Shadow Superhero Signals - Innovation Kids Lab

STEM preschool activities (or as we like to say, STEAM activities) is an easy way to incorporate fun learning and encourage creative thinking at home.

Use the 5 simple questions we listed below to teach your child to think like a scientist (or artist). To us, thinking like a scientist and thinking like an artist go together like peanut butter and jelly. By getting in the habit of asking your child investigative open-ended questions you will expand their knowledge and keep them curious. These are essential skills that your child will need in order to be successful later in life.

Setting up a science experiment or investigation does not have to take a lot of time or money. The preschool science activity featured below we did in one afternoon and cost us zero dollars.

Introduce thinking like a scientist by using the scientific method and discover how light and shadow may be used to create a superhero signal. Lil B (5yrs) and I discussed super hero signals first and then created our own. I recorded Lil B’s responses to our 5 questions so you can see how we used the scientific method to discover how super heroes create a signal in the sky.

(Click Here to download and print a free copy of our Scientific Method for Young Thinkers)

How to Use the Scientific Method with Preschoolers

Science Challenge: How do superheroes create a signal in the sky?
I showed Lil B a picture of the bat signal (Google “bat signal”- lots of photos to reference) as we were discussing the science challenge question.

1. ASK QUESTIONS “I wonder..”

Lil B’s questions: Why do superhero have signals? Why does it have light?

2. HYPOTHESIS “I think…”

Lil B’s responses: They {superheroes} have signals so they know who to rescue. They use light because it is dark outside.

3. EXPERIMENT “I see…” (Please note we did the activity below and then continued with our discussion).

Lil B: “Hey, Mom look it is my own bat signal. The light goes through my signal. The light makes the shadow part”.

4: Observation “I discovered…”

Lil B: “I discovered that bat signals need light and the light goes around the bat to make the shadow”.

5. Conclusion “I know…”

Lil B: I know that light is needed to see the shadow of the bat for the bat signal.

How to Create Your Own Superhero Signal

superhero_pin_2

Materials:

Paper

Markers

Scissors

Flashlight

Tutorial:

Step 1: Draw your own superhero logo. We looked up some examples of Lil B’s favorite superheroes’ logos to get some inspiration.

Step 2: Cut out around the outside of the superhero logo and along the inside of the logo (but around the drawing). Lil B’ cut out around the outside of the logo but I did the cutting around the inside of the logo.

Step 3: Go in a dark room and shine the flashlight on your superhero signal. See the shadow reflect on the wall creating your own superhero signal.

Additional Questions to Ask:

How does the paper create the shadow?

How does the superhero signal change when you move the light close to the signal or move it far away?

What would happen if we turned off the flashlight?

What would happen if we turned on other lights in the room?

Shadow Activity Extensions

Lego Inspired Shadow Drawing | Hand Made Kids Art

Shadow Sensory Play | A Little Pinch of Perfect

For more Science Preschool Activities be sure to check out our fellow Creative Preschool friends listed below. Twice a month we bring you fun hands on activities designed for our young learners.

Tornado in a Jar | ArtsyMomma

Static Electricity Butterfly Experiment | I Heart Crafty Things

Pop Rock Balloons: Easy Science Experiment with Candy | A Little Pinch of Perfect

Make Charts with Preschoolers | Pink Stripey Socks