Many of these boxes can be used for Literacy activities, and I will share those ideas below as well.

Pencil Box Mini Art Centers

Some art supplies can be put in individual pencil boxes so that each child can have their own center in the classroom or you can send these home to distance learners. Label each box with the children’s names. Five pencil boxes with fit in one bin for storage.

Sequins Mini Art Center

In this mini art center, I put a glue bottle, sequins, and wood craft sticks in a pencil box. I put a few sequins in a small shallow box I got from a dollar store. Children can glue the sequins onto paper or onto the sticks. It’s a great fine motor activity as well!

This shows the same sequin center in a bin. I added the basic art supply pencil box to the bin with glue, sequins, and wooden sticks. I was able to put the sequins in a plastic baby food box, but this box is too tall for the pencil box above.

Coffee Filter Mini Art Center

In this pencil box, I added two coffee filters, a water dropper, and washable markers*. The cup for water does not fit in the pencil box, so will have to be separate. Children can draw on the coffee filters with washable markers and then drop water using the water dropper. I’d also recommend adding a couple of paper towels to the box.

*Markers must be washable for this activity.

This is the same activity in a bin instead of pencil box. The water cup fits in the bin with the other materials.

Colored Tape Mini Art Center

This pencil box has paper, scissors, colored pencils, and colored masking tape. Children love to create with tape. You could also add craft sticks to this box. Normally, I would put the full rolls of all of the tape in my Art Center and children will pull it off the roll and tear or cut it. For pandemic times, if you are required to create these individual centers, you can cut off pieces of the tape and stick them onto a laminated piece of card stock.

This is a piece of card stock that I cut to fit inside the pencil box and laminated. I stuck pieces of colored masking tape to the card. I folded down one corner of each piece so children can grip it easily to pull off.

Dot Sticker Art Kit

In this mini art center, I added dot stickers (from the dollar store), paper, and markers.

Foamie Sticker Art Box

This mini art center has crayons, paper, and foamie stickers.

Paint Chip Mosaic Art Kit

In this mini art center, I have paper, scissors, glue stick, and pieces of paint chips. You can collect paint chips from hardware stores. I cut them into square, rectangle, and triangle pieces. You could also just add the whole paint chips to the box and have the children cut them.

Rock Crayon Art Box

In this box, I added Rock Crayons with paper. Children love the novelty of drawing with rock crayons and they are great for fine motor and proper grasp.

Cutting Box

This mini art center has scissors, paper, glue stick, and 1-inch wide paper strips. I like to start the year having children practice snipping 1-inch paper strips when they are learning how to hold scissors correctly and cut. These are great for all year, as well, and you can choose colors that match the seasons. Children cut the strips into squares and make a mosaic on their paper.

Tissue Squares Box

This art box has paper, glue stick, and tissue squares. These are from a set of pre-cut tissue squares I bought from a craft store, but you can also get a set of rainbow colored tissue paper and cut through many layers to cut a lot of squares.

Yarn Art Box

For this mini art center, I pulled off about 2 feet of yarn and wrapped it around a craft stick. You can quickly wrap it around a craft stick by getting it started around the stick, then holding one end of the yarn and twirling the stick quickly to wrap it. I added scissors, paper, and a glue bottle.

Crepe Paper Art Box

For this art box, I cut of some lengths of crepe paper streamer, added craft sticks, scissors, glue stick, and paper. This is the crepe party streamer, and it’s very inexpensive. You can find it at dollar stores and craft stores.

In normal times, I just add the rolls of crepe paper to the Art Center for children to use.

Paper Plate Art Bin

These mini paper plates don’t fit in a pencil box unless you fold them in half (which you could do). I put two in this bin with markers and crayons. Children can decorate the plate however they like. You could also add the larger craft sticks and some masking tape so that children could make stick puppets.

How to Use these Boxes for Literacy Kits

Some of these Mini Art Boxes could also be used for Literacy Kits. Use the items to have children decorate letters. Children can:

• Glue sequins on a letter

• Stick dot stickers on a letter

• Rainbow write a letter with rock crayons

• Cut 1-inch squares of paper to glue on a letter

• Glue tissue squares on a letter

• Glue yarn on a letter

• Cut pieces of crepe paper to glue on a letter

Find Letter Printables here to use with these activities.

Resource Links

Here are Amazon affiliate links to the materials above:

• Crayons

• Markers

• Colored masking tape

• Dot stickers

• Rock Crayons

• Pre-cut tissue squares

• Yarn

• Crepe paper streamer

Basic Art Supplies

You can create a basic art supply kit for each child in a pencil box with crayons, markers, scissors, and a glue stick.

You can also create a basic art supply kit for each child in these bins if you have room to store a bin per child. The bins will hold more supplies than the pencil boxes. In this bin, there are crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, glue stick, glue bottle, and a watercolor set.

I used clear plastic punch cups to organize supplies. These are great for supplies because they are inexpensive and they don’t crack easily.

Another way to organize each child’s supplies is in a caddy. You can use the clear punch cups in the caddy as well to organize supplies.

Label Supplies with Washi Tape

Washi tape comes in all kind of prints. (I happen to have a large collection of Washi tape.) You can have a different print for each child to label their individual supplies. This is especially helpful to prevent children from getting their supplies mixed up when you’re trying to cut down on sharing of germs.

I labeled the cup, glue bottle, paint, each individual crayon and marker. Pretty much anything can be labeled. For a class, it would be helpful to buy a large boxed set of Washi tape, or ask parents to provide a roll for their child (add it to your supply list).

NO-MESS ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

Take a look at these terrific crafts that are both fun and mess-free! Which one do you plan on making first?

1. NO-MESS FINGER PAINTING

Finger painting is lots of fun, but sometimes you may not want to deal with the mess. Try no-mess finger painting instead. This activity from Kids Activities Blog is great for keeping toddlers and preschoolers busy and engaged, especially for children who don’t enjoy getting their hands messy. Instead, they can squish, trace letters, and draw shapes right on the bag to see the print in the paint. Plus, you can create some colorful and fun art this way.

2. COLORFUL WINDOW ART

Add some fun and color to your playroom or any room with this colorful window art idea from Teaching 2 and 3-Year-Olds. This activity strengthens fine motor skills and just looks stunning when the light shines through! Plus, it’s really easy to set up using sticky contact paper and tissue paper cut into circles, squares, and other shapes.

3. MESS FREE LEAF PAINTING

When fall comes around, try this beautiful mess-free sensory autumn leaf painting from Kids’ Craft Room. It’s a fun way to explore the changing colors of the seasons, especially with blending and mixing those colors.

4. SHOE BOX EASEL AND BABY’S FIRST PAINTING

Instead of the high chair, set your baby or toddler up on the floor with this cool shoe box easel and mess-free painting activity from Hello, Wonderful. The paint and paper are contained in a big zip-top bag to prevent any spills. Plus, the easel gives baby a different perspective than “painting” on the tabletop.

5. PAINT-LESS WATERCOLOR ART

Did you know you can create watercolor art without paint? It’s really easy, too! Just grab washable markers, some paper, and a spray bottle filled with water. By spraying your design with water, the colors fade and spread, creating a watercolor effect. Plus, you can put it all in a bag, as you see at Team Cartwright, to eliminate any water mess.

6. TAPE RESIST MONOGRAM

Kwik Stix are paint markers that are much easier (and less messy) than using a paint and paintbrush. Make a design on the paper using masking tape first, and then let your toddler color over the page with the paint sticks. When you peel the tape off, the design will be nice and clean underneath. This tape resist monogram from The Soccer Mom Blog is great for making a fun piece of décor for your child’s room. 

7. MESS-FREE BUBBLE WRAP PAINTING

This mess-free bubble wrap painting follows a similar idea. This time, your child will push down on the air bubbles within the bubble wrap, creating a dotted print with the paint underneath. What a fun activity from Hello, Wonderful! 

8. NO-MESS RAINBOW ART

Use a rainbow of colors to make some no-mess rainbow art with your kiddo. Use the beautiful rainbow prints to create handmade cards like these from Messy Little Monster to send to your family and friends. The heart cards are gorgeous and are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day you’d like to show a little extra love. 

9. MESS-FREE VALENTINES

Nothing is prettier than pretty pink colors for Valentine’s Day. Add a lacy heart doily to the mix, and you’ve got the perfect base for a gorgeous valentine. The paint is smeared all over paper inside a bag, and the heart doily is applied to the front, along with some gold stickers. Isn’t this mess-free valentine from Glitter Inc. lovely?

10. SHAKE IT UP PAINTING

No zip-top bags on hand? No problem! Just try shake it up painting instead. This activity from Sunny Day Family is a fun way to both get the kids moving and create some colorful art. 

11. MESS-FREE WINDOW PAINTING

Add a few paint splats to a large zip-top bag, and tape it to a window for a new art experience. Kids will love mixing the colors and drawing designs in the paint while they can look outside with this mess-free window painting idea from Laughing Kids Learn.

12. MARSHMALLOW SQUISH PAINTING

Life is just more fun with marshmallows! Kids will have a blast squishing and rolling them around inside the bag for this cool marshmallow squish activity from Steam Powered Family. It’s especially important to keep the bag sealed well so your little one doesn’t taste one! If this is a concern for you, though, instead of paint, add chocolate syrup or something edible to the bag instead.

13. SHARK WINDOW ART

You’ll love this shark window art from Buggy and Buddy for summer, especially during Shark Week or after a fun trip to the beach. You’ll need various shades of blue tissue paper, contact paper, and black construction paper to set it up. It only takes a few minutes and looks super cool!

14. MESS-FREE PUMPKIN PAINTING

Here’s another terrific toddler art project for fall! This no-mess pumpkin painting by Life Over C’s involves making a pumpkin cutout and applying it over the bag with a bit of orange paint inside. When your child works and smears the paint, the pumpkin gets filled in with color. 

15. NO MESS PAINTED BUTTERFLY

Celebrate spring or summer with a no-mess painted butterfly craft from Kids Activities Blog. You don’t even need to pull paint-covered paper from the bag—the paint-filled bag serves as the butterfly’s wings with a simple pipe cleaner to create the body and antennae.

16. CLING FILM ART

Turn cling film art into the backdrop for some silhouette cutouts. The sunset project from Arty Crafty Kids is our favorite, but the ocean backdrop for the fish is pretty neat, too.

17. NATURE SUNCATCHER

Finally, this project works well for spring, summer, and fall. Go for a walk (or to your backyard) to gather materials like flower petals, leaves, or grass to add to a nature suncatcher made with contact paper and popsicle sticks. This activity from Messy Little Monster is a wonderful way to preserve some memories together!

These 17 mess-free crafts are perfect for little hands. Plus, they’re super cute. What’s not to love? 

Try Stampin’ It Up

Stamping was a favorite for Hope and it is still is fun for her at 24 years old.

Here are a few of the things that Hope liked to use as stamps: Balloons, bubble wrap, play dough tools, toilet paper rolls, rubber bands or string on wood blocks, water bottles, celery, pencil erasers, string beans and other veggies, citrus fruit, peppers, carrots, potatoes, pasta/spaghetti, yarn, seashells, golf balls, plants, Q-tips and cotton balls attached to a clothespin were readily available.

There is a sequence of development in their hand eye coordination with any artistic learning which begins with exploration and sensory play. The rhythmic stamping of a bottle top, a cookie cutter, a lid, or a potato is very important to the learning sequence. At this stage, there is not much consideration of where the bottle top might be placed can be expected, nor is there generally a planned choice of color. 

For the beginner, printmaking can be organized with plastic containers lined with sponge or rag. These serve as ideal bowls for paint and are not messy.  Sponge-filled containers and a variety of objects for printing make for many successful combinations. Younger artists may like these simple encounters with print-making but we must consider how a sequence of learning develops from here. What steps can we take to push development well beyond that of uniqueness and entertainment?

How to make Potato Stamps

Cut a small potato in half. Press the cookie cutter into the center of the potato. Then, leaving the cookie cutter in the potato, slice a rather thick slice around the pattern of the cookie cutter. Remove the outer layer of potato and then the cookie cutter from the shape.

Potato print hints: Use a separate potato stamp for each color, unless you want the colors to mix.

Any type of potato will work, even sweet potatoes if you want larger prints.

Hold the stamp on the paper or cloth for a few seconds to get the best effect and blot off excess paint on a separate sheet of paper or clean plate before you start (paper plates work great).

Once you have mastered this technique on paper, why not try fabrics? Start with a cheap plain T-Shirt or simply a piece of plain cloth. The dress in the center was decorated only using a triangle! Plain skirts and pants instantly receive a whole new dimension with a few creatively placed prints.

11 more simple potato stamping ideas can be found at:
https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/kids-craft-ideas-11-ways-to-make-stamp-art-with-potatoes_n_9256528

Our Favorite Stamping Projects-

Providing Hours of Fun
Google Search “Household Stamping Projects” in images for the tutorials

What did we do with all the prints?
We made them into gift-photo frames, cut them into shapes and framed them, made 3D butterfly paintings, cut out shapes and stuck them to clear contact paper sun catchers.

Making your own Printing Stamps

(Artists can make) http://vickismithartwithartists.blogspot.com/

To make these little stamps I took some of the textures that I used in my post about rubbings and glued them to scraps of wood. They're a nice comfortable size for an artist's hand.

1. Rippled paper from a gift box
2. The material that onion bags are made from
3. Rolls of liners for drawers
4. Cloth doily
5. Plastic doily (from a plastic table cloth)
6. Strip of plastic from packaging
7. Plastic patterned bag from produce 

 We made one with Geometric foam shapes

How to Make a Stamp for Your Artist

 1 1/4″ or larger square wood blocks I picked mine up at a local craft store for 50 cents each; you can also find them online

1. Craft foam sheets OR pre-cut adhesive backed pieces

2. Scissors/X-ACTO Knife 

1. Cutting Mat

2. Hole punch (optional)

3. White glue

4. Ink pad or tempera paint

5. Sponges

6. Paper

You will be covering 4 sides of a 6-sided cube with foam. Leave two opposite sides empty so you can hold the finished stamp without getting your fingers inked. You can use just a regular piece of wood

1. Step One If you are using adhesive backed pre-cut pieces of foam simply peel and stick them to the sides of the wood block.  If they are not adhesive backed, spread white glue on the side of your block and glue the letter or shape down. This is easy even for little hands!

2. Step Two If you are using foam sheets, start by cutting it into square shapes that roughly match the side of the cube.

3. Step Three From there, cut out a variety of shapes and start gluing them to each side. I used a hole punch to cut out circles from the foam.

4. Step Four Let the glue fully dry.

IMPORTANT: If you are making alphabet or number stamps be sure to reverse the letter or numeral when gluing it to the wood block; otherwise it will read backwards when you stamp it! We had a stamp for bugs, butterflies, flowers, ocean creatures, large shapes, small shapes, animals, textures and more. If we found new Creative Hands foam stickers, we made a                new stamp.

FINGERPRINT TREES

You Need: Paint, Paper plate, Card stock, and a Tree template or just finger paint one

How To:
Copy a tree template on the card stock or let the artist finger paint one. Let the artists squeeze the paint onto a paper plate. Have the artists put their fingertips into the paint and then press them onto the tree to make leaves, cherry blossoms,    Let them dry, have the children sign and date them. Enjoy! As an added bonus, you will have their little fingerprints preserved. Frame them and enjoy them as they grow.

SPONGE PAINTING

(cellulose sponge, poster paint. poster board': 

1. Cut several shapes from a cellulose sponge that has irregular holes). 

2. Dip the sponge shapes in paint, and blot on apiece of scrap paper to remove any extra paint

3. Paint a picture by dabbing the sponge shapes, -piece of poster board . 

Note: Large circles make a great landscape of rolling hills, triangles build a great mountain chain, squares and rectangles make a great cityscape. 

HYDRANGEA ART
Made by stamping with okra! They will love the pretty effect!

I have often seen hydrangea art made by blowing colored bubbles onto paper. The way that the bubbles pop looks so effective!  But it’s difficult to get them just right. But I have an alternative method of making pictures of the glorious flower that is the hydrangea! A cross section of okra is super pretty, and perfect for stamping. As my husband isn’t keen on it, we don’t have it in the house too often. But when he was away I got some in!

To prepare the craft I made up three different paints. As much as I value the idea of student being able to create whatever they like, when they are actually trying to copy something from real life, it’s a different sort of art. I mixed up some acrylic paint in light pink, light blue, and lilac. I had a little test run – it worked!

Then I invited my artists to join in the activity. Like many other stamping activities, he got rather carried away and wanted to fill the page, but was soon persuaded out of it once I showed him that there were more colors to try!

Once the paint is dry,you can use fresh green beans cut diagonally for leaves and the other end or side.

Printing with COOKIE CUTTERS 

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, cookie cutters, paint, shallow pans, paint shirts, soapy water, paper towels. 

PREPARATION: 

Pour paint into shallow pans. Assemble cookie cutters and have soapy water and paper towels handy for cleanup. 

ACTIVITY: 

Let each child choose a cookie cutter, dip it in paint and then press it on paper to create a print. 

VARIATION:                                     

Provide red, yellow and blue paint and let the children make prints with all three colors. Point out the secondary colors when the primary colors blend together on their papers. When the paint is dry, let the children color in details with crayons. 

HINT: 

The best cookie cutters are the ones with little handles. 

SENT IN BY: Mary Jane , Pittsburgh, PA 

Printing with WHEELS –Zoom Zoom

 MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, small plastic cars, various colors of tempera paint, shallow containers, paint smocks. 

PREPARATION: 

Pour paint in shallow containers. Cover the table and protect the artist's clothing with paint smocks . 

ACTIVITY: 

Let the children dip the wheels of the small cars in paint and "drive" them back and forth across their papers to make tracks. This is popular even with "non-artists" and is usually accompanied by lots of sound effects. A good name for this activity would be "Zoom-Zoom Painting!" 

SENT IN BY: Barbara H. Jackson, Denton, TX 

VARIATION: From Barbara Robinson, Glendale, AZ 

Tape a long sheet of butcher paper on a table top or on the floor. Have :~e children select small vehicles, dip the wheels lightly into paint and :nen "drive" the vehicles over the butcher paper. Hang the butcher paper track mural on a wall and discuss with the children which kind of vehicle made each type of track. 

SIMILAR IDEA SUBMITTED BY: Janet, Moorhead, MN

Printing with shapes -CIRCLE  SHAPES

Construction paper, tempera paint, objects that can be used to make circle shape such as thread spools, plastic drinking glasses, corks, round cookie cutters, etc.

PREPARATION: 

Cut a large circle out of construction paper for each child. 

ACTIVITY: 

Let the children use spools, plastic glasses and different sizes of other round objects to paint with tempera paint on their large paper circles. This is a good activity to use when you are working on the circle shape. 

Printing with SCRAP MATERIALS 

Hope loved this. She would go on “scrap hunts” if there wasn’t enough in her scrap buckets

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, corks, small wood scraps, -styrofoam pieces, 35 mm film cases or medicine bottles, four colors of paint, shallow containers, bucket of water, paper towels, smocks, newspaper. 

PREPARATION: 

Ask local businesses to donate scrap materials: restaurants/bars - wine corks; furniture factory - wood scraps; stores - styrofoam packing pieces; photography studio - 35 mm film cases. Cover the table with newspaper. Pour paint into shallow containers, 1/2-inch deep, and put some scrap materials into another container on the table. Place bucket of water and paper towels nearby for easy cleanup. 

ACTIVITY: 

Have four children at a time put on smocks and roll up their sleeves. Then let them dip the scrap materials in paint and press them on their papers to make prints. The scrap materials can be disposed of when paint-covered, making cleanup a breeze. 

SENT IN BY Suzanne, Pittsburgh, PA 

Printing with STYROFOAM

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, styrofoam trays, poster paint, liquid soap, paint brushes. 

PREPARATION: 

Add a drop of liquid soap to the paint. 

ACTIVITY: 

Turn the styrofoam trays upside down. Have the children use the ends their paintbrush handles to etch designs on the backs of their trays. Then have them brush paint over their designs and press paper on top :: the paint to make prints. Help them to carefully remove their papers to see the designs they created. 

SENT IN BY: Ann Fair, Uniontown, MD 

SIMILAR IDEA SUBMITTED BY: Ruth Engle, Kirkland, WA

Printing with YARN 

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, trays with smooth surfaces, thick and thin yarn, poster paint, liquid soap, paintbrushes.  

PREPARATION: 

Add a drop of liquid soap to the paint. 

ACTIVITY : 

Have the children brush paint on their tray surfaces and drop yarn on the paint in various patterns. Then let them press paper on top of the paint to make prints. Help them carefully remove their papers to see the designs they created. 

SENT IN BY: Ann, Uniontown, MD
 

Printing with CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
-Flowers and wreaths

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, corrugated cardboard, masking tape, brightly colored tempera paint, paper towels, foil pans or meat trays. 

PREPARATION: 

Cut corrugated cardboard into suitable lengths and roll tightly. Secure with masking tape. Make paint pads by placing folded paper towels in the bottom of foil pans or meat trays. Pour paint on top of the pads. 

ACTIVITY: 

Let the children dip the ends of the corrugated cardboard rolls into paint and then press them on their papers to make prints. 

SENT IN BY: Jacqueline, Ladysmith, British Columbia 

VARIATION: 

Vary the color of paint according to seasons or holidays. Use different colors of paint to make spring flowers. Use green paint to make bushes in a garden or Christmas wreaths. 

Printing with LEAVES

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, assorted leaves, tempera paint, brushes. 

ACTIVITY: 

Let each child select a leaf and brush paint over the back side. Then have the child press the leaf on construction paper to make a print. 

SENT IN BY: Marlene, Snyder, NY 

Printing with VEGETABLES

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, onions, mushrooms and potatoes, knife, tempera paint, styrofoam trays, thin sponges or paper towels. 

PREPARATION: 

Cut the vegetables in cross sections to make flat printing surfaces and interesting shapes. Put sponges or folded paper towels in trays and pour on small amounts of paint. 

ACTIVITY: 

Have the children dip the vegetables in paint and then make prints of them on their papers. 

SENT IN BY: Ruth, Kirkland, WA 

VARIATION: A fun variation of vegetable printing is making pizza prints. Give each child a large circle of yellow paper and let him or her use cut vegetables to make prints on the paper to represent items on a pizza. Carrots are good for making prints that resemble pepperoni slices. 

VARIATION: Cut holiday shapes, such as Christmas trees or Easter eggs, out of vegetables and let the children use them to stamp designs on tissue paper or newsprint. The paper can then be used as holiday gift wrap.
SENT IN BY: Joyce, Whitby, Ontario 

Making Marks
& Painting

Marking with CRAYONS -Stained Glass Designs

MATERIALS: 

Aluminum foil, waxed paper, crayons, electric warming tray. 

PREPARATION: 

Put the warming tray on a table. Make sure the plug will not be in the way. Place a layer of foil over the heating surface before turning on thE warming tray. The foil will protect the warming tray from crayon marks and keep the coloring even. Place a piece of waxed paper over the for You will know the tray is warm enough when the waxed paper begins to adhere to the foil. 

ACTIVITY: 

Let one child at a time select crayons and color on the waxed paper. The crayons will melt as the child colors, blending together to make designs. 

HINT: 

Show the children how to hold the crayons so that their fingers do not touch the surface of the warming tray. 

SENT IN BY: Annette, MN

Marking with CRAYONS –Prints

MATERIALS: 

Cookie sheet, hot plate, aluminum foil, drawing paper, crayons, roller, paper towels. 

CRAYONS 

PREPARATION: 

Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Turn the hot plate on low and place the cookie sheet on top of it.

ACTIVITY: 

Let one child at a time draw with a crayon on the aluminum foil. As he or she draws, the colors will melt. Next, place a piece of drawing paper )ver the foil and roll with a roller to transfer the crayon designs onto the paper. Then lift the paper and let it dry. Clean off the foil with a paper towel before the next child begins. 

HINT: 

AIways do this activity with just one child at a time. 

SENT IN BY: Mary, Lansing, MI 

* WARNING: 

Activities that involve using an electric warming tray or a hot plate requires adult supervision at all times.

Marking with CRAYONS

 MATERIALS: 

Cardboard, construction paper, peeled crayons. 

PREPARATION: 

Cut the cardboard into small circle, square, triangle or free-form shapes. Make several shapes for each child. 

ACTIVITY: 

Have the children arrange their cardboard shapes on a table top any way they wish. Next, have them lay their papers over their shapes. Then, let them rub across their papers with the sides of their crayons to take impressions of their shapes. Encourage them to press down hard while coloring. 

VARIATION: 

Let the children arrange other flat objects under their papers such as corrugated cardboard, combs, graters, popsicle sticks or toothpicks. Some of the most fun items for preschoolers to use are coins. 

SENT IN BY: JoAnn, Boise, ID 

Marking with CHALK - Sidewalk Art

MATERIALS: 

A box of colored chalk. 

ACTIVITY: 

Take the children outside and let them draw on the sidewalk or blacktop with chalk. The chalk will wash off in the rain. Let the children make their own designs. Or, draw outlines of their bodies as they lie on the ground and let them decorate their body shapes. 

SENT IN BY: Cynthia, Danbury, CT 

VARIATION: From Cathryn, St. Charles, IL 

Have the children dip their chalk in water before coloring with it. Discuss the change in color.

Marking with CHALK –Sandpaper Art

MATERIALS: 

Sandpaper of different textures, various colors of chalk, shallow con-tainers, water. 

PREPARATION: 

Cut sandpaper into desired sizes and pour water into containers. 

ACTIVITY: 

Have the children dip colored chalk into water and then draw designs on the sandpaper. Encourage them to use several different colors. 

SENT IN BY: Laura, Albany, NY  

Marking with CHALK-Water Pictures

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, colored chalk, water, brushes, pie tins. 

PREPARATION: 

 Fill pie tins with water. 

ACTIVITY: 

Have the children brush water all over their papers. Then let them use colored chalk to draw designs while their papers are still wet. 

VARIATION: 

Have the children draw on dry paper with wet chalk. Experiment with different effects by letting them dip chalk into water, buttermilk or diluted liquid starch before drawing their designs. 

Marking with PENS -SPIN ART

MATERIALS: 

Music player, paper plates, felt markers, pencil. 

PREPARATION: 

Using a pencil point, punch holes in the centers of the paper plates. 

ACTIVITY: 

Let the children take turns doing this activity. Place a paper plate on the turntable of a record player and turn on the machine. Have the child hold a felt marker on the plate as it spins around. Encourage him or her to move the marker back and forth to create various patterns. Using a variety of colors will add to the children's designs. 

SENT IN BY: Paula, Maple Valley, WA 

VARIATION: 

Paper circles or squares can also be used. 

HINT: From Cynthia, Danbury, CT 

To help children put tops back on felt markers so they don't dry out, try this idea. Mix plaster of Paris in a small bowl such as a Cool Whip container. Set marker tops in the wet plaster, and the hole ends up, making sure not to cover the holes. When the plaster dries, the children can easily stand the markers upright in the appropriate tops after they have finished using them. 

Marking with CINNAMON STICKS -FINGERS IN SAND 

MATERIALS FOR LETTERS: 

Plastic dishpan, sand, water. 

PREPARATION: 

Fill dishpan with 3 inches of sand and add a little water. 

ACTIVITY: 

Show the children how to draw and erase in the sand. Then invite the children to use their fingers to draw their own designs or letters. 

SENT IN BY: B. Silkunas

Painting with WhippedCREAM
MATERIALS FOR HOLIDAY SHAPES HOLIDAY SHAPES
Finger-paint paper or white glossy wrapping paper, large aerosol can of whipped cream, powdered tempera or food coloring. 

PREPARATION: Cut the finger-paint paper or wrapping paper into desired sizes and shapes such as squares, circles, triangles, hearts, eggs or shamrocks. Wet the paper with a sponge and, on each paper, squeeze a puff of shaving cream. Add a dash of tempera paint or food coloring for color desired. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students finger-paint, first working in the color and then making designs on their papers. This gives the students visual experience with changing color as well as fine motor experience. 

 Let the students finger-paint with the shaving cream directly on a water-proof surface. Making different shapes is popular, as are making "happy faces" or letters in the students’ names. Cleanup is easily accomplished with a wet sponge, and the shaving cream washes off little hands in seconds. 

VARIATION-HAPPY FACES  Spray shaving cream on a table surface or on plastic placemats and invite the students to finger-paint. When each artist has finished experimenting, press a paper on top of his or her design. The print will look like a snowy day! 

HINT: Be sure to dampen the table top before you apply the shaving cream, as it facilitates the movement of finger-painting. 

VARIATION: Have the students finger-paint with shaving cream on clean cookie sheets. Put powdered tempera in old salt shakers and sprinkle paint on the shaving cream. Different colors add interest.

Painting with WATER

MATERIALSFOR INK HEARTS
White paper towels, non-permanent marking pen, water, small brushes. 

PREPARATION:
Draw a large black heart outline on a paper towel for each artist. 

ACTIVITY:
Let your students brush water over their black heart outlines. Soon the dye in the lines will start to bleed, showing the many colors actually in the black ink. Some colors will spread faster than others, leaving definite color rings, around the heart outlines. 

MATERIALS FOR HOUSE PAINTING
Coffee cans, 2-inch brushes, water. 

ACTIVITY: Give each artist a coffee can "bucket" and a brush and fill the can with enough water to cover the brush. These simple materials will keep even very young students quite involved in various "painting" projects. Inside, they can paint a chalkboard. Outside, the choices are endless: sides of buildings, fences, cars, bikes, sidewalks, etc. 

SENT IN BY: Cynthia 

HINT: Take advantage of this activity to help your students understand what happens when water is exposed to air. They can discover by blowing on an area that moving air makes the water evaporate more quickly. 

Painting with FOOD COLORING

MATERIALS FOR PAPER TOWELS
Plain paper towels, food coloring, water, small containers, brushes, tape. 

PREPARATION: Pour water into small containers and add food coloring. Tape a paper towel to the table for each artist. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students dip their brushes into the colored water and paint designs on their paper towels . 

HINTS: This activity works best with small amounts of water in the containers. Once a paper towel is completely soaked, supply the artist with a new one and let the old one dry. For display, mount the paper towels on colored construction paper. 

SENT IN BY: Gina

VARIATION: BALTIK LOOK Fold the paper towels and let your students paint them with the colored water. When the towels are unfolded, they will have a batik look. Mix strong colors and encourage the students to dot the colored water on the towels rather than brush it on.

VARIATION: From Jan Have the students use small plastic cocktail straws to drip the colored water onto the towels, creating circle designs. Frame the pictures and hang them in a window.

VARIATION: From Cindy Hand out white paper and straws. Drop small amounts of water mixed with watercolors or food coloring onto the students's papers. Then let them blow the colored water with their straws to create designs. 

                  Painting with FOOD COLORING
MATERIALS FOR COFFEE FILTERS:

One or more coffee filters for each artist, food coloring, aluminum, eyedroppers, newspaper, water. 

PREPARATION: 

Mix small amounts of food coloring and water in pans. Cover the table with a thick layer of newspaper . 

ACTIVITY: Demonstrate how to use an eyedropper by "squeezing in" and "letting go." Let the students experiment with their eyedroppers by dripping colored water on the newspaper. Then let them explore what happens when they drip the different colors onto their coffee filters. Place filters in newspaper to dry.

HINT: Hang the dried filters as mobiles or make monster art with them
SENT IN BY: Diane

MORE FOOD COLORING

MATERIALS FOR DIPPITY DO:

Fluted coffee filters, food coloring, water, jar lids, newspaper. 

PREPARATION: Mix red, yellow and blue food coloring with water and pour small amounts of each color into jar lids. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students dip folded filters in and out of the diluted food color-ing so that the colors overlap. Unfold filters and dry them on news-paper. 

HINTS: Use only a small amount of colored water in each lid and watch to see that students don't leave their filters in until all the liquid is absorbed. Paper towels may also be used, but they tear more easily when wet.

VARIATION: From Ruth  Let the students dip the corners and sides of folded paper napkins or white tissue paper into mixtures of food coloring and water. If working with tissue paper, allow it to dry before unfolding, as it tends to rip easily when wet. To dry, hang folded papers by clothespins on a string stretched across a window opening.
VARIATION: The batik-like paper can also be used to make butterfly wings. Have the students pinch their papers together in the middle and slip them into the slots of old-style clothespins.

Painting with ICE

MATERIALS FOR COOL ART: 

Freezer wrap or fingerpaint paper, ice cube tray, popsicle sticks, powdered tempera, shaker containers, newspaper. 

PREPARATION: The night before, freeze a tray of ice cubes with a popsicle stick in each cube. (Sticks do not have to be entirely vertical.) Fill shake containers with powdered tempera paint. Cover the work table with newspaper. 

ACTIVITY: 

Have your students rub their ice sticks across the shiny freezer wrap or fingerpaint paper. Then let them sprinkle on some dry paint. Students love to watch the ice melt into the color.  

HINT: One ice stick can be shared by several students, if desired. 

SENT IN BY: Carolyn 

VARIATION: Try doing this activity with icicles if they are available - to you in the winter. Students may need to wear gloves.

Painting with FLOUR 

MATERIALS FOR CHRISTMAS TREES, HEARTS AND EGGS: 

Construction paper, squeeze bottles, flour, water, food coloring. 

PREPARATION: Cut construction paper into shapes such as Christmas trees, Valentine Hearts or Easter eggs. Fill squeeze bottles with a runny mixture of flour and water and add a few drops of food coloring to each bottle. 

ACTIVITY: Let your students squeeze the colored flour and water mixture onto their paper shapes to make interesting designs. 

VARIATION: Mix equal parts of salt and flour together before adding water to make runny mixture. Then let the students squeeze designs on Styrofoam Trays or sheets of cardboard.  

Painting with CORN STARCH

MATERIALS: 

Easel paper, cornstarch, water, liquid tempera, large brushes, paint cups. 

PREPARATION: Add cold water to 3/4 cup cornstarch to make a smooth, thick paste. 

Stir in boiling water until mixture is desired consistency. It should be quite thick and nearly clear. Spoon mixture into paint cups and stir 3 or 4 teaspoons of liquid tempera into each cup. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students brush this nearly drip less paint on large sheets of easel paper to make designs or pictures. 

VARIATION: This mixture can also be used for finger painting. Store in the refrigerator. 

SENT IN BY: Lanette  

Painting with CHOCOLATE PUDDING

MATERIALS FOR FINGER FUN: 

Fingerpaint paper, ready-made chocolate pudding, spoons, paint shirts, water, newspaper. 

PREPARATION: Arrange all the materials on the work table, covering the table with newspaper first, if desired. 

ACTIVITY: Let each artist spread out a large spoonful of pudding mixed with some water on his or her paper. Then encourage the students to experiment with finger and hand painting. When they have finished, hang their paintings to dry. 

HINT: This is a great activity to use when studying the five senses, especially those of taste, smell and touch. 

SENT IN BY: Jane 

VARIATION-PRINTS: From B. Philadelphia, PA Have the students finger paint directly on a very clean Formica-topped table. Once designs are created, paper can be pressed on top of them to make prints. 

Painting with your FINGERS

MATERIALS F0R SEASONAL SHAPES: 

Paint shirts, liquid starch, powdered tempera or food coloring, painting surface such as fingerpaint paper, butcher paper, paper sacks, card-board, formica table top, cookie sheets or oilcloth. 

PREPARATION: Put about a tablespoon of liquid starch in the middle of each artist's paper. Add about a teaspoon of powdered paint or a few drops of food coloring to the starch. (Keep in mind that food coloring will stain hands.) 

ACTIVITY: Have the students use both their hands to mix the color into the starch. Then let them continue using their hands and fingers to create designs and pictures in the paint. Encourage the students to use their hands in many different ways. They can get various effects by pointing fingers down, laying fingers flat, pounding with the side of a clenched fist, pressing hands down with fingers spread out wide and by using finger-tips and knuckles. 

VARIATION: Sprinkle some salt or sawdust onto the fingerpaint and let the students mix it into the paint with their hands. This will give added texture to their pictures. 

VARIATION: Let the students create additional designs on their finger paintings by us-ing tools such as small pieces of cardboard, old combs, popsicle sticks, cotton swabs or forks. 

VARIATION: Instead of using liquid starch, let your students fingerpaint with a paste made out of soap and water or hand lotion with a drop of food color-ing added. 

VARIATION: From Cathy -Cut the centers out of pieces of construction paper to make frames for completed finger paintings. Staple frames on top of the paintings. 

VARIATION: From Lanette  -To make seasonal pictures, cut the student's papers into seasonal shapes before or after they make their finger paintings. Some examples could be heart shapes for Valentine's Day, shamrock shapes for St. Patrick's Day and egg shapes for Easter. 

HINTS: From Lanette Place a "fence" of masking tape on the paint table to help contain fingerpaint to a desired area. Use a shower curtain or outdoor grass :arpet under the table to catch spills. 

VARIATION: From Cynthia -Let the students stand while fingerpainting. This allows for greater freedom of movement and helps with rhythm and coordination. Homemade fingerpaint tends to chip off paper, so let the students paint right on the table top. They will love washing the table afterwards. Smock washing is also a great follow-up activity. 

HINT: From Cynthia If you don't have a sink near your work area, keep a bucket of soapy water and towels close by. 

VARIATION: From Nancy, Grand Forks, ND Have the students fingerpaint directly on a waterproof surface such as a formica table top. After they have created pictures or designs, let them press paper on top of their paintings to make prints. 

VARIATION: From Suzanne, Pittsburg, PA Let the students fingerpaint on plastic cafeteria trays or large styrofoam meat trays. For each artist, spoon one or two colors of fingerpaint onto a tray and have him or her fingerpaint a design. When the artist has finished, press a piece of paper cut to fit the tray onto the design and lift. Additional paint can be added to the tray for the next artist. 

Painting with PINE BRANCHES

MATERIALS FOR PINE PATTERNS: 

Pine branches, pinecones, easel paper, paint. 

PREPARATION: Pour paint into shallow containers. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students use the pine branches and pinecones to paint at the easel. They'll enjoy seeing the different types of patterns these materials make. 

VARIATION: This activity can also be done with other kinds of small tree branches, ferns, feathers and grasses such as hay or wheat. SENT IN BY: Mary  

VARIATION: From Jane Let the students use 3-inch to 4-inch branches of various evergreens to dab paint on paper. After they have finished, staple each artist's branch on his or her painting. When doing this activity, discuss the smell, texture and color of different evergreens.

Painting with Lace

MATERIALS: 

Several stalks of Queen Anne's Lace, red, yellow and white paint, dark paper. 

PREPARATION: Pour paint into shallow containers.

ACTIVITY: Have the students dip the Queen Anne’s lace blossoms into paint and lightly dab them on their papers. The finished product will reassemble fireworks.

Painting with FEATHERS

MATERIALS: TURKEYS
Single feather or feathers clipped in a Clothespins or feather dusters, tan OR brown construction paper, paint, newspaper. 

PREPARATION: Cut a turkey shape out of construction paper for each artist. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students place their turkey shapes on pieces of newspaper. Then let them dip their feathers in paint and brush it on their turkey bodies. 

VARIATION: If you're using single feathers, let each artist stick several of them on his or her painted turkey shape. The result will be a painting and a collage of feathers, as well. SENT IN BY: Nancy

Painting with YARN

MATERIALS FOR WORMS 

8 1/2" x 11 manila paper, brown liquid tempera, small jars, 6 inches of string for each artist. 

PREPARATION: Mix tempera to a consistency that won't drip, but is not too thick, either. Pour into jars. Talk to the students about how worms crawl wiggle and squirm, or observe a real worm, if possible. 

ACTIVITY: Have each artist dip a string into a jar of tempera, keeping one end paint-free. Then have the artist drag the string across his or her paper as a worm would crawl or wiggle. Encourage the students to continue dipping their strings and painting until their papers are covered with "worm tracks." 

HINT: Mix tempera with an inexpensive dishwashing soap for easy removal from clothing. SENT IN BY: Lois Olson, Webster City, IA 

VARIATION: BUTTERFLY 

Soak 7 -inch lengths of string in paint. For each artist, place a string in-side a folded piece of light-colored paper in a twisted fashion with one end out over the edge. Then have the artist place one hand on top of the paper while pulling the string out with the other hand. Open the paper and enjoy the butterfly, dancers or flowers created. Repeat the procedure with other colors to mix.

VARIATION: FLOWERS From Agnes -Play some music during art time. Have the students dip string in paint and let it "dance" across their papers as you vary the tempo. 

VARIATION: SNAKES -From Carolyn  Attach 5-inch yarn pieces to popsicle sticks. Using the sticks as handles, let the students dip the yarn into paint and then wiggle it across their papers to make wiggle worms or snakes. Using more than one color of paint makes the project more attractive and fun. 

Painting with A SPOON

MATERIALS FOR SALTY SOUNDS: 

LIQUID tempera paint, salt, spoons, brown paper bags or fingerpaint paint containers. 

PREPARATION: Pour paint into containers and mix with salt.  

ACTIVITY: Put a spoonful of paint on each artist's paper. Then let the artist push -Paint around with the spoon. Add more paint as needed. The paint & salt mixture provides a texture and sound that students like.

Painting with CRUMPLED PAPER

MATERIALS FOR SPRING THINGS:
Construction paper or other heavy paper, newspaper, various colors of  paint, paint pans. 

PREPARATI0N: Mix tempera paint into shallow pans. Crumple newspaper. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students dip crumpled newspaper into paint and dab it onto construction paper. Let the paper dry and cut it into egg shapes. 

VARIATI 0N: You may want to cut out the egg shapes before the students paint them. This is also a good activity for making kite shapes or other spring items

SENT IN BY: Sally J. 

Painting with ROLL-ON DEODORANT BOTTLES 

MATERIALS FOR MAGIC MARKERS: 

Empty glass roll-on deodorant bottles, one for each color desired, tempera paint, newsprint, construction paper or manila paper. 

PREPARATION: Remove rollers from bottles and clean both rollers and bottles thoroughly. Fill bottles with tempera paint and replace rollers. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students use the roller bottles to draw pictures or designs on their papers. 

SENT IN BY: Ruth

VARIATION: From Betty Encourage the use of several different color combinations in the students's drawings or designs. 

VARIATION: From Rosemary -Have the students use the deodorant bottles like magic markers. It's in-teresting to use both large and small roller heads to create designs. 

SIMILAR IDEAS SUBMITTED BY: Cathryn

Painting with SPRAY BOTTLES

MATERIALS: 

Empty spray bottles, thinned tempera paint, large pieces of paper. 

PREPARATION: Fill sray bottles with paint. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students to create designs by "spray painting" on their papers wi:h the spray paint bottles. 

SENT IN BY: Cathryn 

Paint by SQUEEZING

MATERIALS FOR BLOT PRINTS OR MURAL: 

Small squeeze bottles, tempera paints of various colors, construction paper. 

PREPARATION: Mix tempera paints to a thick consistency. Pour into squeeze bottles. Cut paper into a variety of shapes and sizes. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students squeeze paint on their papers to create designs. 

SENT IN BY: Betty

VARIATION: From Cynthia -Squirt some paint inside pieces of folded paper. Have the students press outward with their hands on top of their papers. Then let them unfold their papers to reveal the designs they created. 

VARIATION: From B -Invite the students to create a mural by squirting paint from tempera-filled detergent bottles on a large sheet of butcher paper placed over newspapers or a drop cloth.

Painting with Q- TIPS

MATERIALS FOR PAINTING TIPS:

Q- Tips, tempera paint, construction paper, egg carton and other painting tools. 

PREPARATION: Assemble supplies. Cut egg cartons in thirds to make four-part paint containers. Pour small amounts of paint into each container. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students dip Q- Tips into paint and use them like brushes to create designs on their papers. 

VARIATION: Use dried wide markers in place of Q- Tips. Let the students dip them in paint and use them to draw or write. 

SENT IN BY: Barbara  

HINT: From Gina Arlington, MA To make cleanup easy and fun, fill a dish basin with a small amount of soapy warm water and place it at students’ level. Let students wash their hands, then supply them with paper towels to dry their hands.

Paint with SCOURING PADS

MATERIALS: 

Large sheets of paper, plastic scouring pads, paint pans, liquid tempera paint, paper towels. 

PREPARATION: Place folded paper towels in paint pans and pour on liquid tempera to make paint pads. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students dip the plastic scouring pads into liquid tempera and use them to "paint" on their papers. Stroking motions or up and down movements create interesting effects. This is fun to do with two colors of paint.

Painting with COTTON BALLS

MATERIALS

DRY TEMPRA, Construction paper, cotton balls, brushes, various colors of powdered -tempera in margarine containers, hair spray. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students "paint" with the powdered tempera using cotton balls and brushes to smear the dry paint  

HINT: Q-Tips may also be used for "painting," but they require somewhat more refined small motor skills. 

SENT IN BY: Cindy, Palatine, IL

HINT: From Nancy, Grand Forks, ND  
Use meat trays or paper plates to hold the powdered paint. If using several colors, the trays can be passed around the table. If the room is small, or has poor ventilation, spray the paintings outside. 

COTTONBALL ART 2

MATERIALS FOR CLOTHES PIN HANDLES: 

Spring-type clothespins, cotton balls, paint, small containers, paper, tape. 

PREPARATION: Pour paint into small containers. Tape paper to table. Clip a cotton ball to the end of each clothespin.

ACTIVITY: Using the clothespins as handles, let the students dip the cotton balls in-to paint and then spread it on their papers. 

HINT: When the cotton balls start to get stringy from too much paint, replace them with fresh ones. 

SENT IN BY: Gina Masci, Arlington, MA 

Painting with A SCREEN

MATERIALS FOR SPLATTER PAINTING: 

Colored construction paper, tempera paint, paint containers, old toothbrushes, wire screen attached to a cardboard box frame (see directions below), materials for making stencils. 

PREPARATION: For stencils, gather things such as leaves or flowers or cut paper shapes to fit themes such as animals, fruits or holidays. The shapes can be us-ed many times, so only one or two sets are needed. Pour small amounts of tempera into containers and insert old toothbrushes. 

ACTIVITY: Have each artist arrange stencil materials on a sheet of paper and place the paper under the framed screen. Then let the artist rub a toothbrush dipped in paint back and forth over the screen. When enough paint has been spattered on the paper, remove the stencil materials and allow the painting to dry. 

HINT: Contrasting colors of paint and paper work best. White paint on dark colored construction paper, for example, is quite effective. 

MAKING THE FRAME: 

The time spent making a framed screen for spatter painting could be well worth it. It creates far less mess than using wooden sticks, it's easier for students to use independently and it will last for several years. 

Purchase a piece of screen about 9"x12". The metal screen works bet-ter than plastic. Choose a sturdy cardboard box that has a bottom at least as large as the piece of screen and glue the flaps in the bottom together. Using a utility knife, remove the top flaps and cut around the sides of the box about 4" to 8" from the bottom. On one side, cut down another 2" or 3" to allow paper to be inserted without lifting frame. Cut a hole in the bottom of the box, at least 2" smaller on all sides than the piece of screen. Place the screen over the hole and use a staple gun to secure it to the box where it overlaps. To prevent students from getting scratched by the wire screen, staple an additional cardboard frame over the overlapping edges. 

SENT IN BY: Ruth, Kirkland, WA 

Painting with A SCREEN 

MATERIALS FOR LEAF PRINTS: 

Shoe box, tempera paint, shallow paint dish, toothbrush, construction paper, piece of wire screen, newspaper, leaves or other materials to use stencils. 

PREPARATION: Cut construction paper into pieces slightly smaller than the shoe box. pour paint into shallow dish. Spread newspaper on work table and lace shoe box on top of it. 

ACTIVITY: For each artist, place a piece of construction paper in the bottom of the shoe box and put a leaf on top of the paper. Place the screen on top of the box and mold it around the box edges, if necessary. Let the artist dip the toothbrush in paint and rub it across the top of the screen until desired spattering effect is achieved. Remove the screen and take Jut the leaf along with the artist's painting. Allow the painting to dry onflat surface. 

SENT IN BY: Betty, Columbus, OH

Paint withTONGUE DEPRESSORS 

MATERIALS: 

Cookie cutters or other simple forms, construction paper, styrofoam meat trays, sharp cutting knife, toothbrushes, tempera paint, tongue depressors. 

PREPARATION: Hold cookie cutters or other forms on styrofoam trays and cut around them with a sharp knife to make stencils. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students place styrofoam stencils on construction paper. Then let them dip toothbrushes in paint and rub tongue depressors across the toothbrushes to spatter paint onto their papers. Use Christmas or Thanksgiving cookie cutters for holiday pictures. 

SENT IN BY: Barbara

Painting with MARBLES

MATERIALS FOR DESIGNS: 

Aluminum pie tins, one or two marbles per artist, one or two colors of fairly thick paint, shallow paint containers, paper, smocks. 

PREPARATION: Cut paper circles to fit in the bottoms of the pie tins. Pour paint in con-tainers and add marbles. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students place paper circles in their pie tins. Then put one or two paint-covered marbles in each tin. Let the students roll the marbles back and forth. The marbles will leave a trail of color, criss crossing over and over again. This is a great eye-hand activity. 

SENT IN BY: Melode, Grand Junction, CO 

VARIATION: From Myrna, Manassas, VA -Use rectangular paper placed in the bottom of shallow cardboard boxes for marble painting. Small plastic balls can be used in place of the marbles. 

VARIATION: From Jane, So. St. Paul, MN -Cut construction paper into kite, flower or butterfly shapes and use them for marble painting. 

VARIATION: From Nancy, Grand Forks, ND -Cut down half-gallon milk cartons to use as paper holders. Let the students marble paint on precut seasonal OR holiday shapes such as pumpkins, bells, mittens and hearts . 

VARIATION: From Connie, Hardy, NE -Instead of putting marbles in the paint, put one or two teaspoons of tempera on each paper and let the students roll the marbles back and forth over the paint. 

Painting on SNOW 

MATERIALS FOR COLOR SCAPES:
Watercolors, tempera paint or food coloring mixed with water, brushes, paint containers, snow. 

PREPARATION: Pour paint into containers suitable for use outdoors . 

ACTIVITY: Have the students outside when the snow is a few inches deep. Allow them to freely explore the effects of paint on snow, using both small and large brushes. The colors will spread as the paint touches the snow. Encourage creating splashed colors with wide, sweeping movements or making snow sculptures and painting them. The snow will hold the paint cans and brushes firmly in place, so you won't need to worry about upsets. 

SENT IN BY: Jan Goldstein, Indianapolis, IN

VARIATION: From Marjorie Debowy, Stony Brook, NY :Empty plastic squeeze bottles with water and different colors of food coloring. Let the students squirt the colors onto the snow. Watch the excitement as the snow becomes a rainbow of colors! The next day, observe the melting process. 

Painting on PAPER SHAPES

MATERIALS: 

Butcher paper or other painting paper, tempera paint, brushes, paint containers. (We add glitter glue.)

PREPARATION: Cut desired large shapes from paper. These may be simple geometric shapes, holiday shapes such as pumpkins, Christmas trees, hearts, shamrocks or eggs, or other shapes such as flowers, butterflies or students. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students paint their shapes in any fashion desired. Easels can be used, or painting can be done at tables or even on the floor. One or several colors of paint may be provided with a brush for each color. 

HINTS: If you cut out paper students shapes, it might be fun to let each artist use one to paint a picture of himself or herself. Display the finished paintings on a wall along with the students's names and photographs. 

Use small peanut butter jars for paint containers. They have wide mouths and don't tip over as easily as plastic containers when inserted in a utility tote. Use the tote when painting at tables or on the floor. 

SENT IN BY: Ruth, Kirkland, WA 

VARIATION: From Cindy, Palatine, IL -Mix tempera paints in various shades of one color, depending on the theme of the shapes: reds and pinks for Valentine's Day, greens for St. Patrick's Day, etc.

Painting on EGG CARTONS

MATERIALS : 

Cardboard egg cartons, pipe cleaners, crayons or paint. 

PREPRATI0N: 

Cut egg cartons in half lengthwise. 

ACTIVITY: Egg cartons are perfect for making "caterpillars." Help the students fold -::~cleaners in half and poke them into the top of the first section of egg carton halves to make antennas. Then let the students color ~ and designs on their caterpillars with crayons or paint.

Paint and peel MASKING TAPE

MATERIALS: Shiny fingerpaint paper, masking tape, watercolor paints, brushes, small containers of water. 

PREPARATION: Put pieces of masking tape on each artist's paper in any design. More advanced students may be able to put the tape on their own papers. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students paint their entire papers with watercolors. When the papers are dry, help the students carefully pull off the tape. The white lines that appear will separate the colors, creating interesting designs. 

SENT IN BY: Nancy , Grand Forks, NO  

Painting on NEWSPAPER

MATERIALS: 

Newspaper, tempera paint, brushes, paint containers. 

PREPARATION: Pour paint into containers. Place newspaper in desired painting areas. 

ACTIVITY: Let the students paint pictures or designs on newspaper. Try a variety of painting areas around the room: easels, tables, walls and floor. 

SENT IN BY: Cynthia, Danbury, CT

Painting on FOIL

MATERIALS FOR SHINY PICTURES: 

Oaktag or light cardboard, tempera paint, white liquid glue, brushes, paint containers, aluminum foil, newspaper. 

PREPARATION: Cover table with newspaper. Cut large rectangles out of oaktag and cover with aluminum foil. In paint containers, mix paint with glue to a thick consistency. Stir well. 

ACTIVITY: Have the students paint designs on the aluminum foil with colored glue. The effect is nice if areas are left unpainted, since the foil reflects the paint. 

HINTS: When finished, make frames for the paintings. This is a nice activity for Christmas because of the shiny effect. Older students can etch designs in the glue with popsicle sticks, either freehand or using stencils. 

SENT IN BY: Jane, Sarasota, FL 

Painting on ROCKS

MATERIALS:
Rocks, paint, small containers, brushes. 

PREPARATI0N: Before doing the activity, take your students on a walk to gather rocks that can be painted. Pour paint into small containers. 

ACTIVITY: Have students paint the special rocks that they found any way they 

HINT: As a separate activity, have the students wash their rocks before they 

 them. Toothbrushes work very well for this. 

PINECONE CHRISTMAS TREES

MATERIALS: 

One large pinecone for each artist, green and white tempera paint, small sponges, glitter, small Christmas balls (optional), newspaper. 

PREPARATION: 

Pour tempera into shallow dishes. Cover tables with newspaper. 

ACTIVITY: 

Have the students dip sponges into green and white tempera and apply paint all over their pinecones to simulate snow-covered evergreen trees. While paint is still wet, glitter may be sprinkled on, or small Christmas balls may be added. 

HINT: 

Students who do not like messy hands can paint with sponges that are clipped to clothespins. 

SENT IN BY: Kathy Tustin, CA  

Painting on PAPER PLATES

MATERIALS FOR SUNS: 

Paper plates, yellow paint, brushes, yellow crepe paper or tissue paper, glue. 

PREPARATION: Cut crepe or tissue paper into small rectangles, approximately 1" x 2". 

ACTIVITY: Have the students paint their paper plates yellow to make "suns." While the plates are still wet, let the students press paper rectangles on the paint. They should stick, but if the paint dries before the students have finished, let them use glue. Encourage the students to not only stick rectangles in the middle of their plates, but also over the rims to resemble sun rays. 

VARIATION: Sunflowers Have your students glue sunflower seeds on the middle of their plates to turn their suns into sunflowers. Attach them to green paper stems to create a sunflower "garden." 

VARIATION: Happy faces -After your students have painted their paper plates yellow and the paint has been allowed to dry, have the students draw lines or paste precut shapes on their plates to make "happy faces." 

Painting on GLUE 

MATERIALS: 

Construction paper, glue in squeeze bottles, tempera paint, brushes. 

PREPARATION: Twenty-four hours ahead of time, squeeze glue on a paper for each pattern of your choice. Do not rub the glue. Just allow it to dry a5 it was squeezed on the paper. 

ACTIVITY: Hand out the papers and let your students paint over the glue patterns. Glue provides a new, interesting texture for them to work with

VARIATION: Depending upon the ability of the students, you might want to let them squeeze the glue on their own papers. 

SENT IN BY: Kathleen, Griffith, IN 

VARIATION: From Mary, Lansing, MI -Have your students dribble rubber cement on their papers. Allowthe glue to dry about half an hour. Next, have them paint over the glue. When the paint has dried, let the artist peel off the rubber cement, revealing the pictures or 

patterns they have made.
Painting on CRAYON 

MATERIALS FOR SEASONAL SURPRISES: 

Paper, black paint, white crayons. 

PREPARATION: Thin the black paint. Using a white crayon, draw a "mystery picture" on paper for each artist. Suggestions: Fall - ghosts; Winter - stars, moons, hearts; Spring - clouds; Summer - fish. Older students may be able to draw their own pictures. 

ACTIVITY: Let your students paint over their "mystery pictures" with the thinned black paint. 

Painting on STENCILS

MATERIALS: 

Cardboard or oaktag, tempera paint, brushes or sponges, construction paper, masking tape, shallow dishes, newspaper. 

PREPARATION: Make a stencil for each artist by cutting a simple shape such as a triangle, square or daisy from the center of a piece of cardboard. Place a piece of construction paper under the stencil and tape them both to a table. Pour paint into shallow dishes. 

ACTIVITY: Let each artist dab paint over the open area of the stencil. Remove the stencil and place the painting on newspaper to dry. Other colors may be stenciled onto the same picture when the first color has dried. 

SENT IN BY: Betty, Columbus, OH 

VARIATION: From Lois, Webster City, IA -Cut Easter egg shapes from thin cardboard such as potato chip boxes. Attach loops of tape, sticky side out, to the backs of the shapes and stick them on sheets of paper. Let the students brush thinned paint around the edges of their shapes, extending out about an inch. It's not necessary for them to paint their shapes, but they probably will. Remove the cardboard shapes, leaving unpainted egg shapes in the middle of the papers. When the papers are dry, let the students decorate their egg shapes with crayons, if desired. 

VARIATION: From Lois, Webster City, IA -Follow the same procedure to make car, bus and airplane shapes to be used for a transportation unit. This method is similar to spatter painting. but it goes faster and is less messy. 

VARIATION: From Carole, Pittsburgh, PA -Cut out flower shapes, trees, cars or geometric shapes to make stencils and tape them on large sheets of white paper. Then let the students shade over the edges of their stencils using the sides of peeled crayons.

Designed to include students with Autism
By Toni Flowers “Reaching the Artist with Autism through Art”

Here are some samples of the projects in her book. I like the book but feel it isn’t worth the price asked for it. Most pages barely have more than a half a page of print on them. I include them only to show you how choice based art works. However, it should be up to you whether or not to purchase it. If this format works for you, I would highly recommend the purchase. The content

PAINTING with ice

MATERIALS
MEDIUMS   -Ice cubes-finger paints - blue Liquid hand soap 

IMPLEMENT-Hands 

SURFACE  -White finger paint paper 

ACTIVITY 

Put an egg sized gob of blue paint on the paper. Plop the ice cube into the paint. Add a little soap. Move the ice cube through the paint and all over the paper. 

Try to keep going until the ice cube is melted. 

Notes: 

We used blue paint because it reminded us of the ocean. They became delighted with the whole experience and went through three ice cubes. 

OBJECTIVES 

Tactile/Kinesthetic Awareness Perceptual Motor 

FIne Motor skills

Concept Development - colors, temperature 

PAINTING with Q-tips

MATERIAL
MEDIUM (S) Water colors -basic colors 

Water 

IMPLEMENT (S) Cotton swabs 

SURFACE (S) 

White construction paper 

SUGGESTED DIRECTIONS 

Dip the cotton swab in water and dab it on the paper. Drag it on the paper. 

Write with it. 

Draw with it. 

Notes: 

This experience makes me think of Chinese drawings and paintings. The cotton swab makes such a delicate mark on the paper. 

You can make some wonderful pastel colored, dreamy pictures. 

PAINTING BOXES

MATERIALS
MEDIUM (S) 

Acrylic house paint - white 

IMPLEMENT (S) 

Paint roller with handle Paint tray 

SURFACE (S) 

Large cardboard box (appliance box)

ACTIVITY 

Pour the paint into the tray. Practice rolling the roller in the paint and taking off some of the paint before putting on the surface. You can drag the roller to the high part of the tray and roll some paint out or drag the roller across the edge of the tray. Maybe you have other tricks. 

Roll the paint onto the cardboard box. 

Notes: 

We turned our freshly painted box into a house. I took different colored plastic film (the stuff you get at Easter time) and made a red, blue and yellow window. My students with autism love to look through these colored windows. 

OBJECTIVES 

Gross Motor 

Concept Development - colors, size 

PAINTING with shag carpet

MATERIAL 

MEDIUM 

Poster paint-purple, red and yellow 

IMPLEMENT
Shag carpet -cut into strips around 2" x 4" 

SURFACE
Burlap 

SUGGESTED DIRECTIONS 

Mix the paint with a little soap. 

Dip the carpet strip in the paint mixture. 

Use just the tip of the carpet strip, or bend it over and use a large portion of the end. Drag it across the burlap. 

We tape the burlap down so it does not move all over the place while we are creating. Blot the carpet strip on the burlap. 

Use the back of the carpet strip to apply the paint. 

Notes: 

Our finished piece resembled a floral design. I kept it hanging in the classroom the entire year. It was created by an integrated group of first and second grade students with autism, and third and fourth grade students without autism. 

OBJECTIVES 

Tactile/Kinesthetic Awareness 

Concept Development- colors, textures

PAINTING with a turkey baster or eye dropper

MATERIALS
MEDIUM (S) 

Poster paint - red, yellow Liquid hand soap 

IMPLEMENT (S) Cooking baster or Eye dropper 

SURFACE Vinyl

ACTIVITY 

Mix the paint with a little soap. 

RII the cooking baster with the red paint and dribble or gush it all over the vinyl. RII the eye dropper with yellow paint and dribble or gush it all over the vinyl. Compare the two. Did the baster make a different pattern than the eye dropper? What color did the two paints make when they met each other on the vinyl. 

Notes: 

This is another good tool to make the artist's name with. That personalization of the experience is important to students. 

OBJECTIVES 

Fine Motor Writing Skills Perceptual Motor 

Concept Development - colors, sizes