Abstract murals
* Tape lengths of paper along a fence, joining two rolls together if necessary, so that the paper stretches from the ground to the height of the tallest child.
* Spread a roll of plastic floor protector along the bottom of the paper and arrange resources along this at intervals.
* Provide a selection of paints in non-spill pots with brushes of different thicknesses at one end of the plastic.
* Arrange shallow trays of thick paint and a varied collection of printing materials, such as sponges, or a range of paint rollers, at the other.
* Have an area alongside the fence where the children can put on overalls or aprons.
* Supply paper towels for children to wipe off excess paint before washing their hands indoors. (Bowls of water and a towel can spread infection.)
* Encourage the children to use the resources freely and comment on their actions to support language and thinking.
* Replenish paint supplies and replace the paper regularly.
Prints and patterns
* Tape a roll of scrap wallpaper face down along a tarmac surface.
* Soak an old towel in a shallow tray of thick paint and roll it out along one end of the paper.
* Arrange a selection of sit-and-ride vehicles with differing tyre treads beside the paper and ask children to take turns to choose a vehicle to ride across the towel and coat the tyres with paint.
* After the children have ridden to the other end of the paper, encourage them to compare the patterns they have created.
* Use towels soaked in different colours for different vehicles so that colours mix when tracks overlap.
* Set up a tyre wash area at the other end of the track so that children can clean the tyres of their vehicles.
* Invite children to put on boots, walk over the paint towel and then walk across the paper.
