Using store cupboard staples such as red, green and brown lentils, rice and pearl barley to make collages adds an extra sensory dimension to your play – and is a good way to use up any leftover packets just past their eat-by-dates. Try and provide a mixture of shapes and colours and place them in little pots on your creation station.
The basic principle is: glue, sprinkle, dry. You can keep to one colour per section or mix it up a little.
You can freestyle on your glue and maybe make some repeating patterns – or draw out a design for your collage. Filling in outlines of letters and number allows children to feel the shape of the characters and makes a good addition to a sensory alphabet chart.
For more ideas, try making rangoli patterns with your children or try creating some art with spices with this idea shared with our Play Academy by My Kids Make.
happily shared with the resource centre and creative Friday and upcycled awesome and kids get crafty and Made by Little Hands Monday and the Learning Laboratory and Tot school and making Monday marvelous Craft Schooling Sunday
MyKidsMake says
great idea using lentils!!! thanks for mention our “Art with Spices” project, and the link!
Cathy @ NurtureStore says
A pleasure MyKidsMake 🙂
Laura says
I love this tutorial, this is a great fine motor activity for kids! Please stop by http://www.laughloveandcraft.com for Share the Wealth Wednesday and link up!
Cathy @ NurtureStore says
Hi Laura – and thanks for the invitation 🙂
maryanne says
These are so pretty! What a wonderful sensory art experience for little ones!
Thanks for linking up to Learning Laboratory at Mama Smiles =)
Esther says
Oh Cathy! Lentil art is my all-time favorite! I have been doing lentil arts from childhood! I don’t know why, but i just love playing around with them
one of my lentil art
https://creativitymypassion.blogspot.com/2009/02/gframe.html
Cathy @ NurtureStore says
Thanks for the link Esther – your picture is beautiful!
maggy, red ted art says
Aaaah crafting with lentils is brilliant. The textures.. the colours.. fab!
Thanks for linking to Kids Get Crafty 🙂
Maggy
Julia Skinner says
I love these activities that use household things. Means they are accessible to all! Many thanks for the link!
Julia