Capture shadows with creative art projects
Shadows can be fascinating to children and making shadows comes naturally for some toddlers, as they like to stop and look at the shapes that their bodies make as they walk along the sidewalk. Instead of hurrying them along, encourage shadow play with these projects.
Shadow Pictures
Make animal shadows with stencils
Create shadows with objects on a piece of white paper. Have the kids work on this outside with the sun behind them, or next to a window with the sun shining in. Collect a variety of small objects and let them trace the shadows that they make. Show them use a flashlight to capture shadows at different angles.
Have toddlers trace a cookie cutter or a large animal stencil on a piece of paper. Use a gray crayon to color in the shape. Trace the cookie cutter again and cut it out. Then color the animal shape and make a little tab to stand it up next to its shadow. Encourage toddlers to color a tiger shape with orange and black stripes or be creative and make a purple one with pink polka dots.
Dramatic Art with Shadows
Use common objects to make your shadow puppet show extra special
Create a shadow play with toddlers using their favorite storybook. Make the characters by cutting out the outlines of their shapes on card stock. Tape to a wooden craft stick. Set up a shadow stage using a white cloth with a lamp behind it. Perform the story one time and then let the child play with the shadow puppets and tell it in their own words.
Practice more dramatic art by setting the child between a bright light source and a piece of poster board or butcher paper hung on the wall. Let them make shadows with their bodies to tell a story, or have them make shadows using cut out puppets.
Let the child pose while standing in front of the poster board or butcher paper. Quickly trace the shadow they have made with a marker. Take the picture off the wall and let them color in their shape.
Groundhog Day Shadow Art Projects
Celebrate Groundhog Day with Shadow art
Groundhog day is all about shadows. Use this theme to create fun art projects. Print Groundhog Day coloring pages from free online sources. Color and hang to celebrate the day.
Make a groundhog pop up puppet. Use a large brown pom pom and googly eyes to make the animal. Attach to a craft stick. Use a shoe box or other small box to make a home for the groundhog. Add green construction paper to the top for grass, and cut into fringe along the edges. Make a little den on the inside with paper and crayons. Cut a 2-inch hole for the groundhog to fit through. Crumble a piece of paper to make rocks to place around the hole or use green construction paper fringe to disguise the hole. Let the kids poke the groundhog up and down as he checks for his shadow.
