Trace a shadow
You will trace the same toy’s shadow twice with an hour between. Moving the toy can imitate a change in the light, so marking its position helps you compare fairly.
- Art
- Explorer
- About 15 minutes
Grown-up needed: yes for preparation, selecting materials and supervising any water or outdoor work
What you need
- A toy
- A sunny window
- Paper
- A pencil
- A grown-up
The rule
Trace it, wait an hour, trace it again.
How to do it
- Ask a grown-up to choose a comfortable window position away from glare.
- Place the toy on the paper and mark its base position.
- Trace the visible shadow outline.
- Write the time beside that outline.
- Return one hour later without moving the toy or paper.
- Trace the new shadow in a different pencil line style.
Why it works
A shadow marks a region where the toy blocks light that would otherwise reach the paper. As the Sun’s apparent direction changes, the blocked region changes too. A low light direction can produce a longer shadow than a higher one. The toy’s height and position also affect its outline, which is why you keep them fixed. If cloud makes the shadow faint or missing, record that condition rather than inventing a neat second trace.
Make it harder
- Compare the shadow tip as well as the outline.
- Predict the next direction before returning.
- Explain why a fixed lamp would not reproduce the same hourly change.
Ask Taz
- Why does a fixed toy make a changing shadow?
- Why does lower light often make a longer shadow?
- Why must I leave the paper in the same place?
For grown-ups
The estimate covers tracing, with an additional hour of waiting. A grown-up selects the window spot and nobody looks towards the Sun. Keep the toy and paper positions marked. Ask at dinner: “Which changes came from the light, and what accidental movement could have confused your comparison?”
Taz is an AI and can be wrong, so stay close by. Read how safety works on Taz.
Show us yours
Film your hands and what you made, not your face or name. Ask a grown-up before posting anywhere else.
Questions parents ask
Does the result need to look polished?
No. Begin with a small attempt and keep the first version so you can explain a change. The stated time is an estimate, and a careful observation or unfinished draft can still give you something useful to discuss.
How can a parent help without taking over?
Help with the space and listed preparation, then ask the child to describe their next choice. Let the rule guide the attempt instead of correcting every line or deciding the finished design for them.
Do we have to upload the work?
No. Showing it at home is enough. Online sharing remains optional and follows the privacy and grown-up permission line above.
More to try
See all Taz Challenges, or look through the science labs. One place for every why. Ask for early access at aitaz.com