Draw a tabletop shadow garden

A spoon can cast a tree-shaped shadow. A cup might become a hill. In this drawing activity, children begin with a shape they can see and decide what it could become, rather than starting with an empty page.

What you need

• A large sheet of paper
• Pencils and crayons
• Three sturdy, unbreakable objects, such as a wooden spoon, cup and block
• A stable LED lamp positioned by an adult
• A clear tabletop

Set up the light

An adult places the lamp securely where its cable cannot be pulled or tripped over. Keep paper and objects away from the lamp itself, and follow its instructions. Children should look at the shadows, never directly into a bright light. Skip the lamp and use ordinary window light if that is easier.

Draw the garden

1. Put the paper flat on the table. Stand one object beside it so its shadow falls across the page.
2. Invite your child to move the object gently and notice how the shape changes. The adult moves the lamp if needed.
3. Hold the object still while your child traces around its shadow. It is fine if the outline wobbles.
4. Repeat with two more objects, leaving space between the shapes.
5. Put the objects aside. Turn the outlines into trees, flowers, paths or imaginary plants using crayons.
6. Add creatures or a small house if the garden needs inhabitants.

Finish with a visit

Ask your child which part of the garden they would visit first. Older children can label their invented plants or trace the same object twice from different positions. Younger children may prefer colouring one large outline.

Switch off and unplug the lamp as appropriate, return the household objects and display the picture at your child's eye level. Save the chosen objects together if they want to repeat the experiment another day.

Illustrative photo for this preview activity. Photo: Erika Fletcher / Unsplash.