Sunshine Art Studio
Grab your craft supplies and let’s get outside! Epic masterpieces this way…
Hello again, Prelove Scientists! This month, we’re swapping our lab coats for art smocks and letting nature lead the way. Our hypothesis? You can turn everyday scraps into sunshine-powered works of art. Get ready to experiment with color, shape, and shadow—all with the help of your favorite giant fireball in the sky.
Spoiler alert: Yes, we can! Grab your lab coats (or an old T-shirt), and let’s get crafting.
Solar-Powered Shadow Drawings
Let the sun do the tracing!
Ingredients:
- Sidewalk chalk or crayons
- Large sheets of secondhand paper or cardboard
Random household objects (toy cars, spoons, leaves, etc.)
Method:
Lay your paper or cardboard outside on a sunny patch of sidewalk or grass.
Place your chosen object(s) on top to cast a shadow.
Use chalk or crayons to trace the outline of the shadow.
Move objects and repeat for a cool layered look—or color inside for maximum flair.
Optional: Add googly eyes to turn shadows into characters!
Parent Lab Report:
“My daughter traced her teddy bear’s shadow, then gave him sunglasses and a skateboard. Instant masterpiece—and zero mess inside the house.”
— Morgan, Parent Scientist
Melted Crayon Canvas
Melty magic, minus the microwave.
Ingredients:
Old crayons (bonus points for broken bits!)
A piece of cardboard, canvas, or even an old baking tray
Aluminum foil
Sunshine!
Method:
Peel and break crayons into small pieces.
Cover your surface with foil and arrange crayon pieces into a design.
- Place it in direct sun and let science (aka heat transfer) do its thing.
- Once melted, carefully bring it inside to cool—and admire your drippy, colorful creation.
- Optional: Frame it and name it something dramatic, like Solar Storm 2.0.
Parent Lab Report:
“ We used up a whole bin of broken crayons. I call that a parenting win. The swirls actually looked amazing…like psychedelic tie-dye meets Jackson Pollock.”
— Leo, Parent Scientist
Nature Print Art
The ultimate outdoor art-meets-science mash-up.
Ingredients:
- Construction paper or cardboard
Leaves, flowers, feathers—whatever you find on a nature walk
A sunny windowsill or patch of grass
Rocks or small weights
Method:
Lay your paper in the sun. Arrange your nature finds on top in fun shapes.
Use rocks to hold everything in place.
- Leave it for a few hours and watch how the sun fades the exposed parts of the paper.
Remove the objects to reveal your sun print silhouette!
Optional: Use markers to add extra details or turn it into a card for Grandma.
Parent Lab Report:
“We made one for each cousin with different leaves and wrote their names underneath. Boom! Summer art and birthday presents sorted.”
— Nina, Parent Scientist
Reminder! Share your sunshine creations with us @preloveyoukids to get featured in our Stories. And don’t forget: always wear sunscreen while conducting science outdoors. Lab coats optional, hats encouraged.
