Aug. 15, 2008 - Painting with Marbles
I was flipping through a great idea book today, 365 Ways to a Smarter Preschooler, and found this idea called Ping-Pong Art. I adapted the activity to incorporate marbles instead of ping-pong balls. Here are the steps.
Gather your supplies:
- plain white paper
- tempera paint
- Q-tips to mix
- marbles
- baking pan or jelly roll pan
- small containers for paint
- spoons for dipping marbles out of paint
Cut your paper to fit the pan if necessary.
Collect the kids and cover them with paint smocks. It may look like a clean craft but the kids always pluck the marbles out with their fingers and then smear the paint on their shirts. (Ask me how I know 
.)
Set up a drying station for your masterpieces. I used inverted paper plates on the counter. It kept the pieces up off the counter and then we just reused them at supper.
Ok, now you are ready to ge the paint out. It really does help to be completely set up before the kids start painting.
I had Sam mix four colors in the small Crystal Light tubs and use Q-tips to mix them well. Popscicle sticks would have worked just as well. Drop a marble into each tub of paint and turn it over in the paint. Using a spoon, scoop a marble out of the paint and drop into the pan,that you covered in paper first. The kids tried one marble at a time and then several all at once to accomplish several designs.
This activity appealed to Lily and Katie the most, the 3 and 5 year olds.
Katie saying "eew" as she plucked the marble out of her pan. :)
Sam working on his piece.
Hope this helps someone else do some crafting with their kids!
Comments
Aug. 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Jennifer Major
Great idea! Once again, you're my hero!!!
