Light Panel Play Idea - DIY Colourful 2D Shapes
- Danica - Our Playful Learning Journey
- May 28
- 4 min read
Let's explore 2D shapes in a PLAYFUL way with these easy to make colourful shapes!
Light play is so magical and perfect for creating a sense of wonder & awe ... but finding materials that work on a light panel/light table can be expensive.
These colourful shapes were an easy and inexpensive way to create a fun learning tool for some light panel play!
These 2D shapes were so simple to make using some coloured cellophane. I have included a template below to help you make some of your own 2D shapes for light play.
*Important: These play/learning ideas are for children ages 3+ to be done under adult supervision. Please always supervise all light panel play.
Making the shapes with the laminator/cutting them is a step for adults only to complete.
To make 2D shapes for light panel play you will need:
Kadink Coloured Transparent Sheets 76cm x 1m Assorted 5 Pack from Officeworks Australia (you can also find coloured cellophane in craft shops)
A4 Laminating Pouches Gloss * Thicker laminating pouches could be used to create sturdier shapes. Note: I did try this with A3 laminating sheets, but found that the cellophane seemed to go more bubbly/creased in the larger sheets.
Light panel or light table - ours is A3 in size and is from Educating Kids (the shapes can also be used with sunlight or a torch)
Laminator
Scissors
For play time we also used the following (but the shapes can also be used on their own):
Lucite cube - Bauspiel brand
Bauspiel window blocks
Tickit Rainbow Window blocks
What to do:
Unfold a piece of the transparent sheet and lay a laminating pouch on top. Roughly cut a piece of the transparent sheet to be the same size as the A4 laminating pouch.
Repeat for the other colours you wish to use.
Tip: Red, blue and yellow are good for showing colour mixing.
Put the cut pieces of transparent sheet into the laminating pouches and put them through the laminator.
Using objects from around your house (e.g. a cup for a circle, a magnetic tile for a square) trace shapes onto the laminated sheets. Adding shapes of different sizes will add to the learning. You can have your child help you find shapes around your house for this step for some extra learning. *Or you can use the free shape template provided below.
Using scissors, cut the shapes out from the laminated transparent paper. Slightly round any sharp corners.
Set the 2D shapes up on a light panel for your child to explore how they wish.
Here are some questions you could ask to help guide the learning:
● I wonder if we could use these shapes to make some new colours?
● I wonder what colours we could make?
● Do you know what colour this is?
● What colours do we mix together to make orange? … purple? …green?
● Can you use the shapes to make a picture?
● Do you know what this shape is called?
● I wonder if you can sort the shapes? (your child may sort by colour, shape or size)
Transient Art on the Light Panel Using the 2D shapes
Children can place the shapes however they like on the light table/panel to create a beautiful colourful piece of art.
Create more shapes (some can be irregular) of different sizes and use them to create transient (moveable) art on the light panel.
This is a beautiful way to create art! See in the photo below.
Tip: Make sure to take a photo of their beautiful art creations before they are packed away.
2D Shape Free Template
The free template makes it easy to make your shapes with three sizes included on the A4 sheet for each of the shapes - circle, square, triangle and rectangle.
Perfect for sorting by size, shape or colour!
You can download this free template in the FREE VIP Playful Library here if you are already an email subscriber.
Not a subscriber yet? Join the email list here to access this + many more free playful printables straight away!
Light Panel Play Idea - DIY Colourful 2D Shapes
Thank you for reading this blog post! I hope you found some inspiration for shape play and learning using a light panel.
2D shapes are easy to make by laminating some cellophane. The free template makes it easy to create a range of shapes of different sizes that are perfect for sorting and developing mathematical thinking + creativity!
The shapes can also be used to create transient art and shape pictures on the light panel.
If you don't have a light panel/table the shapes also work well with the sunlight. Children can explore how the light from the sun creates colourful shapes on the table/floor/walls. This could also work with a torch too!
If you found this blog post helpful - please share it with someone else who might enjoy it too!
Until next time, have fun learning in a playful way!
Danica
For more play and learning ideas visit the homepage here.
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