SUN PRINTS!
As an introduction to our Nature Printmaking unit, 3rd and 4th graders made this delightful sun prints!
We went on a nature walk to gather items from outdoors. Any flat item works... leaves, flowers, grass, pine needles. Items were laid out on the sun-sensative paper to make a collage.
We used pieces of plexiglass to sandwich the nature items, so they wouldn't get blown away.
We then set them in the sun for about 5 minutes... the paper changes from blue to white pretty quickly.
Once the paper was set from the sun, we held them prints under cool water for 2 minutes.
Ta-da!!!
We found that thicker leaves work best.. thinner flowers give a light image, but do not have as much detail.
This was a great opportunity to talk about positive and negative space as well.... up next, we'll be doing nature observational drawings and then nature foam prints.