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Home : 2001 : September : 3

Art
By Michelle

Here are a few ideas:

Number stamps

Finger paint numbers in regular finger paint, finger paint mixed with something (sugar, glycerin, oatmeal, koolaide powder, etc.), or shaving cream, or chocolate pudding

Make a number
vest (using large paper grocery sacks)
Make a shape collage following number directions (ex. Give a worksheet for individuals or small groups or use a large poster for whole group: Glue 1 moon, Glue 5 stars, Glue 3 rocket ships, etc.)
Mold numbers out of clay or homemade playdoh. Use a second color to add facial features to create number people. (Check out About.com and go to

kids crafts recipes for homemade playdoh recipes) For more fun, use peanut butter playdoh and eat the numbers when finished (mix peanut butter, honey, and powdered sugar)

Use this as an opportunity to have the kids help you create math mats

Using plastic needles, have the children sew numbers on burlap

Have the children string beads on pipe cleaners and bend them to form beaded numbers

Have the children write the numbers with glue or a glue stick and glitter them. Use jello or koolaide powder instead of glitter to make smelly numbers

Make stuffed numbers by cutting large numbers from sturdy paper (grocery bags are great), having the kids staple around the edges, and stuff them with newspaper. They can decorate their numbers by drawing, painting, or gluing on an appropriate number of objects. My kids also like to do the decorating with stamps or stickers.

Have the children decorate small paper bags, boxes, or pringles chips cans with a design featuring their favorite number. For homework, have the take their containers home and fill them with objects for their number (ex: For 3, a child might put three rocks, three sticks, three pencils, three screws, and three shoelaces.) Great counting practice when they share them the next day!

Do race track numbers. Provide large number outlines on white paper. Allow the children to "drive" toy cars through paint to ink the tires and then drive them around the number outline to create number racetracks.

One tip -- remember that not every art activity needs to have an end product. This is especially true if you have lower functioning children. Sometimes the sensory aspects and the process are more important than a particular end product with these guys. Of course, you also want lots of things that do have end products so that the kids can learn to take pride in their work.