Create Pinhole Art

This is a 4-H Solar Eclipse activity by Cynthia Canan, PhD, State 4-H STEM Specialist, Ohio State University Extension and Sara Newsome, 4-H Alumnus and STEM Student Assistant, The Ohio State University
Reviewed by: Wayne Schlingman, PhD, Director of the Arne Slettebak Planetarium, The Ohio State University and Sophia Whisman, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development,  Ohio State University Extension-Morgan County

Topic: Space Science | Estimated time: 30 minutes | For individuals and groups | PDF for PRINTING

NOTE: It is never safe to look at the sun without proper eye protection. The only time this changes is when the moon has completely blocked all parts of the sun during a total solar eclipse.

Purpose

Create art or use an object to view the changing shadow during the eclipse.

Materials

• art (printed on dark cardstock)

• blank dark cardstock

• pencils

• pushpins

• scissors

• optional: any object with holes, such as a colander or square cracker

Instructions

1. Print and cut out the art or provide blank dark cardstock for youth to create their own.
2. Have each youth select or create a piece of art and then use pushpins to make holes along the inside edge and/or add holes to create a pattern.
3. During the solar eclipse event, youth should hold their pinhole art and/or objects over a solid piece of blank white paper, a table, or the ground and watch as the light streams through the holes and changes with the moving eclipse!

For more solar eclipse activities, visit go.osu.edu/4hsolareclipse.

Unless otherwise noted, all images provided by iStockphoto.com by Getty Images.

ALL SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING RISKS BORNE BY THE VIEWER. Any and all risks associated by viewing the solar eclipse on any property operated by, or with glasses distributed by the Ohio State University, are borne and accepted solely by the individual taking such action. Instructions on how to use the glasses are printed on the inside of the glasses. Please read them carefully and follow the instructions exactly as written. You hereby release The Ohio State University, its Trustees, boards, officers, employees and representatives from any liability, for any and all claims and causes of action for loss of or damage to property and for any and all illness or injury to your person that may result from or occur during your participation in the activity, whether caused by negligence of The Ohio State University, its Trustees, boards, officers, employees, or representatives, or otherwise. See instructions on glasses before use.