Shadow art invites kids to turn sunlight into creative expression. By tracing, decorating, and experimenting with shadows, scouts can explore how light interacts with objects and how shadows shift throughout the day. These activities blend science and art, helping children observe the movement of the sun, understand the basics of light and shape, and create something beautiful in the process.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Daisy Space Science Explorer badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 5 of GSUSA Brownie Outdoor Art Creator, Junior Outdoor Art Explorer, Cadette Outdoor Art Apprentice, Senior Outdoor Art Expert, and Ambassador Outdoor Art Master badge requirements.
- Leaders – please be aware of double dipping and make your own informed choice.
Info Needed for Daisy Space Science: The sun looks like it moves across the sky because Earth is spinning. When we see the sun in the morning, our part of Earth is turning toward the light. At night, our part of Earth turns away from the sun. It looks like the sun has gone down. Shadows change during the day because the sun’s position in the sky changes.
Possible Projects:
- Make Colored Shadows (20–30 min) – Use colored cellophane or transparent materials to cast colorful shadows and learn about light filtering.
- Shadow Chalk Drawings (20–30 min) – Trace shadows of toys or people with chalk and decorate them.
- Shadow Over Time Art (30–45 min) – Observe and trace shadows at different times of day to see how they shift.
- Shadow Poster (20–30 min) – Trace shadows of objects or people and decorate them to explore shape and light.
- Shadow Puppets (25–35 min) – Create puppets and use a light source to cast shadows for storytelling.
- Shadow Sidewalk Chalk Art (25–35 min) – Create large-scale shadow art on sidewalks using chalk and sunlight.
The Badge Archive 