Shadow Drawing
Stand a toy in the sun and draw around its shadow.
- Ages
- 3–9 yrs
- Play
- 15–30 min
- Prep
- 3 min
- Mess
- barely any
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- outside
You’ll need
Things you probably have at home.
- paper or sidewalk chalkDon’t have it? Amazon
- something to draw with
Optional
- toys to cast the shadows
- a flashlight, if the sun is not outDon’t have it? Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Find a patch of bright sun — a windowsill, a doorstep, or the sidewalk.
Stand a toy on the paper so its shadow falls across it.
Draw around the shadow carefully.
Move the toy away and look at the outline together — it is always stranger than expected.
Color the shadow in however they like.
Come back an hour later and draw the same shadow again in its new position.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Sun hat and shade breaks on bright days.
Make it different next time
- Draw around their own shadow on the sidewalk with chalk.
- Use a flashlight indoors and move it to stretch the shadow.
Cleanup: Chalk washes off with a bucket of water, which is an activity in itself.
Three more like this
- Good for siblings
