Teaching Requirement: Can be fully asynchronous

Prompt: In this exercise, students will create shadow art using found materials in their homes.

Purpose: Explore shape and scale while developing an eye for 3D geometry and prototyping with odds and ends.

Materials Needed:

• Pencil and Paper
• Flat surface to build on (you should be able to anchor objects to this - a piece of cardboard or old magazine/book will do)
• Cardboard or similar material to create "walls"
• Light source (a lamp, flashlight or phone light)
• Projection Surface (a piece of paper or a blank stretch of wall)
• Toothpicks or something similar (like pins or kabob sticks)
• String or wire
• Glue or tape

Part 1: Setting the Scene

Choose one of the following prompts to create a shadow drawing. This should be about the height of your hand and include mostly solid shapes that make up an interesting silhouette (imagine a shadow puppet!). Don't be afraid to add your own twist by making your drawing a bit abstract.

Option 1 - Draw an imaginary friend

Option 2 - Draw an ordinary scene around your house (keep it simple, focus on one specific element like your sister reading on the couch)

Option 3 - Draw your favorite animal

Part 2: Setting the Stage

Depending on the materials you have on hand, you may want to assemble your found objects by stacking or hanging them. To create your "stage,"  follow these steps -

1. Set your anchoring surface on the table or floor. If you don't have hot glue, try finding a piece of packaging foam that you could stick toothpicks into. The anchoring surface should be heavy enough to prevent your sculpture from being knocked or blown over. If that's not possible, you can tape or weigh it down.
2. Using your cardboard, create a wall on either side of your stage, along with a "ceiling" that connects the two walls. You may want to use a couple of triangular pieces to keep the corners square. The whole stage should look like a window that you can see through.
3. Place your light source on one side of your stage window, and your projection surface on the other side. Experiment using your hands or a pencil in your "window" to make sure that the light properly creates a shadow on the projection surface.

Part 3: Gather Your Materials

Now that you have chosen your subject, you can begin to gather objects from around your home that can make up your shadow art. This can be anything, from buttons and beads to pieces of fruit and office supplies. They can also vary in size - within reason. 

Experiment with the materials you find - when you place an object close to the light source vs far away, how does it affect the projection? How does the shadow change when you rotate it 90 degrees?

Part 4: Assemble Your Sculpture

Place your pencil drawing on your projection surface to act as a guide. Then, turn on your light source and start constructing your sculpture!

To stack objects, you can use toothpicks or wire as a "skeleton" to glue to. If you don't have glue on hand, try using string to tie objects together or tape. If you have some packaging foam, you can stick toothpicks into it to anchor your sculpture.

To hang objects, use string and tape to suspend them from the walls and ceiling of your "window." 

Experiment with different configurations and have fun!