Shadow Drawing
Line toys up in the sun and draw round their shadows. Sunny-day magic.
By WonderCraft Kids Editorial Team, Editorial team · Updated 20 July 2026
Put a sheet of paper in the sunshine, stand a dinosaur at the edge, and its shadow falls across the page ready to be traced. Come back two hours later and the shadow has moved — which is a whole second lesson.
What you need
- Large sheets of paper
- Pencils, markers or chalk
- Toy figures, dinosaurs or plants in pots
- Tape or stones to hold the paper down
- Chalk for paving alternative
Step by step
- 1
Find a bright patch of ground with reliable sun.
- 2
Tape the paper down and stand a figure at one edge.
- 3
Trace round the shadow it casts onto the paper.
- 4
Move the figure, add another, build a whole shadow scene.
- 5
Colour the shapes in when the tracing is done.
- 6
Mark the time, then come back after lunch and trace the same figure again.
What kids learn
Light travels in straight lines
Shadows are the shape of blocked light. Seeing the outline makes an abstract idea physical.
Earth's rotation
The shadow moving over two hours is direct evidence that the Earth is turning.
Observational drawing
Tracing an edge trains the hand-eye link that freehand drawing later relies on.
Make it easier
Use chalk directly on paving and trace their own body shadow. Big, fast, hilarious.
Make it more challenging
Mark the same shadow every hour for a day and turn it into a working sundial.
Safety and supervision
- Sun hat, sunscreen and a water bottle — this is a stationary activity in full sun.
- Never look directly at the sun, and say so explicitly.
- Watch the ground temperature on hot paving.
Adult supervision is required for every activity on this site. Read our full child safety guidelines.
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Shadow Drawing Outdoors
Ages 4-8 · no mess · sunny day science
Ages 4+ · No mess
Suggested pin description
Shadow Drawing Outdoors: Line toys up in the sun and draw round their shadows. Sunny-day magic. Ages 4+, 30 minutes total, no mess. Full step-by-step instructions and a materials list at WonderCraft Kids.
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Frequently asked questions
What if it is overcast?+
Do it indoors with a torch and a wall. The shadow is bigger and even easier to trace.
Best time of day?+
Mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Midday shadows are too short to be interesting.
