Recommended Age: 2 years and onwards
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, mainly supervision
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
- 3 different coloured washable paints
- 3 paint pots
- 3 spoons
- 3 marbles
- A small bowl
- A rectangular container with a lid (large enough to fit a piece of A4 paper on the bottom, or you can cut the paper to size so that it fits on the bottom of the container)
- A4 paper
- An art smock
Preparation
- Place the paint into the paint pots 9about 2 tablespoons of paint in each)
- Put the spoons in the paint pots
- Cut the paper if necessary
- Prepare the child’s table by placing the above materials
Steps
- Invite the child, letting them know that you will be showing them how to do marble painting
- Let the child know they will need a smock, the child may put their smock on (assist if necessary)
- Show the child the materials set out at their table naming each item
- Take the container and place a piece of paper at the bottom
- Using the spoon, place a small amount of paint into the container, repeat for the other 2 colours
- Show the child the marbles, invite the child to put the marbles into the container
- Place the lid on the container
- Show the child how to roll the marbles back and forth from one side of the container to the other
- Notice with the child the tracks of paint made by the marbles
- When finished, open the lid of the container, use one of the spoons to get the marbles out and place them in the small bowl
- Take the piece of paper out of the container
- Show the child where they can put the painting to dry
- Invite the child to have a turn, the child may do as many marble paintings as they please
- Leave the child to work independently
- When the child has finished, invite the child to bring the materials to the sink (the paint pots, spoons, marbles, container)
- Show the child how to wash and dry the materials
- If the child cannot reach the sink, you may set up a large bowl of soapy water at the child’s table for them to wash the materials
Variations
- The same exercise using a large tub and various balls (balls of different sizes and textures, for example a tennis ball, a golf ball and a soft ball)
Note
- By having a lid on the container, you eliminate the possibility of the marbles falling from the container and mess with the paint, an older child would be capable of doing this activity without a lid, or you could use a shallow tray
