STEM Activity: Become a Solar Art Designer

Did you know that a star powers our solar system with light and heat? Even when we enjoy the warmth of sunshine, the sun’s energy is stronger than we might realize. You can explore the power of the sun by creating one-of-a-kind artwork inspired by nature!

Materials Needed

• Construction paper
• Direct sunlight
• Items from nature (e.g., leaves, sticks, flowers, pebbles)
• Plexiglass (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Check the weather forecast before you begin this activity. You’ll need about two hours of direct sunlight to create your solar art.
    
2. Gather a few sheets of construction paper. Consider experimenting with different colors. Saturated colors, like black or brown, often provide a more dramatic effect.
    
3. Head outside and gather a few items from nature to decorate your construction paper. Consider objects with different shapes, as the objects’ shadows will create an interesting effect.
    
4. Once you have your natural objects, locate a flat surface, like a sidewalk or patio table, in a spot that receives direct sunlight. Place your construction paper here in the sun.
    
5. Create a design on the construction paper using your nature objects and be sure to leave some blank spaces on the paper. You might also place plexiglass over your design to prevent flat items, like leaves, from moving or blowing away.
    
6. Leave your design in direct sunlight for at least two hours.
    
7. Remove all your items from the construction paper and observe the awesome art print you’ve created with nature!
    
8. Show your sun print to a friend or family member and discuss these questions together:
   • What items from nature did you use to create your solar art? Why did you choose them?
   • What other items would you like to use to create solar art?
   • When do think is the best time of day to make solar art?
   • Could you make solar art using a flashlight? Why or why not?

What Are We Discovering?

As you explored solar art, what did you notice? Did the paper feel warm? That’s because the sun’s energy reaches Earth as solar radiation. Much of this radiation is visible light, or light you can see. The sun also produces ultraviolet (UV) light – light we cannot see. The areas of the paper that were not covered received more UV light, breaking down some of the chemical bonds in the paper’s dye and making it lighter.

Observing nature can inspire amazing scientific and technological advancements, and many National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductees credit nature as inspiration for their innovations. Inductee George de Mestral, for example, studied how burrs stuck to his dog’s fur. He looked at the shape of a burr under his microscope and then mimicked the shape, leading to his invention of VELCRO^® hook and loop fasteners.

Keep the STEM Fun Going!

How might nature inspire you to invent? Keep the STEM fun going by signing up for National Inventors Hall of Fame emails to receive the latest STEM activities.