Squiggle, Wiggle, and Draw | A Sensory & Literacy Activity

This activity from The GIANT Encyclopedia of Art & Craft Activities for Children 3 to 6  is sure to provide some sensory fun for young children using easy-to-find materials! Children will reap multi-disciplinary benefits from this activity from creatively using their senses and learning about primary and secondary colors to gaining vocabulary and pre-literacy skills, math skills, and more.

Materials

• 6" (15 cm) plastic, disposable plates or small Styrofoam trays, one per child
• Aluminum foil
• Fingerpaint or tempera paint
• Plastic wrap
• Tape

What To Do

1. Cover each plate with aluminum foil.
2. Spoon about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of paint onto the middle of the plate.
3. Cover the plate with plastic wrap following the contour of the plate. Do not wrap tightly.
4. Secure the plastic wrap on the back of the plate with tape.
5. Invite the children to mix the paint and create designs or pictures using their fingers.

More to Do

• Language: Reinforce vocabulary relating to the senses like cold, hot, slippery, rough, coarse, smooth, loud, sweet, sour.
• More art: Blend primary colors to create secondary colors. Practice drawing letters or numbers.
• Outdoors: Sit outside on a fair day with your eyes closed and listen carefully for sounds.
• Science: Put other materials in tightly secured sandwich bags and invite the children to squeeze the bags and compare their texture.