Original URL: http://fun.familyeducation.com/activity/painting/39964.html

Marble Painting

Using marbles as a painting tool can put a new twist on art projects.

Materials:

• Cardboard box
• marbles or Ping-Pong balls
• tempera paint
• paper
• masking tape

Directions:

Here's a new twist (or more accurately, shake, rattle, and roll) on painting that your child is sure to enjoy.

Provide a large box, then have your child place a piece of paper inside. If the box is significantly larger than the paper, tape down the edges with masking tape. Next, give your child a handful of marbles (supervise carefully if young children will be participating in the activity; Ping-Pong balls may be more appropriate). Your child covers the marbles with tempera paint, then places them on the paper in the box. As he or she shakes the box, the marbles will create interesting swirls and patterns.

Encourage experimentation: Perhaps your child might introduce one marble at a time or place the marbles in the four corners of the box before beginning the shaking action.

As your child gets more comfortable controlling the roll of the marbles, he or she can try to create specific patterns. For the ultimate challenge, see if your child can write his or her name in "marblelese."