Flour Art
Grade Level(s): Preschool
By: Sandra Leister, Preschool Teacher

The children will create pictures using white and whole wheat flour, oatmeal, and cornmeal while learning the different types of grains used to make breads.

Materials:

• 5 lb. bag of white flour
• 5 lb. bag of whole wheat flour
• 2 lb. box of oatmeal
• 2 lb. box of cornmeal
• black and dark blue construction paper
• 8 table spoons
• glue
• glue brushes, or cotton swabs
• 4 pie pans
• newspaper
• white crayons

Plan:

PREPARATION:

Cover work area with newspaper. Fill each pan with one type of flour. Place two spoons per pan. Fill 4 empty yogurt containers 1/4 with glue.

ACTIVITY:

This project is best with a small group of 3-4 children at a time.

1. The child will first choose either blue or black paper.
2. The child will then print their name on the paper.
3. The child will paint glue on the paper, and using either a spoon or their hands, sprinkle the flour(s) on to the glue making a collage flour picture.
4. The child will shake off extra flour on to the newspaper.
5. For easy clean up, you can use cotton swabs in place of glue brushes and the yogurt containers with glue can be thrown away.

Comments:

This project evolved out of the children's interest. I had first placed the flours out for the children to use in place of sand during our nutrition week and noticed that they were carrying handfuls of oatmeal to the art table to use on their pictures. During clean up, make sure the children brush off the flour from their hands before washing, as we also ended up with a lesson of how sticky you can get with water and flour.