Children will enjoy creating these sparkly winter paintings using paint, glue and salt.
Materials Needed:
- Washable tempera paint (blue and white)
- Paint brushes,
- Thick art paper
- Epsom salt
- Washable white liquid school glue
What to do:
- Blob a spoonful of blue and white paint onto the child's paper.
- Encourage the child to mix the white and blue paint together to make different patterns.
- Before the paint dries, squirt white liquid school glue all over the painting.
- The child then can sprinkle Epsom salt over the glue.
- Shake off the the remaining salt.
- Let it dry.
Hints and Tips:
- Epsom salts have a larger crystal than regular table salt or even kosher salt.
- Use regulate crystal salt, if Epsom salt isn't available.
- Instead of using a paintbrush use a different medium such as cotton balls, balloons, toothbrush etc.
Extension Ideas
Colour blending: Mix different shades of blue, silver, and white to create icy gradients.
Fine motor challenge: Use droppers or pipettes to place coloured water precisely on salt designs.
Texture exploration: Add glitter, sequins, or beads to enhance tactile and visual effects.
Cause and effect: Observe how salt absorbs colour differently depending on the amount of water.
Pattern creation: Encourage children to design snowflakes, icicles, or winter landscapes.
Science link: Discuss absorption, crystallisation, and how salt reacts with water.
Descriptive language: Introduce words like “sparkly,” “crystal,” “icy,” “shimmer.”
Storytelling: Children narrate what their artwork represents (snowy forest, frosty window).
Shared reflection: Display salt art and invite children to explain their creative choices.
Group mural: Collaborate on a large winter scene using salt art techniques.
Confidence building: Celebrate unique designs in a “winter sparkle gallery.”
Cultural connections: Link salt art to winter festivals or seasonal celebrations.
Reference:
Sparkly Winter Paintings, Stay At Home Educator
