Materials
Paper
Shallow cardboard box
Paint in a variety of colors
Small spoons
Small metal objects such as ball bearings, nuts, bolts, and nails
Magnet
Rubber gloves
Tub of water
Towels
Instructions
1. Place a piece of paper in the bottom of the box. Ask two children to hold the box.
2. Have a third child spoon a few colors of paint onto the paper.
3. Ask the children to choose a few of the small metal objects and place them in the box.
4. Invite another child to sit under the box and move the magnet across the bottom of the box.Show the children how the magnet pulls the metal objects through the paint, creating a designon the paper.
5. When the design is complete, have the children put on rubber gloves and remove the metalobjects, then rinse the paint from them and dry them with a towel for the next group.
6. Put a clean sheet of paper in the box and invite the rest of the class to participate in turn, rotatingpositions.More to doMore art: Instead of using a magnet, put a rolling ball into the box and have the children holdingthe box rock it so the ball rolls around in the paint. Have the children begin the project with onlyprimary colors, then observe which new colors they create as they begin to paint.Sand and water table: Bury metal objects in the sand and locate them with the magnet.Science: Encourage the children to experiment with a magnet and an assortment of objects inthe box before they add paint and paper. Have them test objects from the classroom or home tosee which are attracted to the magnet. Make a chart with pictures of the objects that were orwere not attracted to the magnet.
