Summer Boost
Activity:
Art Supply Box
Drawing outside and getting inspiration from nature is fun to do, especially in warm, summer weather. In this activity, allow your first grader to draw almost anywhere by letting him create his own garden art box. The garden art box is designed to bring simple materials into an outdoor setting for sketching, tracing, and other basic art projects. Creating the box is an activity in itself, but it can also provide hours of fun outdoor art time!
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What You Need:
- A small cardboard box such as a shoebox, reused bakery box, or gift box
- Glue
- Paint of any color
- Brush
- Decorative materials: sequins, craft feathers, tissue paper, glitter, flowers, leaves, or any other material desired
- Art supplies like pencils, colored pencils, markers, and paper
What You Do:
- If necessary, help your child assemble the box.
- Ask your child to paint the box whatever color he likes. Do not paint the bottom of the box; this will make drying difficult.
- While paint is still wet, have your child attach sequins, feathers, or glitter to the box. Use glue as needed to secure these decorations. For added color, you can even use the paint to make flower prints on the box.
- Allow the box to dry, making sure to prop the lid open so that it is not painted shut.
- Fill the art box with art materials such as crayons, markers, or glue sticks. When finished, he will have a colorful carrier that will allow him to access his art materials whenever and wherever he wants to draw.
The garden art box is just the beginning of your child’s nature-inspired art experience. After the box has been filled with materials, bring it to a park, your own yard, or even on vacation for an afternoon of sketching fun!
