Shadow matching — which shadow belongs to which picture?

Matching a picture to its shadow asks a young child to ignore colour and focus on outline — the same visual skill they will later use to tell b from d or 3 from E. Each sheet shows colourful pictures on one side and their black shadows in a different order on the other. Children look carefully at the shapes and draw a line from each picture to its shadow. Start with four pairs, then try six and eight.

👤 Best for ages 3–6

How to get the most from these sheets

• Name each picture first, then look for its shape.
• Point out details: ears, tails, handles, stems.
• Use a different colour pencil for each line.
• Play with real shadows afterwards: a torch and toys on the wall.

Frequently asked questions