About This Project

A 10–20 minutes craft for ages 3–10, using supplies you likely already have — Tape, Chalk, and Printer.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

Project Tags
  1. 1

    Find Supplies

    Do you have everything you need?
    Create a free GlueStick account to track supplies and see if you have what you need at a glance. Leave your kids tips about where supplies are stored in your household so they can set up and clean up their creative spaces independently.
    00:00
    A cartoon of Tape
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Chalk
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Printer
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Paper
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Paper
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
  2. 2

    Make Groundhog Chalk Shadows

    Your creative buddy says:
    "Let's stick together and make this one!"

    Step 1: Print and cut

    May need grown-up help
    Print the attached printable pdf and cut out the groundhog and the helper stand strip.

    Step 2: Tape down the groundhog

    Add a few pieces of rolled tape to the face and body of your groundhog. Make sure to roll your tape so that none of the tape is outside the outline of the groundhog. Masking tape works best, but if you don't have masking tape, rub regular scotch tape on your clothes a few times before attaching it to the paper so it's a little less sticky. This will prevent the tape from tearing your paper when you remove it later.

    Step 3: Stick it down

    Stick the groundhog face down onto your paper, about the same distance from the edge as the length of the longer arm of the helper stand.

    Step 4: Chalk around the edges

    Use chalk to draw lines from the inside of the groundhog's body, across the edge of the template, and out onto the paper underneath. Make your lines firm and dark. Make lots of lines close together all the way around your template. Each line should be about the same length.

    Step 5: Smudge with your finger

    Smudge all the chalk lines outwards with your finger.

    Step 6: Tape down the helper stand

    Tape the helper stand to the back of your groundhog as shown.

    Step 7: Reveal your shadow

    Carefully peel the groundhog up off the green paper to reveal your shadow! Be careful not to smudge your chalk!

    Step 8: Remove tape

    Remove the tap from the face and body of the groundhog.

    Step 9: Stand it up

    Adjust your stand until your groundhog can stand on his own, looking at his own shadow! This project works because chalk acts like light does when casting a real shadow. When light hits your body, it can't go through you. On a sunny day, you see this blocked light as a shadow on the ground. The same thing happens whether it's a person, a tree, or a groundhog blocking the light to catch a shadow. In this project, the template blocks the chalk from reaching the paper, leaving a perfect outline shadow of our furry friend.
  3. 3

    Clean up

    Put things away so your space is tidy for next time.

    Tidy up our space

    Put away our supplies

    Check off each supply when it is put away — and any clean-up tips underneath are done too. You might find a fun surprise!

    • A cartoon of Tape
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Chalk
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Paper
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Paper
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Printer
      Where they belong:

    Update what we have left

    Did we run out of anything while making this project? Update our supply cupboard so that we know exactly what we have for next time.

    This project could unlock 1 creative buddy. Sign in to unlock them.

  4. 4

    Save

    Your creative buddy says:
    "I love how you stuck with your creative ideas!"

    Made something awesome? Keep going.

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Upcycle supplies you already have in a flash

Snap a photo of your recycling bin, junk drawer, or fridge and GlueStick finds projects you can make right now with the supplies you already have — no store trip, no expensive kits, just more creative afternoons together.

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