No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

  • Blog
  • About
    • Terms Of Use
    • Disclaimer
    • Holiday Gift Guide For Kids
    • Advertise
    • In The Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
  • Preschool Activities
  • crafts for kids
    Preschool Crafts
  • Preschool Books
  • sensory alphabet activity
    Letters & Numbers
  • For Teachers
  • Toddlers
  • Preschool
  • Kindergarten
  • Elementary

September 4, 2017 | 4 Comments

Nature Smash Painting – Process Art for Kids

smash painting

This smash painting process art activity combines nature with art, all while providing kids with a satisfying sensory and gross motor experience! Nature is full of color, and with a little bit of work, kids can extract the color and transfer it to paper. Using items found outside, this nature smash painting creates some beautiful works of art!

 Gathering Materials for Nature Smash Painting

Prior to painting, kids can go on a nature walk to hunt for items with color found outside. This is a great opportunity to discuss colors and just how many there are in nature. Kids will begin to notice that when they look closely, they can find quite a bit!

 smash painting 4

 Setting Up the Painting Project

 To complete the project, you will need spray bottles with water, watercolor or other heavyweight paper, and colorful nature items. The kids can use their hands and feet to mash and rub, engaging the senses while they work. For older children, use a toy or child-sized hammer in addition to their hands and feet.

smash painting 5

Smash Painting Process Art

To begin, spray the watercolor paper with water to get it nice and wet. Then, let the children experiment with placing and rubbing the items found in nature on the paper. Berries, dirt, and certain flowers will be easy to paint with, whereas items like leaves might be more challenging.

 smash painting 2

This is a great exercise in critical thinking and problem solving as children might wonder how they can get color out of items like leaves. With stomping or rubbing, the color from the leaves will transfer to the paper. For older children, smashing with a rock or a hammer will work as well. They can continue smashing and spraying to produce more and more color on the paper.

 smash painting 8

While the emphasis of this activity is on the process, the art the kids are producing is quite beautiful! Kids can create these over and over again, using different items from nature, and discover the many colors they can produce in this nature smash painting.

smash painting 7

katie headshotContributing Author: Katie Chiavarone writes at Views From a Step Stool about kids activities, the importance of play-based learning, and positive parenting techniques.  Currently a mom to 3 young children, with previous roles as a preschool teaching assistant, the director of an after-school program, and a behavior therapist for children with Autism, she has had more than 10 years of experience working with children. Additionally, she relies on her Master’s in Educational Psychology from NYU when writing about children and education. She has co-authored the book The Undeniable Power of Play and can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Filed Under: Age Preschool, Age: Kindergarten, Age: Toddlers, Preschool Crafts, Sensory Activities | 4 Comments

Like this post? Share it with a friend!

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flashcards posts directly in your email inbox.

You may also like these posts

preschool christmas ornament craftnursery rhymes for preschool
Next Post: Independent Sensory Activities for Preschool
Previous Post: Girls In STEM Book List

Trackbacks

  1. All Natural Crafts and Activities for Kids - The Pistachio Project says:
    March 24, 2020 at 2:54 pm

    […] Herbal Fingerpaint – My Homestead Life Natural Edible Finger Paint – A Blossoming Life Nature Smash Painting – No Time For Flashcards Lavender Sensory Rice – The Imagination […]

    to All Natural Crafts and Activities for Kids - The Pistachio Project" aria-label='reply to this comment to All Natural Crafts and Activities for Kids - The Pistachio Project'>reply to this comment
  2. Paint Remix! #1: Tools – Sparrow Perch says:
    April 20, 2020 at 12:13 pm

    […] [Image description: A smashy art project made of leaves and flowers is pressed down on paper.] Credit: No Time for Flash Cards […]

    to Paint Remix! #1: Tools – Sparrow Perch" aria-label='reply to this comment to Paint Remix! #1: Tools – Sparrow Perch'>reply to this comment
  3. Family Camping Checklist And Activities - Explore The South says:
    July 6, 2020 at 10:25 am

    […] to camp, you show the items gathered and brainstorm things to make. Ideas; Painted pine cones, nature smash painting, painting with leaves, or rock painting to name a […]

    to Family Camping Checklist And Activities - Explore The South" aria-label='reply to this comment to Family Camping Checklist And Activities - Explore The South'>reply to this comment
  4. Fall leaves preschool theme — The Organized Mom Life says:
    October 18, 2021 at 11:27 am

    […] Nature smash painting […]

    to Fall leaves preschool theme — The Organized Mom Life" aria-label='reply to this comment to Fall leaves preschool theme — The Organized Mom Life'>reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search For Activities

Now In Paperback!

Buy NOW

All Activities

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flash Cards posts directly in your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin

Copyright © 2008-2023 • No Time For Flash Cards - ACM Media LLC • Site Design by Emily White Designs