When I called my young artists to the table for their art time, they were just a little bit excited:
And so they should have been! We had made some home-made paints during our science time the day before and we coloured some foam with food colourings to give us a very different textured paint. I popped them all on the table. The girls chucked some old clothes of T11’s on with an extra apron for A4 (she’s not a fan a getting her clothes dirty!) and I made them pose for a picture:
And they were off, rather sedately at first, I thought:
This soon changed however, when they discovered some washing up stick sponges I’d filled with coloured soapy water:
And soon they were off:
I know it looks very messy but clear up is super easy. I simply have the girls wash their hands in the hot, soapy water in a plastic box on the floor, take off their over clothes and throw them in the wash. Everything on top of the paper goes into the plastic box of hot, soapy water on the floor to soak. The paper gets rolled up and chucked in the bin. I give the table a quick wipe down (and the chairs, floor etc!). And we’re done. The brushes and bits and bobs practically wash themselves whilst soaking, I drain them in the sink, leave to dry and pop back in our plastic box, which doubles as our painting supply box. What could be simpler?
Looks like such fun and I’m glad it was easy to clean up!
Yes, my photos always show how messy it is- I thought it would maybe put a lot of people off doing it, but it really doesn’t take long to clear up!
What a mess/masterpiece. Do they not have paintings like those in art galleys? Glad they are having so much fun at school. Good job.
Thank you, Daddy!!
I LOVE your littlest’s look of complete, blissful absorption 🙂
If you only knew what a pleasure it was for me to see that look instead of the tears. It’s a look that will NEVER grow old for me! (it’s the little things in life….)
Claire… YOU are a Homeschooling Master… I am learning SO much… I just want to get in there with your girls and make huge, messy, masterpieces! A question about the foam? Is it just plain shaving foam with food colouring or did you add paint powder?
Thank you, they’d love for you to come over and make messes!!
It is plain shaving foam, the absolute cheapest I could find, with food colouring. I put it in a ziplock bag, added the colouring and mixed it that way. It’s hard to do in a bowl with a spoon. HTH!
Awesome!! I shall most definitely give it a bash! And hopefully post pictures… I am a bit pathetic with posting on my blog. Need to get my tail in gear… 😉 And I just can’t get over that red hair… beautiful!
Hi Claire,
Thank-you so much for your blog. I discovered you via 1+1+1=1 and have spent the last month reading all your past posts to work out what you do and how you do it! You have really inspired me in my homeschooling with my 2 boys aged 6 and 3, and I can’t wait to use some of your ideas (some soon and some in a few years!). My oldest son and I have already decided that learning actively through history is what we want to do and we are planning to begin with creation next week. I am so excited, inspired and humbled by everything you do. Thank-you once again. Jo
Thank you, Jo, for leaving such an encouraging comment. One of the unseen benefits to blogging is ‘meeting’ other mums and home schoolers (albeit on line). It’s particularly good to know that something I’ve written has helped or inspired someone – I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know!
Do let me know how it goes with your son, I hope you enjoy home schooling as much as we do!!
You know, I always saved the papers from projects like that and used it as our wrapping paper……… Just think you could not have to buy wrapping paper for a year with your weekly little artist days 🙂
I don’t think you realise how very WET the paper is. It is unsalvageable!
What fun! I love the first picture of your littlest. I think that look says it all. Mission accomplished!
Mess is always a success here!!
It does look messy, but it looks very contained. I’ll send my kids over to paint:)
Sure, come on over!