Tips:

• Keep activities simple. If there are too many directions or steps to follow, children will get frustrated. Remember, this is their own work. Let children choose paint and paper colors.

• The process is always more important than the product. Mixing paint colors on the page to see what color they make is beginning science.

• Getting messy is OK and fun! Have children wear play clothes that they can get messy or strip them down if weather permits. Art can definitely be a full body activity! The more senses you can involve in an activity, the more they learn! Cover table with tarp. For younger children, instead of having a single sheet of paper, cover table with freezer paper (shiny side down). Cover floor with tarps for easy clean-up.

• When writing a child's name on a paper, ask them where they want it. They may already have a plan for their art. This also builds self esteem and gives them ownership.
  
  
  Oatmeal Dough
  
  1 c. flour
  1 c. oatmeal
  1 c. water
  
  -Mix ingredients together. Add the water gradually to bind the mixture.
  A few Tbsp's of cornmeal can be used to vary texture.

Torn Paper Collage

tissue paper (various colors)
Construction paper (various colors)
liquid starch
paint brush
white glue

-Have children tear paper into varied size pieces. Use construction paper for background. Affix torn
construction paper pieces to background with white glue and tissue paper pieces
with liquid starch and paint brush.

Car Printing

toy cars (ex: matchbox)
paper (various colors and shapes)
Paint (various colors; small amount)

-Mix paint with starch or water if needed to make a thin to med. consistency. Pour small amount of paint into shallow disposable tin. Dip car wheels in paint. Roll wheels on paper to make designs. Make sure cars used have wheels that roll easily.

String Painting

Strings (various sizes and textures)
paint (various colors)
construction paper(var.colors/shapes)

-Dip string into paint. Drag across paper to make designs. Have plastic spoons or craft sticks in paint to help get string wet. Be sure to cover table with tablecloth.

Chalk Drawing

large chalk (variety of colors); to make your own, see below
construction paper (var. of colors/textures)
water or starch (optional: to dip chalk and brighten color)
hairspray (to set chalk drawing)

-Children can draw and color freely. When child is finished, spray with hairspray to set.

Surprise Print

paint (various colors)
paper (various colors and shapes)
craft sticks

-Fold paper in half. Drip or smear paint on one side, then fold other side on top of it and gently press together.  Open - surprise!!

-A variation is to use string dipped in paint and pull it thru folded paper, then press together.

Marble Roll

marbles (large and small)
paper (various colors)
paint (various colors/med. consistency)
craft sticks
gift box
clean water (to wash marbles)
paper towels

-wash and dry marbles so paint with stick. Dip marble in paint. Use craft stick to drop onto paper in gift box.  Move and shake box to make marble roll around.



Printing

paint (variety of colors; thin to med. consist.)
plastic container lid for paint (shallow)
paper (variety of colors and shapes)
items for printing:

kitchen utensils: slotted spatula, potato masher, apple cutter, forks, cookie cutter
styrofoam ink stamps or sponges
wood blocks
nature items: pine cones
circles: thread spools, bottle caps, curlers

-Dip items in paint and make prints on paper.

Beach Playdough

4 c. beach sand
3 c. flour
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. Karo Syrup

-Mix above ingredients together. Add about 1 c. water until you get the texture desired.



Magazine Collage

cut out pictures from magazines (older children can cut them out themselves)
construction paper
white glue in shallow container lid with craft stick

-Choose pictures, glue to paper

Leaf/Flower/Stick Collage

-same as above, but use things you found on a nature walk.



Painting Variations

paint (various colors)
const. paper (various colors/shapes)

items to paint with:
feather dusters
dish sponge or brush
Q-tips
paint rollers

-Paint!!



Noodle and Bean Art

dry noodles
dry beans
const. paper
glue

-Let children spread glue on paper. Drop noodles/beans on paper. When dry, shake off noodles/beans that did not stick.

-Can glue items on one at a time if child chooses.

Crayon Recipe

Cheese Grater
Large Bar White Soap(4.5 oz.), like Ivory
Large Bowl
Liquid Food Coloring
Water
Potato Masher or Plastic Sandwich Bags
Molds, Muffin Tins, Ice Cube Trays, Optional

1. To Make two 6 inch crayons, each 1 inch thick:  Have an adult grate soap into the bowl.
2. Add 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of food coloring and a few drops of water to the grated soap.
3. Using a potato masher or your hands slipped into plastic sandwich bags "gloves", blend and squish the mixture until it's of modeling clay-like consistency and the oclor is thoroughly incorporated.  Add additional drops of water or coloring as needed. (Note: Make the mixture a few shades paler than desired-the crayon will darken as it
drys.)
4. Roll mixture into fat logs, create free form shapes, or press it into molds, muffin tins, or ice cube trays.
5. Place crayons on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and let dry for two days or until hard.  If you've used molds, pop out crayons.

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