Sand Painting

[25 Minutes]

Dry paintings, also called sand paintings are an integral part of Navajo culture. These paintings were ceremonial, created either on sand or buckskin. Sometimes sand, cornmeal, flower pollen, or powdered roots were used. The paintings were usually used and then destroyed after a 12 hour period. Create sand paintings a special meaning.

You'll need:

• 3 - 4 cups of white playground sand • food coloring • plastic containers with lids • plastic spoons • cardboard • paper plates or newspaper • glue • crayons or markers

What to do:

1. If possible, print out these directions. Read them through with your child before you begin.
2. With your child, gather everything you’ll need.
3. Have your child divide the sand into 4 containers.
4. Let him put 3-5 drops of food coloring into one of the containers. Stir it around. Put on the lid and shake it until the color is evenly distributed.
5. Do the same with the other colors.
6. Invite your child to use a marker to draw a picture on the cardboard.
7. Let him put glue over the sections of the picture that will be one color.
8. Let him sprinkle on the colored sand. Shake the extra sand off onto a paper plate or piece of newspaper.
9. Together continue gluing and shaking sand on the different parts of the picture. Set it aside to dry.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• What do you think will happen when we add food coloring to the sand?
• Which colors should we make?
• What do you think will happen when we shake off the extra sand?