Spin Art

Materials
Salad spinner
Tempera Paint (we used black for Black and White week)
White paper plate

Directions
Place a paper plate in the bottom of the salad spinner. Add 2-3 drops of tempera paint onto the paper plate. Place the top on the spinner and invite your child to spin the spinner by turning the handle or pressing on the top knob. Take off the lid and remove the plate.  Dry completely and display.

This is loads of fun for the children and they are so delighted to see their beautiful artwork.

Tearing Paper

Materials
White and black construction paper                                                                                           
Glue
Picture or book about zebras

Directions
Spend some time looking at pictures of zebras with your child. Notice the beautiful black stripes that they have as their coat. Invite your child tear long strips of black construction paper and glue the strips onto white construction paper to look like zebra stripes. Display the zebra stripes.

Extension activity;

Tearing paper is a great fine motor activity for toddlers and preschoolers.

Pounding Golf Tees

Materials
Child’s play hammer
Package of golf tees (Black tees for Black and White week)
Large pieces of styrofoam
Sharpie Marker

Directions
Place the styrofoam, a container of plastic golf tees, and a child’s play hammer onto a hard surface. Invite your child to hammer the “plastic nails” into the styrofoam. Encourage her to hold the tee with her fingers of one hand and use the hammer with the other hand. Your child will have fun pounding the tees into the styrofoam. Count the golf tees.
This activity works on the pincer grasp, which is needed for holding a pencil correctly, eye and hand coordination, and counting.

Paper Weaving

Materials:
  • 9×12 Construction Paper
  • Paper Strips approximately 1 inch in thickness
  • Glue                                                                                                   
  • Scissors
 
Instructions: 

Fold construction paper in half. Cut slits evenly spaced apart from the center fold to about an inch from the opposite edge.  Open the paper.  Take one paper strip and weave it horizontally across the paper going over and then under the slits.  Second strip, start under and then over. Continue the pattern until reaching the bottom of the page.  Secure the ends of each strip with a dot of glue.

Painting with Toy Cars

Materials
Tempera Paint
Paper Plates
Large construction paper
Toy cars

Directions
Cover the work space with newspaper.  Lay a piece of construction paper on the work space. Pour tempera paints onto the paper plates – one color per plate. Invite your child to choose a small toy car to roll in the paint on the paper plate, and then drive on the construction paper making fun, painted tire tracks. Dip the car’s tires again in paint and continue until your child is satisfied with his creation.  Allow to dry completely before displaying.

Bowling – Cups and Indoor Snowballs

Materials
10 Plastic cups (we used black)
Indoor snowballs
Large cardboard box (optional)

Directions

Set up cups to make a pyramid – 5 on the bottom, then four on top of the five, etc. This is a good balancing activity for preschoolers. Younger children will enjoy setting up the cups in any manner. Once the cups are set up, invite your child to take a “snowball” or any soft, small ball and roll it trying to knock over the cups. Ask your child to count how many cups were knocked down. Set the cups back up and try again.  Count the cups again. This is a game your child will enjoy playing over and over!

Black and White Contact Paper Collage

Materials

Clear contact paper
Variety of materials for collage – tissue paper, feathers, foam pieces, construction paper (We chose that were black and/or white)
Tape

Instructions

Cut of a large piece of clear contact paper. Peel the paper of the back side.  Tape contact paper to the table or window, sticky side up.  Provide various materials to stick onto contact paper to make an interesting collage.  Once completed, place sticky side of contact paper against a window and note how light shines through the collage.

Pipe Cleaners and a Cardboard Box

Materials
Pipe cleaners – we used black and white
Cardboard box – any size is fine (a big one allows the child to sit inside and work!)
Pointed scissors or ice pick

Directions
Using a sharp pair of scissors or an ice pick, poke several holes into the sides of the box. Once the adult has finished poking holes into the box, invite your child to take pipe cleaners and poke them through the holes. Encourage your child to bend and curl the pipe cleaners to make interesting designs.  

This is a wonderful fine motor activity, which takes focus and good eye/finger coordination. Have fun!