This Aurora Borealis craft is perfect for upper elementary through high school. Too, you’ll love my Arctic and Inuit Unit Study. Free Lapbook – Hands-on Ideas and my Arctic Region pages.
For example, the night sky has fascinated people for centuries. However, few natural wonders compare to the breathtaking beauty of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.
These glowing curtains of color, shimmering in green, pink, purple, and blue, light up the polar skies and inspire awe in everyone who sees them.
In this art and science project, we’ll explore what causes the Northern Lights.
And how to create our own swirling, colorful version through a pour-painting activity perfect for elementary, middle or high school students who are ready for more.
You can connect this to earth science lessons about the magnetosphere, solar activity, and atmospheric layers, all great topics for middle and high school homeschool students learning about space and physics.
BOOKS ABOUT AWESOME THINGS IN SKIES
Next, look at these books about the northern lights.
5 Books About Awesome Things in the Skies
Whether it’s the Northern Lights or shooting stars these books bring the wonder of the skies to life!
Imagine a land where the sun rises at 1:58 a.m. in the summer and shines for less than four hours on a winter's day. The animals in the wilderness near Fairbanks, Alaska, witness some of the world's greatest temperature extremes and light variations ever year. At an average low of -16 degrees Fahrenheit, the winters may be unpleasantly frigid, but the light shows are always glorious!
The northern lights bring wonder and joy to all the creatures who bask under their mysterious glow in this gorgeous picture book from the creator of the holiday hit The Tree That's Meant to Be.From tiny specks of dust to gleaming rays in the dark, the northern lights travel across the Arctic, uniting every creature in a celebration over land and sea.In this wonderfully wintery picture book, Yuval Zommer imagines the northern lights' fleeting journey from space to Earth and how they weave a special magic for the animals and people living in the frozen lands below.
Explains what shooting stars are, what they are made of, and what happens to them when they land on Earth.
Space is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. The Mysteries of the Universe is a stunning space encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they journey through the vastness of the Universe. From planets and asteroids to black holes and galaxies, every page of this enthralling space book reveals the secrets behind more than 100 celestial objects, and will inspire youngsters as they journey through the vastness of the Universe. Each celestial body is shown both photographically and illustrated, and children will love poring over the detailed close-up images.Get ready to explore fun facts and exciting new scientific discoveries as this best-selling picture book will illuminate imaginations and spark curious minds to explore the vastness of space. The engaging storybook-style descriptions and simple text shed a light on facts, myths, and key discoveries about the universe, perfect for children aged 6-8 to explore the wonders of our solar system and beyond.
First published in 1995, and acclaimed as a modern masterpiece, this first book in the series won the UK's top awards for children's literature.
“Without this child, we shall all die.”
Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford.
The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic
WHAT ARE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Too, the Aurora Borealis occurs when charged particles from the sun, called solar wind, collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere near the magnetic poles.
In addition, these lights appear most often near the Arctic Circle in countries like Norway, Canada, and Finland. Their southern counterpart is called the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights.
- Nitrogen produces blue and purple hues.
- Oxygen gives off green and red light.
AURORA BOREALIS LESSONS IDEAS FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL
Additionally, have students research where and when the Northern Lights are visible around the world. They can mark aurora-viewing locations on a world map and compare why the lights are seen near the poles. Encourage them to look at weather patterns, latitude, and the tilt of Earth’s axis.
Watch PBS Illuminating the Northern Lights to learn more about this stunning phenomenon.
Extend this lesson with a short study on the sun’s magnetic activity and solar flares. Students can track real-time solar data from NASA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and make predictions about aurora visibility. Discuss how the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from solar radiation.
Dive deeper into the science by having older students investigate how different gases create different colors in the aurora. A simple color chart can help them match light wavelengths to each gas. This ties beautifully into physics and chemistry lessons.
Ancient cultures often had fascinating explanations for the Northern Lights. The Norse believed they were reflections from the armor of the Valkyries, while some Inuit groups thought the lights were spirits playing games in the sky. Students can compare myths and then write a creative short story inspired by these legends. Read various Folklore about the Northern Lights from around the world.
After completing their paintings, have students write a descriptive paragraph or poem capturing the feeling of watching the Northern Lights. Encourage them to use sensory language, how the air might feel, what emotions the colors evoke, and how vast the sky appears.
Introduce how scientists today use satellites and cameras to study the aurora. Students can research how auroras affect power grids and radio signals. This adds a modern, practical STEM connection to the lesson.
The Aurora Borealis reminds us that science and art often work hand in hand, physics creates beauty, and creativity helps us understand it.
Through this project, students not only learn about space and light but also express the wonder of nature in a colorful, hands-on way.
HOW TO MAKE A COOL PAINT POUR AURORA BOREALIS CRAFT
You will need:
- Canvas
- Acrylic paints in black, white, blue, green, purple, and pink
- Pouring medium
- Small plastic cups
- Stir sticks
- Gloves
- Black cardstock
- A covered work surface
Optional: metallic paint or glitter for extra shimmer
First, start by painting your canvas black to represent the night sky. Let it dry. Or you can just purchase a black canvas to save this step.
In separate cups, mix a small amount of each color paint with the pouring medium according to the instructions (usually a 1:1 ratio).
Be sure you have a covered work surface, a plastic disposable tablecloth works great,you can just roll it up and toss it all for easy clean up when you’re done.
Place your canvas up on some disposable cups to keep it off the work surface so the paint can drip freely without puddling around the edges.
Pour one color at a time on your canvas in irregular streaky patterns.
Flip or tilt your cup onto the canvas and let the paint flow freely. Tilt the canvas gently so the colors swirl and streak, mimicking the movement of the real aurora.
Use a brush or palette knife to lightly drag through the colors if you want more defined waves. Add metallic touches or white dots for stars.
Let your painting dry for at least 24 hours.
To add some dimension and make your painting resemble the northern lights against the backdrop of nature, cut various sizes of mountain shapes and tree shapes out of black paper.
Layer them on the canvas, smaller trees in the background, larger in the foreground.
To add depth, fold some paper up and glue to the back of the middle and top pieces to make them “pop” off the page.
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