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Northern lights, or auroras, are nature’s majestic light shows sent from the heavens to earth. They are spectacular to view and stunning in photographs or art. A northern lights squish painting project celebrates the vibrancy and uniqueness of this natural light display.
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Ten Facts About Northern Lights
- Northern lights are dazzling neon light shows visible in night skies.
- Electrically charged particles from the sun interact with gases in the earth’s atmosphere to produce the auroras.
- Charged particle collisions with oxygen in the upper atmosphere cause green dominant auroras; collisions with nitrogen in the slightly lower atmosphere cause blue or purple-red auroras.
- Northern lights can also showcase pink, blue, orange, or yellow colors.
- The dancing lights are seen over 200 nights a year in northern skies.
- There are different kinds of northern lights. They can display as arcs, shooting rays, coronas, or patchy and pulsating lights.
- Remote northern places with clear, dark nights are optimum aurora viewing locations.
- Yellowknife, NWT, and Fairbanks, Alaska are two prime locations for observing northern lights.
- The best time to see auroras is from October to May.
- Northern lights can occasionally be seen from airplanes, especially on polar flights.
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Northern Lights Squish Painting Art Activity
This art activity is inspired by the colors and shapes of northern lights.
Materials To Collect:
- 12 x 12 pieces of black fade-resistant construction paper
- bright green and magenta tempera paints
- paint containers
- disposable plate
- spoons
- long pieces of string or yarn
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Fold 12-inch by 12-inch pieces of black construction paper in half. Set out bright green and magenta tempera paints.
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Invite your child to spoon both paint colors onto the paper.
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Ask your early learner to fold over the paper and rub a hand over it.
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Encourage your child to open the paper and admire the art. It is always exciting to see the designs created.
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Offer string to add interest to the art activity.
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Ask your little learner to drop magenta paint onto the paper, and lay a string in green paint. Pressing over the string with a spoon is helpful to make sure the string is paint-soaked.
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Next, ask your child to lay the string on the paper in a serpentine shape.
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With one hand lightly on the folded paper, have your child pull out the string slowly and carefully.
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The art will be stunning.
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View a Northern Lights Squish Painting video tutorial.
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Northern Lights Paint Project Variations
The paint colors can be adjusted. A bit of yellow can be added to green paint to add vibrancy, and a drop of white can be added to magenta paint to brighten it.
Paint colors can be varied by introducing turquoise, red, or pink.
A longer string can be used.
Paint can be dripped and paint-soaked string can be applied more than once on each art project.
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Northern lights add ambiance to long, dark, cold northern winters. They add excitement to camping trips or backyard wiener roasts. They are a spectacular subject for art projects.
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