UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs & Fossils Block E: Ice Age Fossils Session 5
Preparing the Silhouette Stations
What you will need:
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A large cardboard box / thick cardboard
Scissors
Tracing paper
Bright lamps
Black sugar paper
Chalk
Photosensitive paper
Acetate sheets
What you need do to:
Station 1: Shadow Theatre
1. Have an adult help you to cut away most of the cardboard box,
leaving only two sides, still joined together. Cut away most of
one side, leaving two ‘legs’ to help the theatre screen stand up
at an angle.
If you are using thick cardboard instead of a box, create two
legs by folding strips, and prop up one large oblong on them for
a screen.
2. Cut out a window in the cardboard screen.
3. Stick a sheet of tracing paper inside the window.
4. Set up the theatre with a bright lamp behind it and place some
small sheets of sugar paper, chalk and scissors nearby.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.
UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs & Fossils Block E: Ice Age Fossils Session 5
Station 2: Traditional Silhouettes
1. Stick up several large sheets of black sugar paper on the wall.
2. Shine bright lamps onto them.
3. Place some chalk and scissors nearby.
Station 3: Sun Printing
1. Place some photosensitive paper (in its box), some black sugar paper and acetate sheets on a
table.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.
UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs & Fossils Block E: Ice Age Fossils Session 5
Making Silhouettes
What you will need:
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Silhouette Stations (see above)
Cameras
What you need to do:
Station 1: Shadow Theatre
1. Draw some Ice Age and Mesozoic fossils on the black paper
with chalk (look at your sketchbook for ideas).
2. Cut out your fossil shapes.
3. Decide how to arrange them on the shadow theatre so they
cast a clear shadow. Remember, the silhouette will be
reversed when people look at it from the front of the
theatre.
4. Make sure you take a picture of your silhouette!
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.
UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs & Fossils Block E: Ice Age Fossils Session 5
Station 2: Traditional Silhouettes
1. Find a partner. Ask them to stand sideways between the
bright lamp and the black paper.
2. How can you make the shadow clearer? Make any
adjustments you need to get a good, clear shadow on the
paper.
3. Draw around the silhouette of your partner’s face with
chalk.
4. Swap places, and ask your partner to draw around your
silhouette. You could try it with objects, too!
5. Take down the black paper and cut out your silhouettes.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.
UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs & Fossils Block E: Ice Age Fossils Session 5
Station 3: Sun Printing
1. Draw some Ice Age and Mesozoic fossils on the black paper
with chalk (look at your sketchbook for ideas).
2. Cut out your fossil shapes.
3. Decide how to arrange your fossil picture on a sheet of
acetate.
4. This next bit has to be done quickly! Lay your acetate with
the black paper fossils on it on a sheet of photosensitive
paper and take it to a window.
5. After about half an hour, take the acetate and paper fossils
off. You should have a silhouette where the sun couldn't
affect the paper.
6. Quickly take a picture of your sun print before it fades!
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.