Ah, winter. Around here the sodden, soggy weather is punctuated with the occassional chilly day when we look up to the mountains and relish the sight of some snow. But really, in the Pacific Northwest winter can be hard to find.
I do like to celebrate it anyway, so this coming week I’ll be doing an educational program for local children. It focuses on snow, ice, frost and hail – all of which are notably absent from our landscape at the moment!
Whether you have 2 foot long icicles hanging outside your window or you are basking in the glow of a southern summer, you can enjoy a taste of winter with ice cube painting.
What is ice cube painting? It’s an activity that’s perfect for the toddler, preschooler, and primary set. It incorporates both science and art, and it’s wonderful for those who are more interested in the process of art than the product.
The process is simple. Take some paint powder, and take a white piece of paper. Place a little bit of the powder on the paper. Get one large ice cube. Put the ice cube on the paper, and use the gradually-melting cube to moisten and move the paint around the page.
What do you have? It’s a painting made by an ice cube, with your help, of course!
For older children who get frustrated by the idea that they are “not artists,” this is the perfect way to paint. The ice cube adds a random element to the art, so they don’t really control the way the painting goes. That way, they can relax and just enjoy the process of making art!
Image Credit: [frouu]