Bugs are a lot easier to play with when they're made of paper. Now your child can explore color mixing and design while folding together a painted piece of paper and then using a marker to outline a unique bug when it’s dry. Most bugs are symmetrical – or the same on both sides, making this activity even better for exploring color mixing and the anatomy of bugs! Experiment with different shapes and sizes for a whole collection of different bugs!
What You Need:
- White paper
- Tempera paint
- Eyedropper
- Paper cups
- Black marker
What You Do:
- Start by folding a sheet of white paper in half and picking one side to work on. Along with teaching color mixing, the project demonstrates the concept of symmetry.
- Your child can squeeze a couple of drops of her favorite colors of tempera paint into small cups – one for each color. She can also add a few drops of water to thin the paint out.
- Offer your child an eyedropper to use to squeeze up a small amount of paint and then drip it onto the half of the paper she chose to work on. She can keep dripping paint until the half of the paper is covered.
- Next, fold the paper onto itself and lightly press, smoothing out the paint around the paper.
- Now open the paper and reveal a symmetrical squishy mess of paint. She can see how the colors blended and mixed together.
- Once the paper has dried, offer your child a black marker and invite her to find a crazy bug to outline within the mix of colors. Bugs are symmetrical with antennae, patterns and designs, and sometimes wings!
Encourage her to take her time and concentrate while outlining her special and colorful bug. She can use a real bug as inspiration or make up her own!Her finished symmetrical bug can be displayed in her room, reminding her how exciting and interesting bugs can be!
By Sarah Lipoff
Sarah Lipoff has a K-12 Art Education degree and enjoys working with kids of all ages.
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