Materials

• Absorbent material: a paintbrush, kitchen sponge, rag/piece of fabric etc.
• something that holds a lot of water (a bucket, mixing bowl, saucepan)
• an outdoor surface for your child to paint with the water
  
  

Activity

Find something to “paint” with. Feel free to get creative with whatever you have handy! This could be a paintbrush, kitchen sponge, rag/piece of fabric, unpaired sock etc. Then, get something that holds a lot of water (a bucket, mixing bowl, saucepan.) Next, pick an outdoor surface for your child to paint—with the water. Wood surfaces work best—like an outside door or table, but a cement sidewalk or other flat surface work well too. A towel or change of clothes is also a good idea for when the job is done.

Ask your child to help you paint that object! Before they start, ask, “What do you think will happen when you brush the water on the surface?” See if they can paint all of the surfaces. As they brush the water onto the surface, it will become a darker color and a bit shiny, looking like it is being freshly painted. When they are done, ask them what they see? Is everything the same color? Did it match their prediction at the beginning?

Concepts Learned

Science: making a prediction, comparing same and different, observing change, evaporation.

Math: measurement, more and less, light and heavy.

Reading:  matching one picture or symbol to another.

Life skills:  making a plan, focus and attention.