Make some sun prints

You’ll need

Dark construction paper
Flowers
Leaves
Seeds
Pinecones
Tape (optional)
Colouring pencils (optional)
Paints (optional)
Timer

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.

Planning and setting up this activity

This activity involves using lots of fun household items. Gather some low cost, safe items for people to use, such as large buttons, small toys, keys, shells, pencils, feathers and so on.
You may want to ask people to bring in some items to use from home. Remind everyone, including parents and carers, not to bring anything of precious, expensive, sentimental or treasured value. This is to prevent anything getting lost, damaged or broken. Not everyone will be able to bring items from home. There may be for lots of reasons, such as living situations or costs. You should consider bringing some items or spares for people to use.
Always stay sun safe by using sunscreen, wearing hats and sunglasses, staying hydrated, and having lots of rest breaks in the shade or indoors. Use NHS sun safety guidance and our hot weather guidance.

The North Wind and the Sun

'The North Wind and the Sun were arguing about which one of them was the strongest. Then, suddenly, they saw a man walking along wrapped in a warm coat.
The North Wind and the Sun agreed that whichever one of them could make the man take their coat off first should be considered stronger than the other.

The North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more he blew, the more the man wrapped his coat around him. The North Wind blew harder, but still the man kept his coat on. Eventually, the North Wind gave up.

Then the Sun began to shine. At first the sun’s rays were gentle and the warmth from the sun was nice cold of the North Wind. The man unzipped his cloak and let it hang loosely. The Sun's rays grew warmer and warmer. The man was getting warmer too. Finally, he became so warm that he took off his coat, and, to escape the blazing sunshine, sat down in shade under a tree.

The sun smiled and the North Wind had to admit that the Sun was the strongest.

We can learn that, although the wind and the sun both had power, it was the sun’s gentle and kind persuasion that run, rather than the North Wind’s force.

(The North Wind and the Sun from Aesop’s Fables, suggested by 1st Hogton Scouts)

Running this activity

Gather everyone together and ask everyone what they know about the sun. The Sun is the star at the centre of our solar system, and it's orbited by all the planets, including Earth. Without the Sun, life on Earth would not be possible as it provides heat and light for our planet. The Sun's light helps us to see clearly, even on cloudy days! It also helps us know what time of day it is; we get up in the morning when the Sun's light is bright and go to sleep when we can't see the Sun's light any more. It also helps plants to grow, affects all our weather and produces energy, including ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light can damage our skin, so we should wear sunscreen to help protect us from sunburn.
Explain that today you’ll be making special art prints using the sun's ultraviolet light. The dyes used to make coloured construction paper make it bright, but the dyes are unstable in ultraviolet (UV) light. Therefore, the paper’s colour will fade if it’s exposed to a strong source of UV light, such as the Sun.
Place all the objects in the middle of the space. Now, explain that people will choose a few of the objects. Depending on the number of people and objects, you may wish to put a number limit on how many objects people can use. Tell everyone to pick a few objects that they think will make interesting shapes on their paper. People could also cut shapes from cardboard and use these too.
Next, take some construction paper, then lay the items flat on the paper. The objects should be making good contact with the paper. You may need to use tape to stick them down if it’s windy.
When everyone’s ready, head outside to a sunny spot and place the papers in the sun. You could also place the papers near or taped onto a sunny window.
An adult should set a timer for about 15-20 minutes, as the sun needs some time to work its magic.
While waiting, you could tell them the story of the sun and the wind from Aesop’s fables (see story card) or play a sun-themed game, such as shadow tag.
After 15-20 minutes, carefully pick up the sun prints, take them back indoors if you need to, then carefully remove the objects from the paper.
Ask everyone to look at the shapes and patterns left behind by the objects and ask if anyone knows what’s happened. The UV light from the sun has created the prints by changing the colour of the paper where it wasn't covered.
You could use crayons, paints, felt tips or other craft materials to for add to the sun prints.

Reflection

This activity was all about the sun and how powerful it is. What did your pictures turn out like? Did it work or turn out like you expected? Did it not work as well for anyone or any specific objects?

Look at your picture and other people’s pictures. Can you see all the shapes clearly? Why do you think the paper changed colour in the places without the objects?

The UV light from the sun has created the prints by changing the colour of the paper, but it could only do this where the paper wasn't covered. This shows us how powerful the sun is and why we need to wear sunscreen to help protect our skin, just like the objects protected the paper.

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Gardening and nature: Everyone must wash their hands after the activity has finished. Wear gloves if needed. Explain how to safely use equipment and set clear boundaries so everyone knows what’s allowed.