Brown
Painting with potatoes
Instructions
- Gather two brown baking potatoes to use for making potato prints, brown paper bag, sharp knife/exacto, and tempura paint
- Slice each potato in half around the middle so you have four sections of potato
- Ask child to select four shapes that you will cut into the sliced section of the four halves
- Draw a shape (square, triangle, etc.) on the cut edge of the potato with a pencil and with a sharp knife remove the potato on the outside of the shape to a depth of 1/2 inch
- You should now have an elevated shape on each of your potatoes
- Child cuts open a large brown paper bag with scissors to use as painting paper. This can be used as wrapping paper once decorated.
- Place a covering over the table to protect from paint (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.)
- Place different colors (if possible include brown) of tempura paint in low saucers (margarine tubs, painting cups, etc.)
- Let child dip potato shape into the paint, blot softly on a paper towel and then place design on paper bag
- Enjoy covering bag with different shapes while you reinforce the shapes they are using, how many shapes they have placed on the paper bag, etc.
Simplify
Beforehand, have adult cut open the brown bag with the scissors or have child place his hand on adult's hand when cutting the paper
Materials
- two brown potatoes
- brown paper bag (cut open to use as child's painting paper)
- sharp knife/exacto (adult use only!!)
- tempura paint
- low saucers or paint pots
- pencil
- old newspaper/tablecloth for protecting table
- paper towel
- scissors
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Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Oval
- Color - Brown
- Number - Nine, 9
- Alphabet Letters - Q, T, L
- Senses - Sight
- Character Trait - Friendliness
- Target Words - Fast, Front, Sort, Same
Monthly Proverb
Spanish - Tell me who you’re with and I’ll tell you who you are
Did You Know?
"The brain develops rapidly during the first five years and quality preschool programs can have a profound impact during this time.” CA First 5
Books to Read
"Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On"
by Lois Ehlert (Activity 7)
"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"
by Bill Martin (Activity 8) (audio book available) (NOTE: Please look for the 25th anniversary edition where the text is back to the original wording)
"Old Henry"
by Joan Blos (Activity 12)
Music Playlist
"The Alphabet Song"
Album: Big Don’s Big Beat (Activity 5)
"Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel"
Album: The Very Best (Activity 20)
"The Turtle Song"
by Suzi Shelton Album Simply Suzi (Activity 11)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
There Was A Little Turtle
(Activity 11 Month 11)
There was a little turtle who lived in a box.
He swam in the water, he climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito, he snapped at a flea, he snapped at a minnow and he snapped at me.
He caught that mosquito, he caught that flea, he caught that minnow, but he didn’t catch me.
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
(Activity 19 Month 11)
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I’ll count these hands instead of sheep.
Help me to remember these friends I made.
And all the wonderful times we played.