Does your child like making potions and concoctions?
This activity is like mad scientist meets Picasso but in a fun (and not as messy as you may think) engaging way. Plus it only takes three ingredients to make!
STEAM preschool activities are designed to engage your child and stretch their thinking.
STEAM represents the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math
Opportunities for hands-on play with different materials will allow your child to learn and extend their knowledge and creative thinking skills.
Make Your Own Watercolor Salt Paint
Materials: Small bowls or containers, Water, Liquid Watercolors or food dye, Salt, Paper, Cookie Tray, Brush
Step 1: Scoop salt into each bowl. Remember your child is in charge. Let your child decide how much salt to add.
Step 2: Add water. Pouring skills are important for young children. This is an opportunity in practicing to pour into a smaller cup.
Step 3: Add color with liquid watercolors or food dye. We found that food dye created more vibrant colors on the paper but I let my young artists try it both ways.
Step 4: Stir and Test your paint!
Painting Tip: Tape your paper to a cookie sheet or plastic tray to help contain the paint.
Oops! M-Woww’s first color was too faint.
I prompted her thinking with open-ended questions on how to problem solve and make the paint darker. This is good practice in trial and error.
She chose to add more color and was much more satisfied with the results.
Why add salt?
The salt is a crystal that gives the paint a sparkle! It also can absorb the paint and leave interesting textures on the paper.
Challenge your child to see how many different colors they can create or mix together!
This post is part of the Saturday STEM blog hop. Check out the links below for more STEM ideas for kids.
How Sharks Float Experiment: Part 2 from Preschool Powol Packets
Make Your Own Salt Watercolor Recipe from Handmade Kids Art
My 5 Senses Science Table from Little Bins for Little Hands
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