We all love a sunny day and it makes a perfect day to try some outdoor STEAM with these LEGO construction paper sun prints. Quick and easy to set up, this is a fun science activity with an added art bonus. We have tons of simple STEM ideas to share with you!

LEGO Construction Paper Sun Prints for Outdoor STEM

Make Sun Prints For Summer Science

Take learning outdoors this summer with neat STEM ideas that feel much more like play than learning! We love building with LEGO and this week’s 31 Days Of Outdoor STEM theme was artier than we are used too!

I thought it might be fun to design LEGO pictures on our construction paper and see what happened. When I originally checked out solar sun print activities, they use a special solar paper. Well, this mama had plain old construction paper and a pretty impatient six-year-old.

What Is STEM For Kids?

So you might ask, what does STEM actually stand for? STEM is science, technology, engineering, and math. The most important thing you can take away from this, is that STEM is for everyone!

Yes, kids of all ages can work on STEM projects and enjoy STEM lessons.  STEM activities are great for group work, too! See our LEGO STEM activities!

STEM is everywhere! Just look around.  The simple fact that STEM surrounds us is why it’s so important for kids to be a part of, to use and to understand STEM.

From the buildings you see in town, the bridges that connect places, the computers we use, the software programs that go with them, and to the air we breathe, STEM is what makes it all possible.

Interested in STEM plus ART? Check out all our STEAM Activities!

Engineering is an important part of STEM. What is engineering in kindergarten, and elementary?  Well, it’s putting together simple structures and other items, and in the process learning about the science behind them. Essentially, it’s a whole lot of doing! 

STEM Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce STEM more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

Click here for your FREE Summer activities pack!

How To Make Sun Prints

Supplies:

  • LEGO Minifigures and Cool LEGO pieces
  • Construction Paper or Solar Paper
  • Trays {optional but useful for transporting}
  • Assorted other items if desired

NOTE: If you want frame-able art, you will want to go with the sun print kit instead of construction paper.

Instructions:

STEP 1. Choose your paper.

We used blue, black, and purple construction paper. I ended up tearing the sheets in half, but you can use full ones. Depending on how creative and inspired your kids are feeling, this is a terrific open-ended design activity.

My son just wanted to get them out in the sun. He was eager to see what the different color papers would look like. We picked out neat LEGO pieces and added mini-figures to see what would happen with the different holes and openings of the bricks.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:  Painting with Rain

5

STEP 2. Place the papers out in the sun and add the LEGO pieces.

Take care if it is a windy day and make sure they are secure. We made these before the school bus came and I put them out after he was off to school.

We checked them when he got home at 3 pm, so they were out in the full sun for about six and a half hours. I can’t quite say if they would have been done sooner since I promised to wait for him.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: LEGO Week Summer STEM Challenge

4

Our Sun Print Results

This does make for cool LEGO construction paper sun prints that anyone can do!

He was so excited to check out what each piece looked like after he lifted it up. Turn the paper over and you can see how much difference in color there is.

The sun is powerful, and it’s a good reminder to wear sunscreen. See the science below.

What else can you use besides LEGO? Take a walk around the backyard or open up the junk drawer! This super simple sun prints science and art activity is a great anytime activity with very little set up.

Just don’t turn the sprinkler on where you have placed them! We found out the hard way with a different science project!

3

The Science Of Sun Printing

The sun is made up of ultraviolet rays. These ultraviolet rays can break down the chemical bonds in different materials and some much more so than others. Our construction paper was high on the list.

A fun experiment would be to try different types of paper and compare the results. Some paper might reflect rather than absorb some of the sun’s rays making it less likely to fade as much.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 25 Summer Science Experiments 

7

Get your quick and easy brick building challenges!

2 Comments

  2. Pingback: Earth Science Right Outside Your Door | A2Z Homeschooling

Comments are closed.