Home
Advanced Search
Powered by:
Average Rating:
Participant Age:
5 to 12
Approximate Cost:
$0
Duration:
Over an hour
Date submitted:
01/21/2012
Difficulty:
Physical Challenge:
Make Sun Prints
Make a sun print with construction paper and patience.
Materials
  • Construction paper, dark colors work best
  • Nature objects, such as ferns, leaves and flowers
  • Small toys with interesting shapes (optional)
Steps
Step 1
To do this activity, you need a very bright sunny day.

Find a spot where the sun will keep shining even as the shadows move.

Lay out your paper. Place your nature objects and/or toys on the paper.

It works best with objects that lie flat against the paper, and if you leave spaces between the objects.

If there is any wind, secure your paper if the objects are not very heavy by putting rocks on the edges.

Step 2
After a few hours, check under the objects.

Under the object, the paper will stay dark, while the sun lightens the surrounding paper.

The longer you leave out the paper, the stronger will be the contrast for your shapes.

There is a product called Sun Print paper that will give a stronger result in only a few minutes, but this is a homemade version.

Comments:
Browse Topics:
  • Access
    • Can Use Tools
  • Age
    • Any
    • Under 5
    • 5 to 12
    • 12 and up
  • Cost
    • $0
    • Any
    • Under $10
    • $10 to $100
    • Over $100
  • Duration
  • Location
  • Season
  • Subject
  • LearningStyles
  • Difficulties
  • Physical Challenges


Recommendations
If you liked this activity, why not try:
Make Rain Music
Celebrate the rain by taking your metal pots and pans outside and making rain music.
Paint Leaf Prints
Make beautiful leaf prints on paper or fabric so you can remember autumn after it has passed.
Play an Animal Matching Game and Charades
Make two sets of animal picture cards, and now you have two games to play wherever you explore.
Keep a Moon Journal
Get acquainted with the phases of the moon by keeping a moon journal.
Create Seed Pod Creatures
Gather seeds in all shapes and sizes, then glue them together into fanciful creatures.