Sponge Shape Paintbrushes DIY Painting Ideas
Sponge shape paintbrushes are a new find for me. At the craft store, we recently found a bucket of sponge paintbruses with different shapes. Hmmmm, what could we do with those? After our first idea, we brainstormed a few more ideas. How about shape flowers? This was one activity for insured success as I prepared the background ahead of time to be ready for shape sponge painting. Have you seen these new paintbrushes, too?
Given a prepared sheet, all Miss Owl had to do was pick brushes and paint colors for her garden. She decided to use one color per brush so the same shapes were the same colors. It was easy to do that and not have to rinse and change colors for the brushes. Actually, there are so many brushes in a pack the idea could be expanded.
However, she was soon preparing her own ideas, like the stormy sky. She told a story as she eagerly painted and explained her idea. Such fun.
The storm idea led to the next thought, which was a night sky painting. The larger round sponge brush made a nice moon in various phases. The star brush made for small flowers. See how the wheels begin to spin when the materials are available and options can be created from a basic scene? With ground and sky, the ideas started to flow. The sponges offered additional inspiration, as well.
A pumpkin could be stamped with just one or several shapes to create a face. It is a little early for this project, so hopefully we will remember to try this next fall.
And, a Christmas tree could be covered with shape decorations. This idea offers more opportunity for more dabbing and painting action. We have to make more of these next December.
You have probably thought of a bunch more ideas by now!
You might also like the Matching Color Palettes for Flowers and Butterlies free printable at the blog post.
Thank you for reading!
Carolyn
Castleview Academy posted about painting without brushes at all, in case you have none at your house currently!
Science Free
This page has links to free science printable blog posts.  The printables and resources are available at the blog post links. There are more, so please use the search bar in the top right of each page to search for other resources.
The bubbling snowman is simply a version of using baking soda and vinegar which children never seem to become tired of doing. When the bubbling begins, it looked like it is snowing.  Please see the blog post here for more information and a short video.
Vertebrates/invertebrates sort, free PDF, instant download at the blog post.
Leaf-shaped 3-part cards printable — download at this blog post link.
Math and nature Fibonacci posters can be downloaded in the free eMember area.Â
Links to several science posts about bugs, insects, bees, butterflies, and plants
Sugar-water density experiment — very fun!
A free printable with matching cards for teaching about bogs is at this blog post. The suggested text is not required for using the cards in the PDF, but some source of information would be nice to have on hand.
Information about a free magnets printable is at this blog post. The printable will be found in our free eMembers area.
Free student interactive notebook printable for studying plants on the prairie at this blog post. What plants and animals live on the prairie? Find out in this printable.
Observe and journal about a tree for an outdoors science activity. Visit the same tree a each season of the year to notice what is happening. More information and a free PDF is available at the blog post.
Have you see the dancing dime experiment to demonstrate that warm air takes up more space than cold air? See the post at this link for more information as well as a very short video.
Solar Bead Necklaces are amazing for children but do not tell the secret while inside and working on the project. Let children discover for themselves how the sun causes these beads to reveal their colors.  They will be happy to share the information with you! For information please see the blog post at this link.
Watch Me Grow, Rabbit is a nonfiction book for children with facts, information, and photos that show how rabbits grow and live. The free printable at the blog post has a worksheet and answer key to accompany the text.
Science experiments at home using test tubes, nature print paper activities, and breaking open geodes. See the information at this blog post.
Free activity: Â Traveling Water Experiment at this blog post
Build a solar oven and bake smores (free printable at the post)
STEM with recycled newspapers, old-fashioned fun
Grow crystals over night using tissue paper instead of coal, and a few household ingredients.  See information and printable directions which open here.
