Messy play was not encouraged in our household when I was a child! However, when I had my own children, it occurred on a regular basis, for a variety of
reasons! In this Child Development Dilemma: To Paint or Not to Paint?, students are researching the art medium of finger paints as it relates to young children. So if you’re looking for an engaging, hands-on lesson with activities, be sure to check this one out!
Set
- Introduce the lesson by sharing five clues with students to see how quickly they can figure out what the topic is that we will be exploring. Here’s a link to this concept if you are not already familiar with it.
- Introduce one clue at a time, pausing between them. Students use their devices to look up info for each clue as they try to guess the answer.
- Discuss their answers as a class after the final clue.
- Share with students the following background information:
- Finger Painting is the art technique of painting with the fingers, hand, or arm to spread over moistened paper or windows.
- Finger painting has been around since the 1930’s! It was developed by an American art teacher, Ruth Faison Shaw, who created it in Rome, Italy, but didn’t patent the paint until the 1930’s.
- Mud was used to create art before finger paint took its place.
- In the 1920s, Ms. Ruth was looking for a more unique, imaginative way for children to express themselves artistically. She thought the safest technique for children was to use their fingers. She made her paints by mixing liquid starch with a dry ground pigment or crumbled chalk to give it color.
- Finger painting allowed children to express their feelings and thoughts non-verbally. This form of art therapy was soon adopted worldwide, and can be implemented for people of all ages.
- Poll students to see how many of them remember finger painting at home or school? Ask if there’s anyone that has never finger painted. Inform students that they will be engaging in the art of finger painting! For those who’ve done it before, hopefully it brings back good memories. And for those who have never tried it, today you’ll get your opportunity to experience it!
Materials
- iPads or Laptops
- Projector & Screen
- Finger Paints: Homemade or Store Bought (affiliate link)
- Painting Surface: large sheet of paper, old tray or cookie sheet, or tables or windows you can easily wipe down
Activities
- Give students the opportunity to finger paint in class! Provide them with the necessary supplies and then when they are finished have them share their thoughts and experiences with it.
- Now that they’ve experienced or reexperienced finger painting, it’s time for them to learn more about it through a case study dilemma.
- Introduce them to the Smith family, sharing the case study background information, actual dilemma and what their role is with students before assigning. Basically, they are researching pros and cons of finger painting with young children based on a variety of aspects they will explore and research which include:
- Developmental Benefits
- Health & Safety Concerns
- Practical Considerations
- Psychological & Emotional Impact
- Once students have completed the research, they will share and discuss their findings along with their list of pros and cons of finger painting for young children based on the above considerations as a class.
- To conclude their presentation, students will provide their recommendation with a single flash slide: To Paint or Not to Paint?
- Based on their investigation, the class presentations and discussion, should the Smith family allow their young children to finger paint? Students will create a single Flash Slide response, defending their position with evidence from their research and class presentations based on the following criteria:
- Flash Slides Criteria:
- Title: To Paint or Not to Paint–choose your position and use it as your title
- 3 Reasons with brief explanations that support your position
- 1 school appropriate, related image
- Students will do a quick share (2-3 minutes) of their flash slide response with the entire class. Keep a tally of the responses as to whether children should finger paint or not!
Attachments
- 5 Clues Intro Activity
- To Paint or Not to Paint Case Study Dilemma
- Final Answer: Flash Slide Position
