News & Views
Beginners 4/5 Celebrate Light and Dark in Annual Lantern Walk
Beginners (ages 4 and 5) delighted in their annual Lantern Walk—a magical evening of shadow puppet plays, song, and a glowing lantern procession held in their Early Childhood piazza after sunset. This much-anticipated event serves as the culmination of a study on light and dark, allowing students to explore the interplay of illumination and shadow in creative and meaningful ways.
At the start of the school year, each Beginner receives a personal symbol—a unique design such as an elephant, bird, or seashell—that represents them throughout their time in the program. Many of the evening’s activities centered around these symbols, bringing an added layer of connection and meaning to the experience.
The Lantern Walk curriculum begins with two essential questions: What is a shadow? and Where does light come from? From there, students engage in shadow-guessing games, create individual shadow puppets, imagine what their symbols do at night, and craft their own tissue paper lanterns. Through hands-on exploration, they discover the wonders of light and shadow in a playful and immersive way.
Guided by Early Childhood teachers Emily Schoonmaker, Carin Walden, Daley Avery, and Madeleine Ker, the evening began with the song I Walk With My Little Lantern. As they sang, the children proudly carried their handmade lanterns, illuminating the Thacher Building Piazza with their warm, flickering glow.
One of the highlights of the night was the shadow puppet performance. Each child introduced themselves, shared their symbol, and described what it likes to do before stepping behind a softly lit shadow screen to bring their creation to life. This year’s event also featured a black light experience, adding a touch of magic as symbols glowed and danced against the dark.
Families gathered to watch these enchanting performances, sharing in the joy and wonder of the children’s discoveries. The evening concluded with refreshments prepared and served by the students, allowing time for reflection, connection, and celebration.
With handmade puppets, glowing lanterns, and imaginative storytelling, the Lantern Walk remains a cherished tradition—one that beautifully embodies the magic of childhood and the joy of learning through play, discovery, and shared experiences.
View photos from the event.
View photos from the event.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
