Sponge Paint a Giant Easter Egg!

This egg painted with sponges.

     This giant Easter Egg sponge painting requires young students to use unconventional tools in the act of painting. Sponges are easy for little hands to manipulate and these hold all kinds of sticky, messy paints made from inexpensive mixtures that kindergarten teachers can quickly shake together without investing large sums of cash in a art project. Small children do not generally produce art that will be kept forever by anyone other than their parents so, it is important to use materials that may be expendable but also fun to work with. The key to developing student performance in art is repetition and inexpensive materials ensure that the activity is repeated frequently.

Supply List:

• one large sheet of pastel colored construction paper
• tempera paints mixed in pastel colors 
• simple sponges cut into geometric shapes
• cover tables with paper wherever this activity takes place
• give young students aprons to where
• each student should have at least several trays of paint to dip sponges in while they work

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Precut large egg shapes from pastel shades of construction paper.
2. Mix tempera paints for students in advance
3. Set up large tables for young ones to work at. Cover the surfaces with newsprint; perhaps, even the floors. Put paint trays within reach of painting activity.
4. Children my dip sponges into the paints and print the shapes on their paper Easter eggs. 
5. Encourage them to fill the areas, make patterns, and try different paint colors!

This video, from Nuttin' but preschool, demonstrates an excellent step-by-step process for making homemade "tempera" paints. However, if you are an artist, you know that actual tempera paints used by professionals include an egg binder. So here is an old recipe for high school students.