Aspect: A Competent Learner Component: representing Walkers, talkers and pretenders
What you need
* puffy paint (for each colour): 1 cup of white flour; 1 cup of salt; 1 cup of water; ready-mixed paint n empty washing-up liquid bottles (clean!)
thick paper or card
What you do
1 Let the children help you mix the paint. Then use a funnel to put it into the bottles. Replace the tops and you are ready.
2 Show how to hold bottles upside down and squeeze gently to make the paint come out in lines, squiggles and blobs.
3 Let the children work as freely as possible, but talk with them as they work, and draw attention to the way the paint behaves. Encourage them to look at what others in the group are doing.
4 Watch the paint dry - it will puff up and make a raised pattern.
Another idea: Work as a group on a very big piece of paper taped down to a big flat surface.
Ready for more?
* Children with good hand control may enjoy following chalk or crayon patterns and lines on the paper.
* When the paint is dry, close eyes and follow the lines with your fingers.
Individual needs
* Children with visual difficulties will love this tactile activity.
* Use smaller containers for children with immature hand control or grip.
* Older children with special needs love 'writing' with puffy paint and then 'reading' it with their fingers.
Tiny tip: Try self-raising flour for even more 'puff' in the paint. Or add glitter or sand to the paint.
Watch, listen or reflect
* Note the children who find this activity easy and those who have difficulty.
* Listen for the words and sentences they use to talk about it.
* Make a particular note of any children who make marks that they then ascribe meaning to.
Working together
Parents could:
* make some puffy paint at home - flour, salt and food colouring will do, using newspaper to 'paint' on.
Practitioners could:
* make a book or a list of all the ideas for different sorts of paint to use for pattern-making and first writing.
* take photos of the activity to show to parents.
What are they learning?
Are they: n making purposeful marks? n talking? n concentrating? n having fun?
This leads to: n pattern-making and writing n investigating Taken from Make Your Mark (Little Baby Books, series 3, Featherstone Education, 17.99 per series). The four series, each with four books, cover the four aspects and 16 components of Birth to Three Matters. To order copies, tel: 0185 888 1212 or visit www.featherstone.uk.com.
