Activity Introduction

What is as big as you are but weighs nothing at all? Your shadow! In this activity you will explore shadows. You will look at how shadows are made, and you will experiment with creating shadows. You can then create an artwork around the shadow of one of your favourite toys, and then spread a little sunshine by sharing your artwork with your friends and family.

This activity is a great one to do together as a family.

Ideal for: Ages 4 to 7

Themes: 

  • investigate 
  • be creative 

Time required: 30+ minutes (time will vary according to how much time kids spending creating their artworks)

Curriculum connections: Science, Visual Arts, Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking

Lesson & Curriculum Details

Resources Required

  • Background information: The Benefits of Nurturing Creativity – factsheet
  • Art-making materials such as paper, pencils, marker pens, crayons and chalk
  • A range of objects from around your house made from different materials, such as wood, plastic, metal, different types of paper and fabric
  • Sunshine
  • Torch or lamp
  • Umbra image (optional)

[email protected] from Cool Australia

[email protected] resources are designed for parents and teachers to use with children in the home environment. They can be used as stand alone activities or built into existing curriculum-aligned learning programs. Our [email protected] series includes two types of resources. The first are fun and challenging real world activities for all ages, the second are self-directed lessons for upper primary and secondary students. These lessons support independent learning in a remote or school settings.

Faber-Castell have long understood the importance of creativity to all people, especially to young people. They are also continuously searching for environmentally friendly processes and high-quality materials to enhance children’s creative experience throughout every development phase. For more information about Faber-Castell, click here.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum

Worksheets

Student Worksheet

Shade A Little Sunshine - Activity Instructions

What is as big as you are but weighs nothing at all? Your shadow! In this activity you will explore shadows. You will look at how shadows are made, and you will experiment with creating shadows. You can then create an artwork around the shadow of one of your favourite toys, and then spread a little sunshine by sharing your artwork with your friends and family.

Part A: Background to Shadows

Step 1. In this activity you will look at shadows. Begin by having a discussion with someone in your family around these questions:

  • I wonder what shadows are?
  • I wonder how shadows are made?
  • I wonder what you need to make shadows?

Take some time to think and talk about your answers. You could then get some help to read the following:

Shadows are the dark shapes that are made when an object stops light from getting through. 

You must have a source of light to make a shadow. A source of light could be the sun, a lightbulb, a torch or a fire

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