Straw Blowing (Painting)

A good vehicle for introducing colors and color mixing with a special gimmick for spreading paint.

 

Objectives

Children participating will be able to use 2-3 different colors to make a design and they will be able to blow through a straw, children ages 4-5 years can name the colors Lang. IB
and children 2 ½-3 years can identify one color by pointing. Lang. IB

 
 
 

Materials

Blue, yellow, red, and green tempera paint; straws cut in half; spoons; paper

 

Procedures

l. Seat children around table. Talk about things they have used to paint with...brushes, fingers, string, etc.

2. Take a straw and demonstrate using it to blow the paint onto the paper.

3. Have children identify and name colors of paint in center of table.

4. Give each child a piece of paper and a spoon. Have them select a color and spoon a large glob of it onto their paper.

Give each a straw and let them blow through it to make a design with the paint.

5. After the children have experimented for a while, invite them to choose another color (by name) to be added. Discuss with them the effect as the colors mix on the paper.

Variation
 
Spread small scraps of colored tissue paper on a tray and place a sheet of paper on top. Use water instead of paint. As children blow the water around on the paper, the tissue paper colors will bleed through, developing a rainbow picture.