Grades 4: Solar Powered Prints

Solar Photograms

Objective:

This lesson focuses on exploring the basics of the photographic process by creating a solar photogram using cyanotype chemistry and found objects. A photogram is made by placing objects directly onto paper and then exposing to light. Our process will involve photosensitive chemistry. Students will choose a few objects from those provided to create an interesting composition on a piece of photosensitive paper. They will place their compositions in the sun and observe how the sunlight “develops” their photograph resulting in a photogram of Prussian blue and white where the UV light was blocked by the objects. Students will be able to discuss how the solar printing process worked and how various factors such as exposure time, intensity of UV light according to the current season, and arrangement of their objects affected their results.

Materials: Water bottles and sunscreen. JTREE will provide remaining materials.

Standards:

• Crosscutting: CONNECTIONS
  • Physical, earth, and engineering
• Science & Engineering Practices
  • Hypothesize how solar works
  • Connect to solar energy
  • Experiment with printing – hypothesize
• Disciplinary Core Ideas
  • Earth science – history/evolution of the sun
  • Physical science – natural process of the sun; its importance to life on earth
  • Engineering- solar energy
• Concepts from solar printing
  • Paper covered in a photo-sensitive chemical that changes when exposed to light
  • Water stops the chemical process – fixes the shadows of objects onto the paper

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