A “Cool” Way to Paint!
Penguins Love Colors by Sarah Aspinall explores what happens when six little penguins, tired of living in a world of snowy white, take matters into their own hands and give their Mama a colorful surprise! This book expands preschoolers’ color knowledge by tying each color to a different flower (which also happens to be the name of the penguin wearing the same color beret). And what better activity to follow up this book than painting like a penguin, with icy paints!
Materials needed:
- ice cube tray
- popsicle/craft sticks
- liquid watercolor paint
- flour (optional, for opaque paint)
- Sturdy paper
Setup Tips:
- Adding a little flour to the water before coloring it can make the paint more opaque.
- Get the ice cubes out a few minutes before painting – it’s a great time to read or re-read the book!
- Protect the work surface with either sheets of plastic or use individual trays for the students to collect drips and spills.
- When the students are finished, any remaining “paintsicles” can be refrozen for later use!
- Be sure to have lots of drying space available – the students will likely want to make more than one masterpiece.
Educational Benefits
- Using the craft stick requires lots of great use of fine motor skills
- Open-ended and high success rate
- Great for reluctant writers or children who struggle to try new things
- Hands on experience with color theory
- A great sensory experience
Looking for more art ideas for your preschoolers? Check here:
