Make Summer Sun Prints!

If you need a quick and fun way to brighten up your home, try creating a sunny piece of artwork to liven things up a bit! Teach your child the art of easy print making with this fun activity, where your child will make his very own masterpiece using paint, Styrofoam, and a clear overhead projector sheet. The result is a colorful work of art that you can hang in your window. This activity will encourage your child to learn about a new artistic process and increase awareness of the environment and weather. It may be challenging for your kindergartner but it will promote the development of fine motor skills and help your child work on problem solving skills, all while providing a fun and creative way to experiment with art!

What You Need:

• Scratch foam or Styrofoam tray
• A wooden stylus or toothpick
• Clear acetate (overheard projector sheets)
• Paint brush or brayer (roller)
• Large paper plates
• Paint in red, yellow, and orange
• Non-toxic water soluble block printing ink (tempera paints may be substituted)
• Newspaper or other large piece of paper
• Rolling pin

What to Do:

1. Hand your child the stylus or toothpick and invite him to draw a picture of the sun on the scratch foam. Discuss what shape the sun looks like, and encourage your child to add embellishments such as sun rays, spirals, or even a smiley face.
2. Squeeze some ink (or paint) of each color onto a paper plate.
3. Hand your child the paint brayer or paint brush and have him roll it in the ink. Encourage him to explore mixing and blending different colors together to see what happens! Then roll the ink over the sun picture on the scratch foam.
4. Place the clear acetate sheet on top of the newspaper, with the inked printing plate face down on the acetate sheet. Fold the newspaper over the printing plate and acetate like a book or sandwich.
5. Use a rolling pin to roll on to of the newspaper with the items inside, or ask your child to use his hands.
6. Open the paper and separate the print from the plate.
7. Repeat as you experiment with color.
8. Then print the print aside to dry. When you're finished, hand the print in a sun filled window for a beautiful and colorful work of art that's sure to liven up any house!
9. Extend this activity by printing on different surfaces, like construction paper, tissue paper, or old fabric. The results are different every time ensuring that the fun never ends!