Catching Sunlight
LESSON 3
Children explore the concept of light from the sun by creating a suncatcher.
Magnatiles or sun catcher blocks
Tissue paper
Scissors
Glue sticks
Optional
Contact paper
Black construction or cardstock paper
Hole punch
Yarn or string
Materials
Gather materials
Preparations
Facilitate hands-on exploration of sunlight and transparent blocks.
Encourage curiosity and questions about light and transparency.
Support creativity through a suncatcher art activity.
Guide observation of sunlight interactions with the suncatcher.
Explain the display of the suncatcher for continued enjoyment.
Objectives for Teachers
Children explore transparent blocks in the sunlight.
Children develop curiosity about light, transparency, and sunlight passing through different materials.
Children imagine and discuss how the world would be different if nothing was transparent.
Children express creativity in a hands-on activity making a suncatcher.
Objectives for Children
Collect and Connect
Practice singing the song “Mr. Sun” together with the actions you came up with.
Mr. Sun
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Hiding behind a tree.
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Hiding behind a tree.
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me.
Activity Flow
Why do you think the sunlight changes color when it passes through the block?
Why doesn’t the block/magnatile block the sunlight completely making it black? (find a solid object to show your child an example of what you are asking)
Why doesn’t the sunlight pass through?
What other objects around us allow light to pass through? (windows, glass, transparent plastic, glasses/sunglasses)
Can you imagine what it would be like if nothing was transparent? How would our home look on the inside?
Can you think of any situations where objects need to be transparent? (driving a car, glasses)
How do you think the sunlight travels to us?
What designs can you build with your blocks to catch the sunlight?
Begin this lesson by preparing a play space in a sunny spot. Encourage your child to build using magnatiles or sun catcher blocks.
While playing together, comment on how the blocks capture the sunlight and change it. As you continue to play and build, here are some questions you could ask.
3. After playing, suggest a fun activity to extend their learning. Let them know that you're going to create a suncatcher together, inspired by the blocks you played with. Gather the materials needed and work together to come up with a design for the suncatcher. Here are some ideas!
4. As you create the suncatcher, talk about how the transparent materials allow the sunlight to pass through, just like the blocks did. Encourage your child to think about how the colors and design might look when the sunlight is shining through it.
5. Once the suncatcher is complete, take it to different sunny spots in your house or outside. Observe how the sun catcher catches the light and how the colors and design come to life in the sunlight.
6. Find a sunny window in your home to display the suncatcher. Explain that this will allow the suncatcher to continue capturing and reflecting sunlight that can be enjoyed by everyone in the household.
