Launch
Students will enter the project through a shadow-puppetry hook, analyze how folktales, movement, light, and culture work together, and begin documenting evidence that will guide later empathy research, storyboarding, and prototyping.
Day 1
🏮 Lantern Shadows Launch
Launch 480m
Research & Empathize
Students will investigate Chinese folktales and shadow-puppet audience needs, gather evidence from a community partner and peer users, and turn that research into a draft storyboard and How Might We statement for a clear, testable performance direction.
Days 2 - 5
🎭 Folktale Features and Audience Notes
Knowledge/Skill Building 420m
🧧 Cultural Partner Interview and Shadow Tests
Community Experience 480m
📝 Empathy Map and Storyboard Draft
Deliverable 540m
✅ Storyboard Gallery Walk and Artist Talk Checkpoint
Assessment 360m
Prototype & Present
Students will turn storyboard ideas into testable shadow-theater prototypes, study just-in-time craft and performance techniques, gather feedback from peers and a community partner, complete two visible revision cycles, and prepare a stakeholder-facing prototype share that explains how folktale evidence, user feedback, and shadow tests shaped their decisions.
Days 6 - 9
🎭 Cardstock Puppet Mechanics Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building 300m
💡 Flashlight Shadow Test Cycle
Project Work 480m
🧧 Folktale Script and Voice Revision
Community Experience 480m
🪄 Prototype Gallery Walk and Artist Talk
Assessment 360m
Showcase
Students will present their finished Chinese folktale shadow-theater pieces to an authentic audience, explain design decisions and revisions in a brief artist talk, gather final audience feedback, and document how their puppets, scripts, and stage choices communicate story, culture, and movement.
Day 10
🏮 Shadow Stage Celebration
Assessment 480m