Fun and educational shadow activities for kids are a hands-on interactive way to learn about the sun and the science of light.

These interactive ways to play with shadows outside are perfect for groundhog day and year round fun!

For more outside activities to do with the kids check out Get Outside and Connect.

Fun and Educational Shadow Activities for Kids

5 Fun Outdoor Shadow Activites for kids

1. Play and learn with your shadow

There are so many fun ways to play and learn with your shadow. The imagination is an endless source of inspiration.

You can have a tea party with your shadow, play games with your shadow, and even go on a nature hunt with your shadow.

My daughters favorite playtime activity with her shadow is to be chased by it. Her shadow falls behind her on one of our walking routes at this time of year. She loves to run away from it as if it were chasing her.

She continually looks over her shoulder as she runs and runs chirping with excitement and giggling with joy. Oh to be a kid again!

2.  Dance with your shadow

Put on some fun music in an outside area where you and your kids can see your shadows and have fun dancing with them. Feel free to add in shaker eggs and other musical instruments of choice. Kids love this activity.

Add in more fun by turning off and on the music and having your kids freeze when the music stops. Your kids will have a hard time not giggling at their silly frozen shadows.

Looking for kids music that won’t drive you nuts? Click on the link!

3.  Make shadow art

Shadow art supplies:

Use any or all of the following to create shadow art.

• Tempura paint
• Kids marking pens
• Pastels
• Charcoal
• Crayons
• Chalk
• Chalk paint

Shadow Art Directions

Bring art supplies outside to an area where the sun is shining and look for objects and plants to trace, shade, or paint the shadow of.

Place your paper in the shadow, pick your artistic medium of choice, and get creative!

For more ideas and information check out Shadow Art Outdoor STEAM for kids.

4. Take pictures of your shadow antics

This one is always a hit with my daughter. You can see some of our shadow fun in the photo of our family in the shadow below.

Taking pictures of your shadow can be tough. It’s hard to find a way to take the picture without the camera being obvious in the photo. In the photo below, I was holding my daughter’s point and shoot camera at my chest.

It’s also hard to take pictures of other people’s shadows without finding some part of your own shadow in the frame, but it is sure is fun to try!

5. Human Sundial Shadow Science Experiment

This shadow activity for kids is both fun and educational. I loved making human sundials with my classmates in elementary school. It’s a great activity for classrooms, homeschoolers, and after school fun!

For more information check out Human Sundial Shadow Science Experiment.

Fun and educational shadow activities for kids are a hands-on way to learn about the sun and the science of light. These interactive outdoor shadow activities for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and elementary aged kids are perfect for groundhog day and year round fun!

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