Art activities may not be part of the play at your home or care center so how about combining science and art for more fun for kids? Let’s face it, sometimes art has a bad rap as being a waste of time. Or, parents might think they don’t know enough about art. Children have different interests and not all enjoy the same activities. Art can be lots of fun and included in play with science it appeals to even more.
Combining science and art is easy and exciting. For a simple activity, pour a layer of milk on a big saucer or plate, not too thick but enough to cover the bottom. Using red, green, yellow, and blue food coloring, kids or grownups can squeeze 2 or 3 drops of each color in different spots but near the center of the plate. Science involves guessing or predicting as well as testing, so talk with your child about what will happen if you touch the milk in the middle with the end of a cotton swab (q-tip). It just gets wet.
Now, dip the other end of the cotton swab in a bit of liquid dish soap. What will happen this time? Dip that into the middle of the milk and colors and watch as the colors seem to burst into action and swirl all around. Instead of a picture which isn’t nearly as effective, here’s a video of the fun.
For an idea that’s out of this world, kids can color a planet on a round coffee filter with water-based felt markers. When done, kids squirt the planet with water and watch the colors flow and change. Kids discover if they squirt too much that the water will wash away the colors instead of just mixing.
Another way to make a planet is to roll bits of all different colors of play dough or plasticine together into a colorful ball. Or, kids can flatten and stretch bits of it on a paper plate or container lid. To have a sensory experience along with the art and science, mix up a batch of goop or slime and let kids create with that. This fun is slippery and slithery.
These are just a few ideas for combining art and science. They are child-tested and very doable at home or in a group setting. Could you share some more ways to experience and experiment with art?