Early learning goals for preschool age children involve creative development. Creativity, according to Joan Bouza Koster’s Growing Artists: Teaching Art to Young Children [Cengage Delmar Learning, 2004], is ”being able to see a problem, form ideas about it, and then communicate the results. When children manipulate and experiment with art materials, they are creating something new and unique and in doing so, are being creative”. Art, therefore, nurtures creativity.
Preschool teachers and daycare providers have the opportunity to promote creative development by providing art activities that explore media and materials and encourage imagination.
Spin Art is an excellent example of an activity that provides the opportunity to for expression, to encourage spontaneity in material usage, and to introduce children to textured materials.
This lesson plan includes not only the materials list, preparation instructions and procedures for this activity, but also the age appropriate learning objectives and a sample of the simple supporting verbal cues necessary to encourage participation and support learning.
Materials List
- Salad Spinner
- Paper Plates
- Paint (in a variety of colors)
- Glitter
- Butcher Paper
Preparation
- Cover a table with butcher paper
- Gather materials
- Place all materials on the table
Procedure
- Invite the children over and tell that you are going to take turns making designs on the plate using the salad spinner.
- Place a paper plate inside the salad spinner
- Drop teaspoons of paint of the children’s choosing onto the plate
- Replace the lid and help the children turn the handle of the salad spinner to rotate the plate.
- Add glitter to the spinner
- Replace the lid and spin again
Spin Art Lesson Objectives
Objective 1
To provide the opportunity for expressive activities through the use of spin art by having the children create designs using a salad shooter
- Verbal Cue A: Today we are going to do spin art!
- Verbal Cue B: I have lots of colors for you to use on the paper plate to make a design.
Objective 2
To encourage spontaneity in material usage by allowing the children to choose colors and to mix the colors they choose
- Verbal Cue A: Which colors would you like to use first?
- Verbal Cue B: I like the way you are mixing your colors!
Objective 3
To introduce textured materials by adding glitter or sand to the paint to be used by the children.
- Verbal Cue A: Let’s add glitter to the paint.
- Verbal Cue B: Let’s see what it feels like after we add glitter to the paint.
Spin art is a fun, creative activity that children ages 2 and older will certainly enjoy. For more preschool activities, see Online Preschool Lesson Plans.
Spin Art activity adapted from: Albrecht, K. & Miller, L. Innovations: The Comprehensive Toddler Curriculum [Cengage Delmar Learning, 2001].
