Pinecone Painting with Spice Paints

​This activity started with a nature walk where we talked about the changing leaves, and fall colors.  We looked for pinecones on the ground and found a few to put in our nature basket in the classroom after they dry.  

• A lesson plan is available for this project at www.Lessons4Learners.com.

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Suggested book Penguin and Pinecone  by Salina Yoon

• Available on Youtube

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Instructions:

1. Place 1 Tbsp of each spice in 3 separate containers
2. Add 1 Tbsp of flour
3. Add 4 Tbsp of water
4. Add 1 Tsp of corn starch
5. Add 1 Tsp of dish soap
6. Mix  ingredients
7. Add food coloring (about 20 drops per container. The more food coloring you put the brighter your spice paints will be)

• Cinnamon – approximately 20 red drops
• Pumpkin Spice – approximately 5 red drops, 15 yellow drops
• Ginger – approximately 20 yellow drops

8.   Place paints, pinecones and paintbrushes in an appropriate area for painting. Explore the sense of smell with child as they paint. 

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Aha! 

Mrs. Erika left the scented paints sitting out after this project was done and later the same day, our little guy came back and experimented with mixing the paints, and painted on the easel. While he was being observed, it seemed as though he was more engaged in the free open-ended experimentation than he had been in the project that had been organized. In the future, we should try just putting pinecones out near the paint, and letting him select them as a tool or medium.  

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