Brown

Painting with potatoes

Month 11 · Activity 9 · Colors

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.

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