SKETCH-A-SHADOW
Explore science and silhouettes as you bask in the sun and unleash your inner artist! Line your finished creations up in the window to proudly display a parade of splendid silhouettes.
Materials
- Plain sheet of paper
- Pencil
- Toys and/or stuffed animals
- Plants
1. Place the piece of paper directly in the sun (or, if the weather is not cooperating, use a lamp to help create your own artificial “sun”!)
2. Place your toy or plant near the bottom of the paper, in such a way that a shadow is cast onto the sheet. Adjust it as necessary so that the part of the shadow you want to trace is visible on the piece of paper
3. Using a pencil, trace around the shadow
4. Remove the item and view your finished product!
How does this spark creative learning?
Grade 1: As your child traces the animal, talk to them about the characteristics that animal has which are similar to those of humans. Do they have the same number of limbs? What about eyes? Ears? Do they have skin like humans do, or fuzzy fur? Once you’ve traced the silhouette, try identifying where all those characteristics would be. Rip different colours of construction paper into small pieces, and glue them inside your silhouette in to identify all the different features in a multi-coloured, masterful collage!
Grade 2: After your child has finished tracing their animal silhouette, ask them if they think they traced a young, or an old (mature) version of the animal. If they traced a young version, ask how an older version would be different. If they traced an old version, ask how a younger version would be different. Would it be bigger or smaller? Have larger features? Would it have horns? Giant wings? Challenge them to create their own free-hand version of this silhouette, emphasizing these differences.
Grade 3: Before you begin tracing the plant, brainstorm a list of the various parts of a plant with your child. As your child traces the plant, ask them to identify which parts they are tracing. Once you’ve finished creating your plant silhouette, identify the parts that you cannot see. Research these parts online and use a different colour to draw them in on the interior of your silhouette!
Grade 4: The unique characteristics of plants and animals make for the most interesting silhouettes! Once your child has finished tracing the silhouette of their animal or plant, ask them to identify what adaptations their plant/animal has that helps them to survive. Is it a duck with webbed feet? A rose with thorns? Challenge them to create a second version of the silhouette without these adaptations – how would this affect their chosen plant or animal?
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
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