Materials
newspaper or plastic tablecloth
fingerpainting paper
easel paper
fingerpaint
tubs of water
paper towels
Instructions
1. Cover a table with newspaper or a large plastic tablecloth.
2. Put fingerpainting paper (shiny side up) on top of a larger sheet of easel
paper. When the child is finished, just lift the easel paper (with the painting
on top) and move it to another place to dry.
3. Before the children begin painting, wet their papers with a sponge. Have a
spray bottle handy to spritz the papers if the paint begins to dry
.4. Fingerpainting is a great way to teach color blending. Give each child a 1/4
cup of yellow paint and a 1/4 cup of red paint. Encourage them to spread it
together to make orange. Repeat with other color combinations.
5. At another table, have colored paper ready for children to make handprints
when they are done painting and are about to wash their hands.
6. At a nearby table, set up a clean-up site. Prepare one dish tub full of warm,
soapy water, and another with warm clear water. Have a stack of paper
towels next to the water. Each child washes her hands in the soapy water,
rinses in the clear water, and wipes off with the towels.
7. Fingerpainting paper has a tendency to curl after drying. Staple the actual
painting to a second piece of paper to make hanging easier.
