Introduction
Children are naturally curious about the sun, light, and shadows and they can learn more about them using this simple STEM outdoor activities. This activity helps kids observe how shadows move throughout the day using translucent blocks.
By tracing shadows and revisiting them later, children begin to understand how the Earth’s movement changes the position of the sun.
It’s a beautiful blend of science, observation, and creative play.
Materials
Maison Rue James Blocks
Maison Rue Austin Blocks
Optional: Noa Blocks
Large sheet of paper
Marker or pencil
Step 1: Build Your Shadow Setup
Place a sheet of paper outside in a sunny spot.
Stack Austin Blocks to create a small platform.
Rest the lucite cubes from the James Blockson top.
You should now see colorful shadows and reflections on the paper.
Step 2: Trace the First Shadow
Ask your child to carefully trace around the shadow of the lucite blocks.
Label the time next to the drawing.
Example:
“Shadow – 1:00 PM”
This first outline becomes your starting point.
Step 3: Observe the Sun
Leave the blocks in place.
Come back about an hour later.
You’ll notice the shadow has moved.
Trace the new shadow outline in a different color.
Step 4: Compare the Shadows
Repeat this process throughout the afternoon.
Soon your child will see that:
Shadows move across the paper
The sun changes position in the sky
The length of shadows changes too
This introduces children to early earth and science concepts.
Questions to Ask
Encourage curiosity by asking:
“Why do you think the shadow moved?”
“Is the shadow longer or shorter now?”
“Where do you think it will go next?”
These questions build scientific thinking and observation skills.
Extend the Activity
Try experimenting with:
Different shapes or sizes of lucite blocks such as the Noa blocks.
Flashlights indoors
Stacking blocks at different heights
You can also repeat the activity on different days or seasons to compare results.
You can read more about how our open-ended toys support STEM learning here. If you enjoyed this activity and want to explore more you can check out our full activity library here.
