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Shadow Story Togalu (Smart Puppet Shadow Theater)

Source:

Perform traditional Indian Togalu Gombeyaata shadow puppet plays behind a translucent screen. A light level sensor and rotary dial control shadow scale and sharpness, while the speaker narrates geometric shadow transformation facts.

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Props & Materials Required

  • •Mini cardboard puppet stage with translucent tracing paper screen
  • •Cutout shadow puppets on sticks (2D geometric shapes: circle, square, triangle, animal outlines)
  • •High-brightness LED spotlight on a sliding track
  • •ESP32 / micro:bit V2 controller
  • •BH1750 light sensor
  • •Servo motor (automatic light distance mover)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Set Up Puppet Stage

Place shadow puppets between the internal LED light and the translucent screen.

2

Turn the Shadow Dial

Rotate the dial on the stage controller. The servo motor moves the spotlight closer or further from the puppet.

3

Observe Shadow Scaling

Watch the shadow grow HUGE when the light moves close, and shrink sharp when the light moves far away!

4

Shape Shadow Quiz

Hold a 3D cylinder. Rotate it to cast a CIRCULAR shadow, then turn it sideways to cast a RECTANGULAR shadow! Speaker explains 2D projection of 3D objects.

Why It Works & Notes

Shadow puppets make 2D geometry and optics personal. Moving light sources closer or further changes shadow size dynamically, helping children explore scale, light rays, and shape projections hands-on.