Have you ever tried the Under The Table Art project?  It’s a lot of fun and the children really enjoy doing this art project.  They may not understand who painted the Sistine chapel or how Michelangelo had to paint basically upside down to make the master piece we all love.  But they will enjoy the art project nonetheless.

            What do you need for this art project you may ask?  I’ll tell you exactly what you need.  You can do it yourself and have fun too.

Under The Table Art Project:

·         White construction paper

·         Tape

·         A low table

·         Crayons (they originally say paint but I don’t think you want it dripped all over)

You tape the paper up under the low table, make sure that is low or the children won’t be able to reach the paper.  After the paper is taped, put the box of crayons on the floor and ask your child or student to lie down on the floor underneath the table.  And then let them go to town on the paper.  After they are done, you will have their own masterpiece that they created just like Michelangelo.

            Another great art project that you and the family can enjoy or another project you can enjoy in the classroom is the ‘Spilt Milk’ art project.  It is a lot of fun especially after you read the story or take a trip outside and watch the fluffy clouds floating around the sky.  It gets the imagination running in the child, and wow it’s great and fun hearing what they see in the clouds and in the art project.  Here is what you need for this great imaginative art project

·         Dark paper (blue, green, black, red)

·         White paint

OR

·         White paper

·         Blue, green, red, black, brown, or any color paint you want besides white of course

·         Paint smocks just in case

Once they have their paper, let the children pick what color paint if they are using the white paper, or choose the color of the paper if they want to use white paint.  Once they have made their decision, let the children drip the paint onto the paper where they want.  Once they are done, help them fold the paper in half and press out the paint.  If some paint oozes out from the sides, that’s okay, just use a paper towel to wipe up the mess.  Open up the paper and let their imagination run wild.  Ask them what they see in the paint and with a sharpie marker write it down.  Every blotch of paint if they see something different write down what they see and if you want to take it further write a story with the children.  Hang up their stories with their painting once it is dried.  If you are teacher, you will be proud of your students because they will constantly want to show off their work to their friends and their parents.

      A great one for teachers everywhere if you want to get those dirty tables clean and your room smelling good.  Plus it is great for a texture project that your students will enjoy.  If you want to do this at home, I must warn you parents IT IS VERY MESSY!  For teachers again IT IS VERY MESSY but it is worth seeing those smiling faces and hearing them laugh while they socialize as well as they help clean your tables.  Just don’t tell them the truth behind the project. J  I’m just kidding yes it does clean the tables but the main part is helping the kids socialize and get use to textures.  I’ll post more texture projects in another hub.   But this project isn’t an art project that you can hang up.  But you can take pictures if the parents allow and put them in type of yearbook for them, since Preschool don’t have yearbooks.  Here is what you will need for this project.

·         Smocks

·         Dirty table

·         Liquid watercolor paint

·         Shaving cream (yes you did read that correctly)

Have the children put on their smocks while you get the shaving cream ready for this project.  Once they are ready, have them stand around the table and you stand by, squirting the shaving cream ALL over the table, hearing their delighted squeals and laughter from your students.  After you have the shaving cream on the table, let them begin smearing their hands all in the cream while you get the watercolor paint and sprinkle this onto the table as well allowing the kids to mix the white with color and having more fun.  Continue to spray both on onto the table while the kids play, rotating the kids from time to time so that there is a fair amount of time for each child.  If you have another table, then set up it up for the same thing so that more students can play in the colored shaving cream.  And the best part is, you can play in it as well and the kids just LOVE IT.  You can draw faces and write letters and they will scream in delight and quickly cover up your pictures, while you pretend to sulk.  It’s great fun!!

            And it is a pain to clean up but it is well worth it.  It makes the room smell clean, clean the tables, but most importantly THE KIDS LOVE IT!  To see the kids faces light up while they are playing in the shaving cream is well worth the clean up after wards.

            These are my all time favorite art projects and projects to do with my students.  I will post more art projects I enjoy in other hubs, especially some great texture type art projects.  Enjoy and hope you do try these at least once, whether they are at home or in your classroom.  They may be for younger kids but you can also change them so that they can be done by older students or family children.