Polar Lights!

Materials

• Black construction paper
• White Paper 
• Different colored chalk
• Toothbrush 
• White Paint 

Activity Directions 

1. Watch the videos on the polar lights linked below. 
2. Perform the Polar Lights Activity (Note: The video linked below also walks you through the project.)
   1. Start by covering the bristles of your toothbrush with white paint. Angle the toothbrush towards your black construction paper and run your fingers through the paint-covered bristles to create white specks on the paper. Wait for the paint to dry.
      1. These white specks will represent stars in the night sky. 
   2. After the paint has dried, take your white chalk and add a horizon line about ⅓ of the distance from the bottom of the paper.
   3. Then, take your white sheet of paper and tear a strip off such that you create a jagged edge. Use your different colored chalks to rub a line of colored segments along the edge. 
   4. Then, using your fingers, swipe up along the colored part to create the effect of the auroras. The chalk should swipe up off the white paper and create a gradient on the black paper. 
   5. Repeat this process to create more streams of light. (Note: Make sure you wipe your fingers to ensure that the colors don’t mix.)
   6. When you are done creating the strings of light, take your white chalk again and draw a mountain range on top of the horizon line. 
      1. We are drawing a snowy mountain range because the lights are best seen at the poles. The lights at the northern pole are called the Aurora Borealis and the lights at the southern pole are called the Aurora Australis. 
   7. You are done! Decorate your drawing as you wish!

Suggested Videos: 
Polar Lights Videos: https://youtu.be/czMh3BnHFHQ, https://youtu.be/nHn5OO1t1yc
Polar Lights  Project: https://youtu.be/MjS9YGYA6CU
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Published 10.3.2020

Author: Rupali Venkatesan