is found in Numbers 22:21-39.) As my husband often asks, why is this story not in every children’s Bible story collection?   A king in conflict with God’s chosen people. The appearance of an angel. And, a talking donkey!   We checked the book of Bible stories we had been using as a resource – Balaam and his donkey were not there. 

We focused on Balaam’s story and its context. Who were the key figures?  What was the plot?  What was essential for the retelling?  We prepared a brief outline of the story. During snack time we watched a few videos about different types of shadow puppets and theatres.

The next day we explored shadow theatre by first fastening a white double bed sized sheet (purchased at a thrift store) over a portable coat rack and securing it at the top with safety pins. Alternatively, one could make a simple shadow theatre using a box, or hang a sheet over a table or in a doorway using a tension rod. 

We set up our light source – an overhead projector (but any portable light source would do). The kids took turns getting between the light source and the sheet thus projecting their shadows while others watched from the other side to see what happened when they were different distances from the light source, using broad movement, etc. 

We then used some samples of simple silhouettes of animals, flowers and buildings as patterns and cut out shapes from bristol board and recycled cardboard. They attached these to different types of sticks – pencils, bamboo skewers, craft sticks – and played with them in our “theatre.” Some of the kids created their own puppets by drawing free-hand simple outlines. They worked out how to position their bodies in relation to the puppets and the light. We did all this before we created the puppets needed specifically for the biblical story. 

One of the youngest students was the first to point out that gradually the audience begins to ignore the puppeteers’ shadows and instead focuses on the puppets in the storytelling. This all required very little direction on the adult’s part, primarily because they were so engaged. They began improvising the Balaam story, often referring back to the Bible passages to confirm the plot. 

On the third day, we watched a short video of the story of Balaam and then made a list of the characters:  Balaam, the angel with a sword, the donkey, Balak, Balak’s messengers, and “the Lord” (God). Here we explored ways in which God is depicted in Scripture and a decision was made that they would not make a puppet for Him, but rather just have a narrator voice “the Lord”. 

We looked at different ways that shadow puppets can be articulated to accentuate movement and mood. We used duplicate copies of simple patterns (from colouring books and a variety of images found online) to create the main bodies of the characters and then used the second copy to cut out arms and legs to attach to the main puppet using a single-hole punch and brass round-headed paper fasteners. This also involved removing the part of the main puppet that was replaced by the new limb. They realized that articulating their puppets this way might require attaching sticks to the movable parts. 

A decision was made to create two Balaam puppets, one in a standing position and one in a sitting position that they used to straddle the donkey puppet. They also decided to have two versions of the angel – one in profile – making sure that on both versions the arm holding the sword would move up and down to add emphasis to the angel’s message. We looked at different ways of fastening the moveable pieces to sticks by using different kinds of tape (noting, for example, that electrical tape allowed some flexibility without tearing the tape). They practiced with these articulated puppets how they would have to transition from one position to another or switch places with another puppeteer at certain points in the story. 

Suddenly they realized that one puppeteer had no puppet. Just as I was going to make a suggestion, one child excitedly noted that they needed a wall for the donkey to push up against and he was going to make a wall puppet. Thought was also given to details that would help distinguish the characters, like adding a crown to Balak and wings to the angel. 

With the articulated puppets completed, they moved on to rehearsing their show. They discussed how they were going to give “voice” to the story and they asked me if I would narrate it. I agreed, on the condition that they tell me what they wanted me to say. They could have written a script, but for the sake of time and maintaining the momentum over snack I had them tell the story as they wanted it told. Using recall and returning to Scripture, they prompted each other over details. In finalizing how the puppets should be positioned and moved they were providing their own direction. On their final run through, they took turns watching the show from the viewer’s side of the sheet and refined their movements, including entries and exits. 

The show was a hit. (The “wall” declared himself the “best wall ever” to the affirmation of the others.)  Our project used simple materials, short timelines, minimum work time and lots of exploration of Scripture, context, themes, collaboration, and body awareness. 

One of the children made the suggestion that this might be a way for their Sunday school to do this year’s traditional “Nativity Story.”  It would, she noted, mean not having to worry about costumes and sets, and, perhaps most importantly, the kids could do most of it themselves. Great idea!   TAP 

 

Supplies

• Opaque paper (Bristol board, card stock, recycled cardboard or Styrofoam)

• Scissors

• Sticks: skewers (points can be cut off), chop sticks, craft sticks, straws, stir sticks, pencils

• Tape (a variety is good: electrical tape, duct tape, masking tape, cellophane tape)

• Pencils

• Single-hole punch (optional – as you can also use the pointed tips of scissors or an awl for making holes)

• Brass head (“round head”) paper fasteners

• White bed sheet 

• Safety pins or clothes pegs

• Something from which to suspend the sheet – (coat rack, a rope, tension curtain rod in a doorway, table top) 

• Or, a homemade theatre using a box

• Silhouettes or colouring books with simple figures for patterns, if desired

• Bible or a collection of Bible stories

• Light source (overhead projector, desk lamp, projector, flash light, lamp with shade removed)

 

Resources

Videos:

• Youtube on Shadow puppets and theatres: “How to make a shadow puppet” (LilySilly); “How to make articulated shadow puppets” (Patricia Ort); “Play. Shadow puppets (Using a cardboard box!)” (WhatsUpMoms); “The color in shadows:  Madcap takes age-old form of puppetry to layered levels” (WCPO.com | 9 On Your Side); “How To – Kenneth Wingard’s DIY Shadow Puppet Theater – Home & Family” (homeandfamilytv); “A Shadow Puppet Christmas” (Lisa Swanson)

• The Bible Project videos (Youtube or TheBibleProject.com) are excellent – we used “The Book of Numbers” from their Youtube channel

• Story of Balaam and His Donkey (YouTube):  “6 Numbers 22 Balaam’s Donkey Lesson Video” (George F O’Neill); “Little Talking Donkey” (Jodi Benson – Topic) (This is a song that we played once, but I often heard them singing it when working.)

 

Books

• Geoffrey Horn and Arthur Cavanaugh, Bible Stories for Children, [Simon and Schuster] 

• Jill Bryant and Catherine Heard, Making Shadow Puppets [Kids Can Press]

• David Wisniewskis, Worlds of Shadow: Teaching with Shadow Puppetry [Libraries Unlimited] (online at books.google.ca)

• Helen Binyon, Puppetry Today: Designing and Making Marionettes, Glove Puppets, Rod Puppets, and Shadow Puppets [Studio Vista] 

 

Templates:  

• A simple Internet search for “shadow puppet silhouettes” or “shadow puppet templates” will provide a lot of options. Also, search for specific images by subject and adding “silhouette” – for example “donkey silhouette” or “nativity silhouette.” Colouring books – the simpler, the better – are also good sources for templates that can be used for patterns.