Materials
- Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
- Fingerpaint paper
- Permanent marker
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Blue shades of tempera paint, regular or neon
- Iridescent sequins, small and large
- Fine iridescent shades of glitter
- Scissors
What to do
1. Before you begin, read Rainbow Fish to the children.
2. Using Pfister's subject as a model, draw a large outline of a fish on fingerpaint paper using permanent marker.
3. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk all over the fish outline.
4. Add drops of blue tempera paint to the drizzled milk. There should be more milk than paint. That way, when the paint dries it will be shiny and glossy.
5. Invite the children to paint with their fingers, pushing the paint over the surface of the fish.
6. When they are finished, have them wash their hands.
7. While the fish are still wet, have the children sprinkle sequins and "angel dust" glitter over their surface.
8. Allow the fish to dry, then cut along the outline and hang them on the wall or bulletin board.
More to do
- Circle time: Use Rainbow Fish to reinforce themes of friendship and sharing.
- Dramatic play: Equip the play area with beach and diving equipment such as a scuba mask, foot fins, goggles, life jackets, a rocker boat or one-man raft, swim suits, beach towels, sunglasses, flipflops, beach bags, and beach balls.
-Shawn Perlich, Burnsville, MN
