ZooZone for Kids

ZOO ZONE FOR KIDS DIY Craft: Sun Prints

By Emily Blum, Educator

What You'll Need

• Colorful construction paper • Clear plastic wrap, or a large piece of plexiglass • Leaves, flowers, toy animals or other flat items • Small rocks to use as weights

Some Science Connections Behind the Fun:

Some of the sun’s energy travels to Earth as light waves. Certain light waves, called ultraviolet waves, have enough energy to break the bonds of chemicals, like the dyes in the construction paper. In this experiment, you will see that the construction paper shaded by leaves and flowers did not change color. That is because the ultraviolet light waves were blocked out and could not damage the paper. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light can damage skin too. That is why it is smart to wear UV-blocking sunscreen or stay in the shade when the sun is strong. To be environmentally-friendly, we recommend marine-safe sunscreens. Check the ingredients labeled on the back of your sunscreen to ensure that marine-harming chemicals or micro/nano-sized particles are not included.

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Collect leaves, flowers, and other natural items. Look for flatter objects with interesting shapes. You can even get creative and use toy animals!

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Place colorful construction paper in the sunlight on a driveway, sidewalk, or table. What color do you think will work best? Make a prediction.

Create a design on the paper using the natural items you found.

Cover the items with clear plastic wrap (or plexiglass) and weigh the edges down with rocks, so that the plastic lays flat and won’t blow away.

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Leave your project in the sun for at least three to four hours. The longer you can leave it out in the sun, the better!

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Remove the plastic wrap and items from the paper to see the designs created. Was your prediction correct? What turned out the best?