Rumpelstiltskin spun straw into gold, in this activity; you will create art with paint and straw.
Objective: Paint a picture with straw.
Materials:
Washable paint (For a sparkly twist, throw some glitter into your washable paint), Paper
Straw or hay (Most craft stores sell tiny bales for decoration, or if you live near a feed store, ask if they have any pieces left over from their bales)
Stick, Tape
Tutorial:
Step 1: Read Rumplestiltskin. Explore and feel the straw as you read.
Step 2: Using the paint and paper, let your child explore using the straw as a brush or stamp. Encourage your child with new ways to paint with the straw like, whole pieces can be used as straws to blow the paint across the paper, used like a stamp to make shapes.
How can you make a tool to help paint with the straw?
Step 3: Once the children have completed their exploration, challenge them to make a design with the straw prints.
Painting Extension: Try straw pulling to create symmetrical paintings.
Fold the paper in half. Place a few drops of paint on your paper and a long strand of straw inside your paper. With one hand pull the straw through the paint while the paper is still folded.
Open the paper to reveal your symmetrical design.
Guiding questions:
What do you notice about using the straw to paint?
Why do you think Rumplestiltskin used straw?
Literature Connection: Rumplestiltskin.
STEAM Connections:
Science: Compare your straw with pictures of gold, talk about plants vs. metals. For older children, talk about Alchemy, a medieval belief that any metal could (with the right combination of heat and mysterious potions) be turned into gold.
Technology: Research spinning, there are some great quick YouTube videos that demonstrate the process for kids.
Engineering: Design a machine that would help Rumplestiltskin make more gold even faster.
Art: Art is the main focus of this activity.
Math: Look at the pictures of the rooms of gold in the story; estimate how much money you think it might be worth. Brainstorm a “wish list” of things they’d spend it on if they were King or Queen.
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