Pinecone Painting with Spice Paints

10/22/2016

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.

Suggested book Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon

Available on Youtube

Instructions:

Place 1 Tbsp of each spice in 3 separate containers
Add 1 Tbsp of flour
Add 4 Tbsp of water
Add 1 Tsp of corn starch
Add 1 Tsp of dish soap
Mix ingredients
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.

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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