Submitted by Jonathan Greenberg.
Grades: 3-6 year olds

Materials:

Shoe box, marbles, tempera paints, white paper.

Procedure:

Dip marbles in tempera paint and then put them in the bottom of a shoe box. If you wish, you can put white paper in the bottom of the box first. The children then agitate the boxes and the marbles roll paint streaks around in the bottom of the box. If the children are too wild with the boxes put the lids on the boxes first before you let them shake the boxes.

Elementary Extension by Caryn King, Vermont:

I have a unit that begins with creating colorful paper by using a marble or two rolling around paint in a beverage cardboard tray (tray is lined with construction paper or white paper). From there I move on to either using it as background paper or the paper for the elements of a 3-D finished piece of art. I have done this with all levels - changing paint (from primary to fluorescent colors), paper color, and creative ideas for this project goal. This unit can encompass various standards. Students ask for it and tell me it is one of their favorites. Images of student work to come.