Sponge Paint Leaf Tree

[30 Minutes]

Trees are so beautiful, why leave them indoors? Bring them inside with this fun and interesting activity.

You'll need:

• construction paper (for background) • sponges cut into 5-6 small squares, 1" or so • clothespins (as handles for sponges) • containers for paint • tempera paint (red, blue, yellow, brown) • paper plates for mixing colors • plastic spoons for each container of paint • short (2" x 3" x 1") lengths of cardboard • newspaper to cover work areas

What to do:

1. Invite your child to put a spoon in each container of paint.
2. Point out to your child that there are some colors that are not present.
3. Talk about how you mix the colors (note: red and blue make purple, red and yellow make orange, blue and yellow make green) to create additional colors.
4. Let him use the spoons in each paint container to put a small amount onto the mixing plate to make the desired colors.
5. With the colors he has produced, encourage him to stamp leaves onto the paper with the sponges.
6. He can make one tree with many colors, or a whole forest of trees. Try making a tree for each one of the seasons.
7. When he is finished with the leaves, let him take the pieces of cardboard, dip their edges in the brown paint, and stamp tree trunks and branches into your trees.
8. Let dry, then hang!

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• What makes a fall tree different than a spring tree? How do trees look in the winter?
• How many colors did you make? Did you find mixing colors fun?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps introduce your child to a variety of artistic tools, mediums, and techniques.