January - Bubble Wrap Printing

Kindergarten

Materials:

tablecloths to protect tables

brayers and brushes

paper plates

acrylic sheets

bubble wrap: one piece about the size of the paper, smaller pieces cut into shapes; triangle, circle etc.

tempera paint

paper

Books: Little Blue, Little Yellow

Preparation:

Cover tables with table cloths

put a paper sized piece of bubble wrap at each desk

put yellow paint on acrylic sheets (1 per table) and brayers (2 per table) on tables

prepare cups of red, yellow and blue tempera paint

Discussion:

1. With the kids seated on the rug talk about colors. Review what they learned during last months lesson: ask them if the know what is special about red, yellow, blue - you can use them to mix all other colors. What blue and yellow make, etc. What the colors red, yellow and blue are called - primary colors. You can explain that green, purple and orange are called secondary colors.

2. Tell the students they will be printing today. Tell them there are a lot of different ways to do printmaking. Tell them an advantage to printing is that you can repeat images. Point this out as you demonstrate the process.

3. Demonstrate the entire process. Introduce them to the brayer (rhymes with slayer). Tell them that is used for spreading the paint evenly along a surface. I made a big deal about not popping the bubbles - I told them the funniest part is trying to do it without popping.... No one really popped.

4. While you are demonstrating, you can also bring up the texture that the bubble wrap print makes. Ask the students if they know what texture means: they way something feels or looks like it feels.

5. Then have the teacher dismiss the kids in small groups to the chairs.

Process:

1. Have students use the brayer to cover the bubble wrap on the table with yellow paint. I had them raise their hands when they were finished rolling the yellow paint and were ready for the paper. It helps to have one parent bring paper, one take away the yellow bubble wrap when they finished with step 

2. Press paper on top.

3. Peel away paper.

4. If possible have another parent volunteer pass out bubble wrap shapes, paint and clean brushes. I would strongly recommend passing out one color first and then when they are finished the next.

5. Have them brush the new color of paint on and use it as a stamp.

6. When they are finished with red and blue, pass out paper plates and have them mix the two colors to make purple and print.

7. Pass out yellow. Have them mix yellow-red and yellow blue

8. Encourage them to fill the page.

Most kids got done way before the hour was over so we had them wash their hands (some need help with this) and then come to the rug where a parent or the teacher can read a book (Little Blue, Little Yellow) until everyone is ready to go.