Shake, Rattle, & Roll with Marble Art

Tired of finger painting? Try Marble Art, a new twist on painting! You don't need any paint brushes, just marbles, a tennis can, and a whole lot of shaking to make funky art pieces. The best part is that your child won't be able to see the painting she's creating until it's finished! This makes way for practice predicting and observing in a fun and relaxed environment. You never know what you're going to end up with, but one thing is for sure: it's going to be bright and beautiful!

What You Need:

• Marbles
• Paper plate
• Tennis ball can with lid, or something similar
• 3 plastic spoons
• Different colored tempera paint
• Paper
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Old t-shirt or smock

What to Do:

1. Line your workspace with newspaper, and have your child wear a smock or old t-shirt in order to avoid messy stains.
2. Cut several pieces of paper, each one big enough to fit inside the can. Roll one piece into the can and leave the lid off.
3. Put at least 3 globs of different colored paint on the paper plate.
4. Roll one or two marbles in each color, and remove each one with a spoon.
5. Drop the paint-covered marbles into the can and pop the lid back on.
6. Invite your child to shake the can up and down, and let her repeat this as many times as she wants.
7. Ask your child to predict what she thinks the painting will look like. Will the colors mix? What shapes will it create?
8. Remove the marbles from the can, and take out the piece of paper. Examine the masterpiece with your child, set it aside to dry.
9. Use the other pieces of paper to make other paintings, experimenting with different colors and different methods of moving the marbles around; try rolling or throwing the can instead of shaking it to see the different results. Hang up each painting around the house for some added flair!